Return to Sender (I) (2004) User Reviews (18)

A Deep Sleeper

[stewball99 · 7/10 · 4 June 2006]

Listed on IMDb under the primary title of Return to Sender (2004) by pretty much unknown to me Danish director, Bille August (except for The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones), is about a woman on death row who is going to let herself be executed in order to protect some one else. Excellent performances by Danish stunner, Connie Nielson (the reason I rented the movie) who never looked better than here in understated prison makeup, and Aidan Quinn (as a letters from death row inmates bounty hunter) in a tight script that starts off like it's going to be an evils of capital punishment vehicle, but turns into something else, which I can only call the value of truth without giving too much away.

It was only released in the US on DVD last November, but set here and filmed here and in Denmark. There aren't any external reviews in English, and only one review on IMDb that panned it. I'd have gone to see this in the theater. 7+/10.

First-rate drama

[tarbosh22000 · 7/10 · 12 May 2010]

"Return To Sender" aka "Convicted" is a first-rate drama. The plot is: Charlotte Cory (Connie Nielsen) is on death row. There's only a week until her execution. Her lawyer (Kelly Preston) is running out of options to save her. Then Frank Nitzche (Aidan Quinn) comes into the picture. He wants to prove Charlotte's innocence, but he has a lustful attraction for her that's derailing the investigation. Can Charlotte be saved?

The main problem with the movie is that it feels forced to go clichéd. I say that because the mystery aspect of the film doesn't work. It overcomes that because of the acting and directing. The whole cast is great. Aidan Quinn stands out. Connie Nielsen and Kelly Preston do a fine job. There was no reason for this movie to go direct-to-video. It should've had a shot in the theaters. In the end: Watch for the actors and get annoyed that studios dump hidden gems into the video market.

For more insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com

Tense, well-directed

[mfsor · 7/10 · 18 February 2006]

Even though the ending was kind of deus ex machina, since anybody could have been brought forward to clear Connie Nielsen, it wasn't obvious, and there was enough tension to think that she might in fact be killed at the end. Connie did a very good job as a hardened person, and a person who had spent a great number of nights on drugs and alcohol. Aidan Quinn was good as the originally uncaring journalist who came to fall in love with her. Kelly Preston did a professional acting job, but she doesn't have any emotional depth to her. The lighting was good. The scenes were properly paced. The interaction between Connie/Aidan gave the story its emotional weight. The stupid cop wasn't necessary, and didn't provide any real relief of tension.

" It's something you would never understand, because you've never Cared "

[thinker1691 · 6/10 · 19 August 2010]

There are many stories concerning the unlucky people arrested, Incarcerated, Convicted and often executed for crimes against the state. But what if it's an innocent woman awaiting death? In this movie directed by Bille August and written by Neal Purvis was originally called " Convicted ", but changed to " Return to Sender " stars Connie Neilsen as Charlotte Cory, a former nurse, who's being prepared for execution, while reaching out to Frank Nitzche (Aidan Quinn) a man who claims to be a former friend of her father. Unknown to Cory, Frank is not who he claims to be and that secret is discovered by Susan Kennan (Kelly Preston) her attorney. However the discovery is made simultaneously with Nitzche who learns that Cory is protecting someone else. It's a race against time as both of them try to halt the execution before they bring the new evidence to the governor. Although slow to build and the subject matter is difficult to comprehend, the film nevertheless does produce a dramatic atmosphere which lends itself to an escalating climax. Quinn is incredible as the despicable former lawyer, now trying to help uncover the truth. Nielsen demonstrates a wonderful transition from ambivalent nurse to desperate victim who realizes she does care to live. ****

Nielsen success that screams for a better finale

[samhill5215 · 7/10 · 29 November 2007]

I agree with most of what's been said about this film, both negative and positive. Yes, there are holes, unexplained and unsupported events and motivations and frankly, the ending sucks! I mean really, after being on death row, hours from execution, and when she's finally released nobody is there to greet her and she has to take the bus to her dilapidated house where again, nobody's there. I know the news media has a short attention span but you'd think after all the hoopla some reporter would want her story. At least her lawyer would have been there or the man who proved her innocence and who eventually does meet her at her house.

