Crimes of Passion

Rating:
Summary: This movie is a camp classic with interesting undertones.
Review: Although there are some pacing flaws and some overacting, I found the character development and role reversal between Turner's and Perkin's characters very interesting in their Christ-like sacrifice so that one can save the other to live a happy life. The only movie where Annie Potts is a villian. Laughlin is good enough but a little whiny. Filled with great lines and camera angles, I think that it is worth watching just to see Kathleen Turner as the hooker, China Blue.

Rating:
Summary: a plea for honesty
Review: as Ken Russel says, that's what this film is about, and it is a supurb artwork of cinema in my opinion. I've watched a beat-up 1984 VHS of the original U.S. release so many times that I've memorized some of the zinger one-liners, and the unedited, uncensored DVD is a real treat. The director and writers' commentaries give you something new to think about every time you watch it. Russel does a great job of flouting American suburban hypocrisy with this film; it's raunchy and unapologetically un-PC, shows that we all have to have our illusions to believe in

Rating:
Summary: No, Just a Crime
Review: Don't get me wrong: I'm not a prude. I'd love a challenging, sexually-charged film that ignited and then scorched its characters with desire and passion and obsession. Wind them up and see what happens to them. LAST TANGO IN PARIS and BODY HEAT come to mind. But CRIMES OF PASSION, even this Unrated! version, should not.

From the crude, obnoxious opening dialogue to its garish "sex scenes" (not to mention the truly embarrassing "H.P." scene), CRIMES OF PASSION plays like an attempt at high-minded art by an immature juvenile working with the staff of Hustler magazine.

The lead actor comes off as wooden and inexperienced. His character never appears sympathetic or even interesting: he's just a shallow lout who dumps his family for a hooker.
Kathleen Turner and Annie Potts are above this horror show.
According to the commentary, Anthony Perkins really is snorting something--which would explain his usual madness this time.
At first, I thought the cheap music was intended as a parody of cheap porn film music, but director Ken Russell professes his admiration for it. (He also says, "This is one of the best scripts I've worked with"!).
The climax plays like a ridiculous rehash of PSYCHO--even if it didn't include the original Norman Bates stumbling around in drag.

If you're getting this for the Director's Commentary, be warned: Ken Russell abandons it about twenty minutes into the movie. Writer/Producer Barry Sandler glosses over Russell's departure ("Ken had to catch a plane back to London") and then soldiers on, not so much giving any insight into this mess as merely overstating what you're seeing.
No real depth here. Sleazy, pretentious, offensive for the sake of being offensive. Not even very funny.

I have no intention of keeping this DVD (a first, and I have a lot of BAD DVDs). I'm just trying to figure out whether to trade it for credit at a used CD store.
Or just throw it away.

Rating:
Summary: No, Just a Crime
Review: Don't get me wrong: I'm not a prude. I'd love a challenging, sexually-charged film that ignited and then scorched its characters with desire and passion and obsession. Wind them up and see what happens to them. LAST TANGO IN PARIS and BODY HEAT come to mind. But CRIMES OF PASSION, even this Unrated! version, should not.

From the crude, obnoxious opening dialogue to its garish "sex scenes" (not to mention the truly embarrassing "H.P." scene), CRIMES OF PASSION plays like an attempt at high-minded art by an immature juvenile working with the staff of Hustler magazine.

The lead actor comes off as wooden and inexperienced. His character never appears sympathetic or even interesting: he's just a shallow lout who dumps his family for a hooker.
Kathleen Turner and Annie Potts are above this horror show.
According to the commentary, Anthony Perkins really is snorting something--which would explain his usual madness this time.
At first, I thought the cheap music was intended as a parody of cheap porn film music, but director Ken Russell professes his admiration for it. (He also says, "This is one of the best scripts I've worked with"!).
The climax plays like a ridiculous rehash of PSYCHO--even if it didn't include the original Norman Bates stumbling around in drag.

If you're getting this for the Director's Commentary, be warned: Ken Russell abandons it about twenty minutes into the movie. Writer/Producer Barry Sandler glosses over Russell's departure ("Ken had to catch a plane back to London") and then soldiers on, not so much giving any insight into this mess as merely overstating what you're seeing.
No real depth here. Sleazy, pretentious, offensive for the sake of being offensive. Not even very funny.

I have no intention of keeping this DVD (a first, and I have a lot of BAD DVDs). I'm just trying to figure out whether to trade it for credit at a used CD store.
Or just throw it away.

