Normal Life

Superficial look at l'amour fou and its consequences. Two very good-looking people meet by chance and enter into a life of crime. Besides a mutual attraction it's hard to see why this pair stay together, even get married. We don't get enough background for the characters. There's nothing wrong with the acting. Ashley Judd has the showier part to play--a bipolar nightmare--and she gives it her all, only occasionally flirting with excess; and she looks great Luke Perry's character puts up with more than most me would stand. With his slight build, a mustache adding some maturity to the character, he's quite sympathetic, even when plot turns goes a little beyond credibility (although this is based on true-life incidents). In sum, it's more like a made-for-TV movie. It will certainly hold a viewer's attention, and others in the cast are more than adequate.

I always like being surprised by films I've never heard of or come across and this one is a very good way to pass the time. Luke perry was very good in one of his first "grown up roles" as a by the book cop who becomes obsessed with a clearly deranged ashley judd who does a good impression of a young angelina jolie. If you're a Judd fan, you'll be pleased to know there's several topless shots of said lady. Tittle-tattle aside, this is a very entertaining movie to watch, it doesn't spend ages on building up characters but gives you all you need to know with the minimum of fuss which allows time for the film to progress nicely. There are a few plot holes and there wont be any awards for acting but this was a decent enough thriller that should be checked out.

I thought this was a great movie. Regardless of Luke Perry looking like he isn't much of a tough guy in most of his roles, he's still a pretty good actor. Ashley Judd is a phenomenal actress and was perfect, as usual, in her role. For being a fact-based story, I was glad to see that it wasn't Hollywood-ed up, for lack of a better word. I just wish that when they make movies like this, they get more detailed about it so that the viewers can understand how being in love could drive someone to do what these two people did. Anyway, I think people will enjoy this, if only for the fact that Mrs. Judd is unclothed through much of the movie...lol

Good cop marries unstable woman. Through financial difficulties he is led to a life of bank robbery - a modern day Bonnie & Clyde. Ashley Judd and Luke Perry both act very well. How come I never heard of it? I am a fan of hers. Luke is quite suited to the role he doesn't look ill at ease as he did in some post 90210 movies. Actually haven't seen him in such a dramatic role before. Ashley is quite lovely and plays this screwed up trashy complex character quite well. She shows range. Quite moving and it is timely given the recession now. Kind of a fable of the American dream gone wrong. A modern day American tragedy. Based on a true story - so the plot is realistically bizarre. Quite touching and intense. Watch it. This movie should have been more famous.

I must admit that seeing 90210's Luke Perry in Normal Life's leading role did not inspire me, but after watching this film I was pleasantly surprised. The foreshadowing scene at the very start of the film gives a sense of foreboding doom that pervades the rest of the story. Pam (Ashley Judd) is a woman torn between living on the edge and having a normal, storybook life. Chris (Luke Perry) longs for such a life, but also seems to be excited by Pam's wild side. He goes from cop to bank robber in a first successful, but then futile attempt to make things right, which only seems to excite Pam more. Eventually their luck runs out, and the inevitable ensues. The last 15 minutes of this film are the best part with some surprising twists right near the end.