But enough of that. This film is worth seeing for one reason only: Connie Nielsen. I've seen her in three others, Mission to Mars, Gladiator, and One Hour Photo, and although she's good in these, here she's captivating. Essentially she carries the whole film and certainly deserves to be the headliner. The performances of Aidan Quinn and Kelly Preston were predictable but hers was captivating. That's what makes this movie worth watching and that's good because after all it centers on her character. If it hadn't been for the plot issues I would have given it a higher rating.

And I should add that it left me with a sense of satisfaction, as if I had watched something worthwhile, something that will stay with me, something that made me think. Nielsen deserves much of the credit for that.

Blind Alley

[sol1218 · 6/10 · 7 May 2008]

**SPOILERS** Underground tabloid reporter Frank Nitzche, Aidan Quinn, has been working on the Kirstie Hammond murder/kidnap case for over a year corresponding with the person convicted of that heinous crime death row inmate Charlotte Cory, Connie Nielsen.

With her execution scheduled in ten days Frank is requested to be the last person besides her lawyer Susan Kennan, Kelly Preston, to be granted an interview by Charlotte. Very impressed with his letters Charlotte feels that Frank will understand what happened that evening some eight years ago. It was then on Thanksgiving Eve when one year-old Kirstie Hammond was kidnapped and eventually murdered.

As Frank hears Charlotte out he becomes very disturbed in what he's doing in trying to trick her into spilling her heart out just to get the exclusive story in the biggest kidnap case since the Baby Lindbergh kidnapping back in 1932. The case of Hall of Fame L.A Dodger baseball player Joe Hammond, Randy Calton, infant daughter's kidnapping and murder.

Frank, in talking with her, soon realizes that Charlotte is holding something back that may exonerate her of the crime and that has to do with her sister Stella, Sara-Marie Maltha. Stella who had completely disappeared from sight since Charlotte's arrest may be the key to why Charlotte's so meek, even eager, to meet her fate in the Oklahoma's McAllister State Prison's execution chamber! Is Charlotte somehow covering up Stella's involvement in the crime?

Slow in getting to the meat of the story the movie "Convicted" has sensation reporter and former defense attorney Frank Nitzche stick his neck out, and almost getting it broken, in not getting the big story by getting Charlotte to confess her crime to him but uncovering the real reasons behind it. Reasons that Charlotte had kept hidden from the police and the Hammond Family that are so shocking that if brought out would not only exonerate her but reveal just where the kidnapped and missing Kirstie final resting place really is!

The film goes into a race against time scenario with Frank now not caring about the big story, worth as much as $800,000.00 to his publishers, but trying to find Charlotte's missing sister Stella. Stella who's been blind since surviving a car accident that she holds Charlotte responsible for is eventually tracked down by Frank at the Oklahoma School for the Blind where shes'a a teacher using the name Julie Smith.

***SPOILER ALERT**** It's in his talking to Stella and later seeing a number of home video tapes, that Charlotte left to him, that Frank slowly puts all the pieces together in what really happened to Kirstie Hammond. The pressing problem that Frank is now facing in saving Charlott's life is two fold. Will he be able to get Stella to reveal the truth behind Kirstie's kidnapping! And even more disturbing can Frank get Charlotte to stop trying to be a martyr in taking the truth with her about Stella's, and what turned out to be her boyfriend, involvement in the crime to her grave!

