Identity Theft (2004 TV Movie) User Reviews (13)

The Crisis of Taking Away Your "Good Name" !

[elshikh4 · 7/10 · 16 April 2010]

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.

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 scarier since there are no deterrent laws for it yet. So in the digital age that we live, destroying the life of someone, financially and morally, became very easy job to do, and getting away with it became yet easier!

Moreover, the movie 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 Sciorra) won, but not for (Kimberly Williams-Paisley)'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 however 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 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.

A drama that seems to have somewhat of an identity crisis of its own.

[HBSmith_Critic · 7/10 · 1 November 2017]

"Based on true events", the film revolves around Michelle Brown and her husband seeking a happy life together. Events turn sour when 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.

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+

Victimhood.

[rmax304823 · 6/10 · 17 October 2013]

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.

A great movie; I don't think Identity Theft has been covered in any other movie

[raisleygordon · 12 August 2012]

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.

Very Bad

[gazineo-1 · 3/10 · 24 January 2006]

Poor handled material about a real story concerning a young woman (Williams) who has all her data and her identity too stole by an ambitious and ill minded secretary (Sciorra). The movie goes on and on, never offering any climax moments or interesting facts, until the constrained ending when informations about the facts and the persons involved are given like a policial report.

The story of this movie has potential, indeed. Nowdays, one of the big problems in commerce activity is the real possibility of one has all his or hers personal information (name, number of social security, ID or credit card)used by stealers and modern pirates in a series of crimes.

Unfortunately, 'Identity Theft' never hits the bull eye. In my opinion, I think this movie was made almost with an amateur touch, like a second grade production. I give this one a 3 (three).

Somewhat Disappointed

[Anothersmalltowngirl · 4/10 · 20 February 2009]

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.....

Bland, weak and extremely predictable biographic movie

[eurograd · 3/10 · 1 September 2013]

This is a mostly failed attempt at producing a biographic movie out of the real-life story of a woman whose identity was stolen and went through a difficult time to clear her name.

It had a good story line to cling on, exploring a theme that is not overused in drama or thriller movies.

However, the overall quality of production and editing is awful. Acting is not as awful, but whatever qualities the cast had were canceled by the extremely predictable scene and lines. Character building is non-existent, it appears they took every single one from a menu of pre-packaged profiles.

In the end, the whole movie looks like it was an overambitious Public Service Announcement.

The Michelle Brown Story

[gov-gov22 · 10/10 · 15 May 2006]

I like this movie very much. Anyone committing or having committed ID Theft should be made to watch this movie no less than 20hrs a day and not less than 2yrs every day. Maybe then people will understand what kind of damage they have caused and stop and think about it. I can personally related because two people in my extended family did this and they're getting off the easy way. No sympathy should be the punishment. Anyway I thought the movie was directed and performed with the excellence to make this seem so realistic and not twist the truth of what happened. I think everyone should watch this movie. It really gives you an idea of what can happened when you least expect it.

I hope the real Michelle Brown wasnt as dense as portrayed here.

[deembastille714 · 2/10 · 18 April 2024]

So many things just dont make sense here. First off they just walk into a house for sale. Where's the realtor? Why are you allowed to just walk into a vacant property and not just squat? The very beginning she wants the kitchen bigger when the kitchen is HUGE TO BEGIN WITH! BUYfriend! Hah all he did was work on the house, did he have a job??? If they are engaged then why dont they buy the house together? For them to move into?

She pays for everything! With the boyfriend/fiance in the beginning. That did not sit well with me for some reason. And later he states how she doesnt take receipts sometimes at restaurants.

Can we talk about this shady as hell loan office? ITS CALLED A CREDITED BANK!

She leaves her paperwork with her and not ask when barry was going to be returning.

She closed accounts but things still happened. It wasnt until MONTHS LATER that she gets a new checking account. THATS THE FIRST THING YOU DO! SO basically this is a movie about what NOT TO DO when you have your identity stolen!

Michelle Brown story

[chrisrange · 25 December 2004]

I loved this movie because, if it had been the reverse(one man stealing another man's identity), I don't think, you would see the emotional anxiety, a victim of identity theft, goes through!!! Sure women are more emotional but, I think, that was an advantage because, it enables illustration of, the pain, regardless of sex, what an identity theft victim goes through...the pain, the anguish, having to constantly prove, you are who, you say you.

I am sorry if women find this offensive. I feel that women, are far more honest with, both, themselves and, others when it comes to expressing pain, regardless of what type.

Christopher

The Good Girl vs the Bad Girl....how original.

[frankiedesmond-54389 · 3/10 · 3 March 2024]

I wanted to like this movie because I am aware identity theft is a problem. But it was soooo hard to root for Michelle Brown because she was too perfect, almost sickening sweet with not a care in site. Except that she never lived in a house. Boo hoo. As soon as life threw her a curve ball, she whined about life being unfair even though she did everything right, she was terrible to her bf who renovated her entire house & the people she worked with. I am not saying she deserved what happened but it was really hard to root for someone suffering first world problems when she already had so much. When the judge told her to get over it because there were worst things in life, I might have shed a tear of happiness.

there were some frustrating moments

[julester · 8/10 · 23 May 2005]

Did any other wonder, after Connie drove to Michelle's home in the NM van she had stolen, why Michelle didn't (a) get the license plate number and (b) call the investigator who had been working her case???? I'm hoping that this was just a production error

Other than these points, my husband and I loved the movie, knowing that identity theft can happen to anyone under any circumstance. I'm so glad that, since Michelle's ordeal, legislation has been implemented for tougher sentences. It's so unfortunate that identity theft occurs every six seconds as stated in the movie. It just might be worth closing established accounts and open new ones every so often to help prevent it.

Very Informing of lunatics like Connie Volkos!

[BreanneB · 10/10 · 28 April 2005]

I thought this movie was excellent, entertaining and very informing of people like Connie Volkos. She is a despicable thief, a nut and definitely personality disordered and sociopathic. She is not concerned with ruining other people's lives and is oblivious to the devastation she causes. She takes no responsibility for her actions and thinks she can just get away with things. It all started when Michelle Brown (the victim) walks into the loan office were Connie worked, with a skirt on that Connie liked. When her credit card is declined at the store she steals Michelle's credit card and information and dishonestly has the luxuries life, she wants. In the end all I can say to her is that, "Hey when you've layed around your whole life, you don't just get to say one day, "Oh I think I want what everybody else has worked so hard for their whole life". It does not work that way".