Heidi Fleiss is just one of those people whose head you would love to get inside. She's brilliant but tragic; sexy yet grotesque. Heidi Fleiss: The Would-Be Madam of Crystal, captures those qualities and that's what makes the movie watchable.
Would-be-Madam is not the story of the Hollywood Madam. It's the story of Heidi's life ever since. The story starts out compelling: Heidi moves to a small, old boys' town with plans to open an upscale brothel ("stud-farm") which caters to successful women. Using her incredible skills of manipulation, Heidi snatches-up a multi-million dollar property for pennies on the dollar. This leaves other locals who have long-attempted to grab the property befuddled and bitter.
Heidi manages to finagle a partnership with Joe Richards, the wealthiest, most despised brothel-owner in town. However, Richards falls into the FBI's cross-hairs and the entire town's affairs are put on hold. That's where the movie loses its steam.
The remainder of the film focuses on Heidi waiting for the storm to pass. It focuses on Heidi's friendship with a dying former Madam who collects exotic birds. When the madam dies, the movie's focus on the stud-farm also dies. Heidi adopts the birds and the last half hour are about Heidi and the parrots.
I couldn't take my eyes off the film because Heidi is the Titanic personified. If you're looking for anything more that, Would-Be-Madam will be unsatisfying.
Would-be-Madam is not the story of the Hollywood Madam. It's the story of Heidi's life ever since. The story starts out compelling: Heidi moves to a small, old boys' town with plans to open an upscale brothel ("stud-farm") which caters to successful women. Using her incredible skills of manipulation, Heidi snatches-up a multi-million dollar property for pennies on the dollar. This leaves other locals who have long-attempted to grab the property befuddled and bitter.
Heidi manages to finagle a partnership with Joe Richards, the wealthiest, most despised brothel-owner in town. However, Richards falls into the FBI's cross-hairs and the entire town's affairs are put on hold. That's where the movie loses its steam.
The remainder of the film focuses on Heidi waiting for the storm to pass. It focuses on Heidi's friendship with a dying former Madam who collects exotic birds. When the madam dies, the movie's focus on the stud-farm also dies. Heidi adopts the birds and the last half hour are about Heidi and the parrots.
I couldn't take my eyes off the film because Heidi is the Titanic personified. If you're looking for anything more that, Would-Be-Madam will be unsatisfying.