Excellent little movie

[xredgarnetx · 8/10 · 1 July 2007]

Aidan Quinn leads a stellar cast in CONVICTED, the gripping tale of a lawyer/writer who uncovers new information regarding a woman convicted of kidnaping and killing an infant. Connie Nielson plays the convicted woman due to be executed within days, and Kelly Preston is her new attorney. Quinn becomes convinced the woman did not kill the child, and in fact no body was ever found and there is very little evidence to tie the woman to the kidnaping itself. It's a race to the finish as the clock ticks down on her execution date. The plot is nothing new, but CONVICTED plays out like a first-rate murder mystery, with lots of twists and turns -- and a truly unexpected and unforeseen ending. Tim Daly of WINGS plays a pivotal role as the convicted woman's brother-in-law, and he and Quinn, Nielson and Preston are all at the top of their game. Nielson is particularly convincing as the deeply troubled and fatalistic convict. CONVICTED plays out like a good novel, the highest compliment I can give any movie.

SPOILER - Nice Movie - but spoiled by holes and clichés

[milessinclair · 5/10 · 22 November 2005]

As the "hero" was being chased by a blind gunman, I told my wife that if the good ol' fat cop comes along at the last minute and saves him, I'd be on this site to rubbish it.

Sure enough as the gun was pointed at the guys head, "bang" fat cop kills the blind guy from behind. Why do directors still use these hackneyed worn out clichés? There are loads of other stupid things like our hero picking the right key from a large bunch in the dark at the first attempt to open a door; like a level crossing with off stage sound of a train but no flashing lights.

Having said all that, as an earlier writer has written, it is a nice movie to watch if you have nothing else to do - but I'd really think first if this wouldn't be an opportunity to do those chores you've been putting off.

Powerful acting, powerful emotion

[sarastro7 · 8/10 · 30 May 2005]

Charlotte Cory (Connie Nielsen) is on death row for the kidnapping and murder of a child - but did she do it? Aidan Quinn plays an ex-defense lawyer who makes money selling the last letters of condemned prisoners to the highest bidder (apparently, such letters fetch tens of thousands of dollars). Because Cory's case is so rare, he sees the chance to make half a million dollars on her last letter. He pretends to be a friend of her father's in order to get close to her, but he ends up becoming emotionally engaged in her situation, and falling in love with her.

Return To Sender is a low-key character drama, extremely well-acted, realistic, touching and just generally well-rounded. I was absorbed by it throughout, and can't think of a single thing wrong with it. It keeps the suspense going right until the satisfying end. A great achievement by everyone involved.

Almost Imperfect

[dc_follies · 2/10 · 7 November 2005]

Return to Sender, a.k.a. Convicted, is almost imperfect. The one good thing about this particular film was that I was never bored. That being said, the reviews that hail this movie as a low-budget success may not have watched the same movie that I saw.

Rather than write a review and tell you what happens and what works and doesn't work, I will simply comment that nothing works. There are plot holes in this movie that you can drive a semi through. The acting in the film is not very good, although that may be a result of a script so poorly worded that it could have been ghost written by George Lucas. There was no need for exceptional sets or costumes for this particular movie and everything seemed appropriate. Did I mention that there were some plot holes? By the end of the movie, you are wondering how a blind guy can be such a good shot with a shotgun, why Kelly Preston trusts Aidan Quinn, why she would fall asleep the night before her client is supposed to be killed, how Aidan Quinn can drive 400 miles in such a short time with a car that keeps breaking down during the rest of the movie, why Aidan Quinn didn't by a fifth instead of a bunch of nips, etc.

With all that being said, this is certainly a B-movie, and a terrible one at that. The unfortunate thing is that it just isn't bad enough to be good. If you value your time, please let this serve as a public service message to stay away from this one.

Well Crafted Film

[Buildman · 9/10 · 5 September 2008]

A powerful performance by Connie Nielsen, well supported by Aidan Quinn and Kelly Preston. The plot holes don't really matter here, it's the psyche of Charlotte Cory, as revealed by Nielson, that draws one through this film. Like Quinn's character Frank, one needs to learn why this beautiful person will passively accept execution by the state rather than defend her innocence. Self-condemned, because she miserably failed her sister Stella years before, Charlotte seems to believe she can atone for her sins in a twisted kind of sacrifice.

Neilsen reveals with her face and eyes the inner beauty of her character, the sadness on learning the (false?) circumstances of her father's death, the meaningfulness of her relationship with Frank, the love of her sister, the hope of a new life.

