I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

"Based on true events", the film revolves around Michelle Brown and her husband seeking the classic 1950's white suburban segment of the American dream. Events turn sour when 9 minutes in, Michelle and one of her basic bff's flow with excitement over her filling out loan papers. The rigged debt that will come from this will come back to haunt her. To twist the knife even further; a monster in the form of Connie Volkos, a white trash cartoon stereotype, uses Michelle's credit card information to feed her shopping addictions. It becomes a race against time for Michelle to stop Connie, save her financial life and hopefully, learn to use her money better.All the performances range from serviceable (Michelle's partner) to jocular (Connie Volkos); but the lead character, Michelle Brown, at the helm of Kimberly Williams-Paisley is given the most human performance in this picture.Michelle Brown's ignorance early in the film may be doltish, but she is clearly a character worth rooting for as she is proactive in her tedious journey of taking her life back. As this is a Lifetime movie; almost the entire story structure is procedural, and at times heavy handed to the point of irritation (there is a scene in which one of Michelle's friends spells out to the audience about the growing danger of identity theft in America). This all isn't to say "Identity Theft: The Michelle Brown Story" is complete rubbish; for what it lacks in suspense, it makes up in clarity. I could imagine a film director like Steven Soderbergh ("Ocean's Eleven") making a sophisticated and white-knuckle thriller revolving around a plot similar to this film.Grade- C+

This is an effective biographical drama that does entertain from beginning to end, although I think real-life identity theft cases are much more serious than this movie says. Is going to prison a light sentence? Can't really say. Also, I don't think Identity Theft has ever been covered until this movie came along (Most crime movies are always about sexual crimes, or anything involving weapons and/or destruction). As I mentioned before, real-life cases are probably more serious than the one depicted here. In spite of its effectiveness and entertainment value, I think this movie could have used more complications. As to why the judge (at the end of the movie) would dismiss the case as a minor issue, is anyone's guess. So, after watching this movie, you might want to be careful about who you give your credit card (or any other personal info) to.

I have learned not to wait much of a TV movie. Now this is a "based on true story" one that shows such a dangerous issue in a very good way too.At first I sat to watch it because it has 2 of my favorite ladies. 10 years ago I began a list for the beautiful actresses I love, maybe to memorize them and immortalize them for me. From the earliest names I wrote there was Kimberly Williams-Paisley who kind of dazzled me with her cuteness in (Father of The Bride). And (Annabella Sciorra), who actually did the same, in (Cop Land). But as (Identity Theft) went on, I found more reasons to pay attention for.The case is scary. Big part of its scaring is that it's realistic. The matter of "it could happen to you" is so pressing this time. And it is more scary since there are no deterrent laws for it yet. So in the digital age we live, destroying the life of someone financially and morally has become very easy job to do, and getting away with it yet become easier ! Moreover, the movie so smartly made of the main situation such a physiological problem of loving a person, and her life, so much to become her. This cat and mouse game between a girl and a criminal copy of her was creative. Then when it dealt with the collapse of the copy, it gave us a deeply sad side to the story, which made it so human and effective. And, finally, what a dramatic climax it achieved when the copy/Connie phones her victim/Michelle, finding no one but her to seek help from, while she became unable to be a copy anymore or even herself. You can appreciate these efforts more when you know that the 2 characters, in the real story, never met at all (as I read somewhere). The meeting between them both at the end was a fine master scene. And the finale in the courtroom was shocking enough. From that joke of a judge, to lines like "life isn't fair/ I expected it to be fair here!", ending with the lead's hot monologue about the tragedy of losing her "good name" ; the whole scene was so zealous, true and bitter statement about the movie's main case. As for the acting, it's more than clear that (Annabella) won, but not for (Kimberly)'s weak performance; it's simply for one logical reason which's the power of Connie's role in the first place. This character got spectrum of mixed feelings, a more pathetic status, being in problem (like the main character) yet sick, with no love, no escape, and no cure. All of that while the script didn't give much to (Kimberly)'s character Michelle but to smile naively for half of the time, and frown for the other half! Nevertheless she did the last scene perfectly with high energy and intensive rage. I believed her utterly.(Identity Theft : The Michelle Brown Story) isn't a movie to be forgotten easily. Before gathering 2 of my favorite chicks in one movie, or even making a good thrill out of its story, it enlightens us with ugly crime and uglier facts that no other movie I know showed seriously or cared about.

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.