Watch Casualities of Love: The Long Island Lolita Story
- PG-13
- 2008
- 1 hr 28 min
-
5.0 (770)
Casualties of Love: The Long Island Lolita Story is a 1993 made-for-TV drama movie. It is based on real events and tells the infamous story of the sensational trial of young Amy Fisher, who became known as the "Long Island Lolita" in the early 1990s. The movie stars Jack Scalia as Joey Buttafuoco, Alyssa Milano as Amy Fisher, and Phyllis Lyons as Mary Jo Buttafuoco.
The film is set in Massapequa, a suburb of Long Island, New York. Joey Buttafuoco is an auto mechanic and married to Mary Jo, a stay-at-home mom with two children. Meanwhile, troubled teenager Amy Fisher lives in a dysfunctional household with her parents and two younger siblings. She becomes infatuated with Joey after bringing her car for repairs at his shop.
Fisher and Buttafuoco began an illicit affair and soon it becomes a sordid scandal. Buttafuoco denies the affair but eventually, his wife finds out about the relationship. After discovering the affair, Mary Jo threatens to leave Joey and exposes the relationship to her friends and family. In retaliation, Joey persuades Fisher to shoot his wife.
Although Fisher, who was sixteen years old at the time of the crime, maintains that Joey pressured her into murdering his wife, she eventually pleads guilty to attempted murder in the second degree and is sentenced to prison. The trial becomes a media sensation and the "Long Island Lolita" becomes a household name.
The movie does an excellent job of depicting the characters and their motivations. Jack Scalia's convincing performance as Joey Buttafuoco gives the viewer insight into the character's charm, his relationship with Amy, and his ultimate rash decision-making, while Alyssa Milano's nuanced portrayal of Amy Fisher provides an empathetic view into the character's troubled background and her experiences.
Phyllis Lyons, as Mary Jo Buttafuoco, is compassionate and portrays the pain inflicted upon Mary Jo as an innocent victim caught up in the middle of the scandal. Furthermore, the movie highlights the media's obsession with the scandal and captures the American public's fascination with tabloid-style stories.
Overall, Casualties of Love: The Long Island Lolita Story is a well-crafted movie with a fascinating story, competent direction, and excellent performances. While it is certainly a drama, it is a movie that is equally informative, tragic and thought-provoking. The film successfully depicts the ethical and moral ambiguities surrounding Buttafuoco and Fisher's actions and takes a close look at the impact their actions had on their families and friends.
In conclusion, this movie is a captivating and unsettling account of a horrific event that shook America. It portrays the dangers of extramarital affairs and showcases the devastating impact of sensationalism and media frenzy on the lives of ordinary people. Casualties of Love: The Long Island Lolita Story is an engrossing movie that is gripping from start to finish.