Aidan Quinn provides a solid, believable Frank, the shyster turning hero, resonating with Nielsen throughout.

The overwhelming impression of this film is its realism, in character portrayal, settings, musical score, it seems authentic, even when viewed through the lens of a security camera. In contrast, the fantasy sequences are whimsical and far out.

The solution of the mystery is satisfying, leading to a good ending.

Nothing interesting either way

[militon · 5/10 · 8 August 2005]

This was a movie that OK. The acting was OK, the story was OK, everything was OK, but not more than that. I wasn't p***** off about the time I spent watching it, but there were a lot of other ways (better ways) I could've spent that time. Bottom line, it's a good movie to see if you've got NOTHING else to do. The other thing to mention about the movie is that it had been done before. Not the exact same movie. But you can't help saying to yourself "haven't i seen this one before". It's just one of those movies that has that feeling about them. That being said, I'll go home and watch cartoons. Yeah, cartoons kick a55.

Fantastic Movie

[henriquesousa · 10/10 · 27 July 2005]

I'm just writing to alert and remind everybody what really can be done with a "low budget" and independent movie like I think this one is.

I love this movie, it's story, the characters, the performances of the actors. It's all great.

It has a fantastic ending and I recommend everyone to see this movie.

I really think that this type of picture should have more support for being done. It's the "simple" stories like this one that demonstrate the true beauty of the cinema and not the blockbusters that the main industry continues to support.

I'm not saying that those shouldn't be done, because their fun.

I just think that sometimes and more often, they should support the so called low budget movies so that great, fantastic, human, and simple stories like what this movie represents could come out and be seen by all the people.

The fact is that with the low advertisement that is made to this type of movies, at least in my country (I presume that in the States it shouldn't be much more), only the true cinema "buffs" get the chance to find out about them and see them, and not the common person, as it should be from the start.

If you really love cinema, don't forget to see this movie, because it's one of those few movies that ends and makes you keep remind about them, the plot, the simultaneous complexity and simplicity of the characters, and everything else for a long time.

Inconsistent Mess

[olafreinhardweyer-1 · 3/10 · 29 January 2013]

First of all let me start with that i am not a supporter of the death penalty so you don't believe this would reflect on my rating.

Spoilers. I gave this movie a low rating, because it's characters behaviors make no sense, no sense at all. Let me start with the female prisoner on death row. Let's go right into her shoes and speak in her voice, let us choose to say "I": Year back, in a car accident, i caused my sisters blindness and made it impossible for her, to ever have children. I feel guilty. I deserve to suffer. I deserve to pay. She hates me and rightly so. It so happens i am confused with someone who has abducted and murdered a child. I have been sentenced and will die on the electric chair.

Do you buy this? I don't. Then perhaps you buy this: But i happen to know that my sister has abducted the child to keep it for herself. That child is still alive and i am the only one who knows. If i die, at least my sister i made suffer so much can be a happy mother. Okay let's say i am buying this. Let's say i find no way to commit suicide because of my deep guilt. I am simply to stupid to kill myself and spent years and years waiting to go to the electric chair. But i don't tell my lawyer to quiet trying to safe my life, appealing to the governor for instance, because that would make to much sense.

Okay, let's stretch this a little further. Let's say I KNOW what's going on. I know that my sister and her husband have abducted that child. I want my sister to be happy with that child and i keep my mouth shut. Let them think i abducted that child, yeah, with my death, no one will know. Do you buy this? Can guilt be that blinding that i could forgive a sister, a child abductor and therefore an even bigger monster than the accused? I don't by into this a second.

But let's say i do. Now there this guy (main character) visiting me. I want my sister to forgive me (why would i want my sister to forgive, if i don't even forgive myself?!?!) so i give that guy a letter for my sister. Why do i give that guy a letter for my sister, a sister that has vanished from the face of the earth (for her own good, as i must believe), why do i make him bringing her in the spotlight most likely, with the media so much interested in me and my affairs (something that never happens in the movie but this woman should fear of course), would i do that, no i would'nt i would want her to be forgotten. And the guy goes digging of course, because i send him digging.

