Identity Theft (2004)

This film isn't necessarily bad, but it's not that good. The acting is just passable, the story is very bland, and the whole flow this film is overly predictable. The premise is good, however. The actors and actresses in this film did alright. They seemed pretty believable for the most part, but a few of them just didn't seem to give it their all, and came off as somewhat boring. The story, while it's premise is good, is very bland. The story itself is pretty good for the most part. However, it seems very predictable and kind of aimless. Other than all that, I was impressed with Lifetime with this film, considering some other films from Lifetime, Hallmark, Freeform, etc., are mostly garbage in my opinion. But this film was good enough for me to think this film was better than most from Lifetime, Hallmark, Freeform, etc. I don't think I can really recommend this to anyone, as there are better films than this, but I'm sure that most people who like films from Lifetime would enjoy this film, probably more than others they have seen on that Channel.

An average made-for-television movie -- not bad but strictly by the numbers. The title pretty much tells the whole story, but surely dramatizes some of the elements, such as Annabella Sciorra's not merely using Kimberley Williams-Paisley's credit cards and bank account to stoke up on "stuff" or "things", but desiring to actually BE the victim, whose real name is Michelle Brown.Michelle Brown, a good, solid English name. Sciorra is named Connie Volkos which, in comparison, sounds like something from the Mongolian steppes. The story has almost written itself for television. Sometimes it feels good to be a victim. Freud called the good things about being a victim "secondary gains," but if that's all there were to it there would be no such thing as Münchausen's syndrome. Not that Michelle Brown invited this exploitation. She's as blameless as Bridget Fonda was in a similar story, "Single, White, Female." Michelle is young, slim, sexy, bubbly, and cute in an almost cartoonish way. She has sparkling blue eyes and exudes innocence. She has a high chirpy voice that in times of upset turns a little tinny. All she wants is a house and the guy waiting in the wings to come out as a loving husband who is cheerful and "there" for her. And vegetarian pizza.Schiorra is older, bleached blond, sinister, surprisingly hefty, and whorish. We meet her sucking a chocolate lollipop and twirling a strand of her tangled hair. She's a contralto. We can tell at once from her appearance and demeanor that she's a self-absorbed slut. She listens to hip hop music in her brand new automobile bought with some kind of credit stolen from honest, likable Michelle. She dyes her hair brown like Michelle's and obtains a fake photo ID. It goes on rather predictably from there.There is one unanticipated element in the film. Sciorra's character is given a certain amount of depth. She has a reason for acting as she does, though not a justification. It's probably Anna Sciorra's best performance, mixing as it does envy, defiance, carelessness, indifference, and pathos. It adds to the film, not so much through the dialog as through Sciorra's handling of the role. I have a creepy feeling that in real life, "Connie Volkos" didn't want to absorb Michelle Brown's identity; she just wanted the money.

While I am glad there is a movie such as this to help inform people about this sort of thing, there were a few things about the movie that angered me. while I do not want to spoil the movie for anyone...I was very angry what the real Michelle had to go through. Also, it was very disappointing that the criminal got such a light sentence. Anyone who commits this type of crime should be given harsher penalties otherwise, when they are released, they may just do it again. There just isn't enough being done about identity theft and frauds these days. A slap on the wrist is just not enough. Also, victims should NOT be afraid to fight back harder. Being scared when you see someone commit a crime against you is not going to stop criminals. If this had been me, (thank the Lord it wasn't) she would not have been able to get away. She would not have had the opp. to do some things she did.....

Michelle Brown (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) has the perfect life - a wonderful job, a wonderful boyfriend, and she just bought the dream house she's been waiting for her entire life. But when she gives away all of her personal information to a depressed drug user in need of money named Connie (Annabella Sciorra), her entire life falls apart. I absolutely loved this TV movie. It's full of suspense and emotional scenes, but more importantly, it's full of truth. Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the nation - every 6 minutes, someone's identity is stolen. The fact that the movie was based on a true story makes it all the more scary, and you have to be prepared for reality to slap you in the face.It's a big eye-opener. You can also learn a lot from this movie: What to do if it happens to you, etc."Identity Theft: The Michelle Brown Story" aired last night, but if you missed it and have the opportunity to see it again, I highly recommend that you do.