Good story, Not enough for a whole film

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Laren Sims (Joely Richardson) surrenders to the police and leaves her daughter Haylei (Hayden Panettiere). Ten years ago, they're living with Lauren's parents in North Carolina after her failed marriages. She does 90 days in prison after using stolen credit cards for Christmas gifts. She continues to steal. She runs away with Haylei skipping out on house arrest. They travel the country continuing to con and steal with numerous fake identities. In northern California, Laren gets a job working for attorney Lucas Mackenzie (Colm Feore) and later marries him. Haylei hates the marriage. Laren can't help herself and embezzles money. Lucas finds out and Laren tells him the truth. He grows angry as his business fails and always threatens to call the police. Laren, with the help of new hire Kristin, does something out of desperation.This is a Lifetime movie in its heart. It should try to be more especially with a great actress like Joely Richardson. It should try to be darker but it doesn't. It is a big disappointment. The story has no bite despite some pretty compelling turns. There is a great mother and daughter relationship. The material is done with limited style and no edge.

I was slightly interested in this movie when I first saw the previews on Lifetime a few years back. When I saw it however, I was very disappointed. The acting was alright. At times it seemed forced and a little overdone especially by Richardson. I knew this story sounded familiar. When I saw the "Snapped" episode on Oxygen that this movie is based on it clicked. Lauren Sims or her alias Elisa McNabney was from my hometown of Brooksville, FL and this is where she was arrested and killed herself in jail! That's where I knew the story from. All in all the movie was alright. The locations were obviously changed and from what I've read, the relationship between mother and daughter was exaggerated. But that's too be expected. I give it 5 out of 10 simply for being a Lifetime movie. That's what you get.

Well i loved this movie. i should warn you now my spelling is not very good but should be OK. here goes! i saw this movie on cable. i didn't think it would be very good but turns out it was really good. And based on true stories! Very interesting and i think there are messages in there, things people should notice. i wont give it away but you really need to watch this film! This is only 99mins long but is fantastic! i really do believe so. The mother, Laren Sims is a con artist, master of disguise and moves from state to state with her young daughter until the hit Vegas Nevada! She marries a wealthy Atterney and has some problems. the mother just wanted her child to have a good education and not end up like her. and the marriage has some problems like when he gets drunk, and he finds her past and so she decides to well, get rid off him!

This movie was one i had been waiting for since the first time I saw the preview on the Life Time Network, well I wish I had waited longer! The movie is told in voice overs from the daughters point of view and in flash back to the past to present as she tells the story . The plot is pretty much steady, but had some little lose ends they could have dealt with. May or may not be spoiler, but I did not like how the movie trys and play out like being a criminal and doing as the mother does in this movie is a way of loving her daughter. I also felt that they left allot of the move to the fact that mostly women would be watching this movie and that we would not care rather or not the guy was a good guy or not as long as the mother daughter relationship was saved! The leading man in this movie was played well but at times over acted to were you just wanted. The daughter played by and EX soap young star of Guiding Light done very well in role for what she had to work with . Over all I say watch it if you are a big LIfe Time person , but don't expect to see a award wining movie. It could have been much better seeing as there was so much hype about!!!!