REEL CRITICS:Hayek is lone gem in ‘Hearts’

John Travolta and James Gandolfini are two hulking New York detectives in pursuit of vicious murderers in the disappointing “Lonely Hearts.”

Set in the late 1940’s, this story was previously told in the 1970 movie “The Honeymoon Killers,” which was in turn inspired by real-life killers who conned lonely women out of their savings.

Salma Hayek is quite convincing as Martha, the sultry sociopath who hooks up with a cocky, scrawny Raymond (Jared Leto). She is the dominant force in their relationship whose jealousy fuels the first shocking killing, and he winds up just as terrified as their victims.

You would think writer-director Todd Robinson, whose grandfather is portrayed by John Travolta, would make the character less one-dimensional. Elmer Robinson doesn’t do much but mumble and brood about his late wife. As his partner, Gandolfini is still playing Tony Soprano but this time he’s got a badge.

“Lonely Hearts” has lots of visual style and lots of blood, but apart from Hayek’s performance there’s not much in it to recommend.