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There's something odd about the way filmakers always want female killers of this kind to be smoking hot femme fatales instead of mundane or even ugly. A large part of the Beck and Fernandez story was about her insecurity and lack of allure.
The moment I saw Salma's photo and realized that this movie is based on the actual case, I had a similar reaction.
Not only did Martha's appearance contribute to her own insecurities, but a smokin' hot "sister/nurse" would have raised the suspicions and hackles of their intended victims.
But where do you go to find an ugly actress who can sustain a lead? Not to mention sell tickets? Women in the plain-to-ugly range generally seek other lines of work, sensibly enough. Men, too, mostly.
Jesus God, is Salma Hayek ever beautiful.
I've always loved the William Kastle movie, from the time I first saw it in London in 1970. The late Shirley Stoler was mesmerizing as Martha Beck. (A decade later, when I lived in Los Angeles, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting her.)
I shuddered a little when I saw that Salma Hayek is now playing the role. That's one piece of artistic license that simply does no credit to the real story.
Surely there was someone out there (Maggie Gyllenhaal?) who'd be prepared to put on weight or don a fat suit to render some historical verisimilitude?
This is a great film. Check out this review in The New Yorker. Written by a real man of letters who knows a "superb" film when he sees it.
newyorker.com/arts/critics/cinema/2007/04/23/070423crci_cinema_denby