My lawyer should have gone digging also, but luckily my lawyer is stupid, she doesn't know how find my sister, but this guy does. Why do i believe this guy can, were even my lawyer can't?

I could go on forever. The story of this movie total BS. And i hate it for it. I hate it, because there is a great, great story buried here in a totally screwed up screenplay. Even worse, this story has no moral spine. What is it about? Is it about guilt and paying, about guilt and paying over price, is it about redemption, about justice? A story needs a single moral core that makes you feel strongly. If you wanna know what i am talking about, watch "A Simple Plan" you can feel it in EVERY minute and it will give you that good old catharsis. This one, it will leave you confuse and empty :/

Three stars for the acting and good atmospheric direction. For the story, well, one of the cases were writing must dump his screenplay and start FRESH at the drawing board. All elements are in place. There are just to many of them. Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite. Gee, i HATE laziness!

A woman waits for her execution and one man tries to prevent the inevitable

[trillian020 · 10/10 · 28 February 2006]

For me "Return to Sender" is one of the best movies I've ever seen. It's extremely thrilling and I'm so happy about the ending, because I never knew how it will end.

The two main actors Aidan Quinn and Connie Nielsen are playing excellent and I can say nothing bad about this film. Also the storyline is really good, because it could really happen. It's a pity that this movie hasn't as much appreciation as a Hollywood movie, but perhaps that's why it is so well-done.

So i'm recommend it to everyone who is interested in such movies. Another good film is "Last Dance", which is about the same topic.

Another Hollywood message movie but done well

[rcbrammer · 5/10 · 6 February 2006]

First of all, I liked this movie. Connie Nielsen, Adain Quinn and Kelly Preston are all terrific actors (especially Nielsen, who's been a favorite of mine since Gladiator) and all do supreme justice to their roles. That said, I didn't know much about this movie (nothing actually) when I rented it and was very disappointed to find that it was just another message movie which told us, the ignorant, just how evil capital punishment really is. The crowds at the prison just before the execution were all stupid redneck types shouting obscene comments. Nowhere did you see a Mike Ferrell type and his equally moronic crazies. Also, many of the comments made by the actors were about as subtle as a sledgehammer. I wish Hollywood would go back to making movies that tell a story and quit trying to sell their left-wing agendas.

Easily top 10 favourite thriller

[jakobson2 · 10/10 · 23 September 2005]

First of all this movie is excellent. Actors are brilliant (Connie Nielsen on top), plot is excellent and it even has Hollywood styled happy ending (many of you probably dislike it). Why I liked this movie so much that it's in my all time top 10 thrillers list? Because it's simple and easy to understand. This movie has no fancy special effects, no superbeautiful or superugly characters, no extreme plot turnovers nothing like that (like Harlin's Mindhunters for example). It's about ordinary people doing ordinary bad or good things to each other and it's brilliant. Like taken from real life. And once again it's brilliant. It is a really must see movie for all of you thriller fans. ENJOY!!!

comment on "return to sender",the sunset-rise of humanity

[dukas_duras_ravel · 8/10 · 17 July 2005]

it's a movie that brings out the human nature of the man,which is trying hardly to rile on real fact for the immersion of the truth in order to triumph over the possible bad part coexisting in everyone of us ,part which it's revealed into the very start of the movie.during the whole duration of the movie,the watcher comes to serious and powerful feelings regarding the human condition among the others which just look like some little pure things in comparison with the inmate Charlotte and the man who does almost everything to apply for her's "inguiltyness" in which he doesn't believe in 100% . the final is on the same scale with the movie,being an answer to the whole movie,revealing the house of the sister's laying calmly in the lazy landscape of the sunset,revealing the house which was "put into fire" by those who believed that she was guilty.the final scene reveals the humanity of the whole movie and it gives the movie a possible continuation ,beeing placed in the zone of a flaming relationship between the main two characters of these miniatured masterpiece.