Rating:
Summary: Every time I see this film (c.30x) it is thought provoking
Review: Every time I see this film (c.30 times) it is thought provoking for different reasons. It brutally contrasts a stereotypical marriage (high school romance & 2 kids) with prostitution so prostitution comes out more honest and real. This film is compelling and should to be viewed at least 3 times before it is transfixing. The interplays between Kathleen Turner & Anthony Perkins are incredible and confronting. The filmmaking technique is a very creative and unique weaving of the plots; utilizing duets between the major characters until the final crescendo is played out. Anthony Perkins has several monologues that serve as a narrative for the audience. Not for the wowserish, nor is it pornographic (using clever imagery to allude to what is occuring), it is full of very witty, memorable one-liners. A film to own because continually renting it from the video store can become expensive. An absolute classic.

Rating:
Summary: "Goodbye, China Blue"
Review: I consider myself lucky to find this cult classic on DVD with an awesome deep blue cover and the words "unrated, uncensored". Although I've been watching it so many times on video, the uncut version on DVD including some newly restored footage is a real bonus, let alone its other bonus materials, like the commentaries and a whole bunch of deleted scenes. "Crimes of Passion" is the kind of film that ignites different thoughts on each viewer's mind, although the talents of its director and actors are undeniable to everybody. The sarcastic, witty dialogue is another achievement that can be fairly compared to "All About Eve". I for one have been deeply impressed by the innumerable outrageously funny lines exchanged among the characters. One line, however, sounded like a sad memorable quote, not just because it wrapped up the whole plot but it also reminded us of an exceptionally talented and ill-fated actor -- Anthony Perkins: "Goodbye, China Blue".

Rating:
Summary: "Goodbye, China Blue"
Review: I consider myself lucky to find this cult classic on DVD with an awesome deep blue cover and the words "unrated, uncensored". Although I've been watching it so many times on video, the uncut version on DVD including some newly restored footage is a real bonus, let alone its other bonus materials, like the commentaries and a whole bunch of deleted scenes. "Crimes of Passion" is the kind of film that ignites different thoughts on each viewer's mind, although the talents of its director and actors are undeniable to everybody. The sarcastic, witty dialogue is another achievement that can be fairly compared to "All About Eve". I for one have been deeply impressed by the innumerable outrageously funny lines exchanged among the characters. One line, however, sounded like a sad memorable quote, not just because it wrapped up the whole plot but it also reminded us of an exceptionally talented and ill-fated actor -- Anthony Perkins: "Goodbye, China Blue".

Rating:
Summary: A horribly disgusting and amazingly unlikable film
Review: I have always been a good Anthony Perkins fan. I believe he is a truly underrated actor. I'e seen him in plenty of films, and, thus, I was interested always to see this, I will admit, well known cult classic. Also, I have liked Kathaleen Turner in all sorts of films, from "Romancing the Stone" and "Jewel of the Nile" to "War of the Roses" and, my favorite, Coppala's "Peggy Sue Got Married." Thus, I wanted to see this film badly, despite the generally low critical reviews.

What I found was an appalling film, to say the least. Turner delivers a performance so filled with lurid sex and ugly acts that it dips below - far, far below - what she should be accustomed to. She is 100% below her potential with this garbage. Her role of a part time professional and part time prostitute is also not very convincing. In regards to Perkins, he delivers an interesting performance. He is a self described 'man of God' who carries with him masturbation and sex toys and products, a cross and a Holy Bible - quite interesting. He is obsessed with sex - ugly and lurid sex. Perkins believes he has emerged as Turner's spiritual and possibly sexual savior.

The film has some interesting angles. I believe Perkins' character is obviously the 1980's evangelical leaders outfit, which saw sex as 'public enemy #1' yet was so hypocritical about other wrongs, such as greed, and all too often was wrong on a personal account on sex, since their private lives were far from 'puritan.' The director's criticism of this is pretty much acceptable, yet, it is the way he does it that bothers me - such ugliness! Never have I seen such a lurid and ugly film! Never will I see such an ugly and lurid film! We have EVERYTHING in here, from peep shows with young prostitutes dancing to Perkins sleeping on the street with a Bible and a dildo to Turner doing a sex bit as a Catholic nun on Perkins to Perkins attacking others with bloody sex toys to Turner sexually gratifying a cop with his tools(including his night stick)to graphic sex to, well, you get the point! This is no pretty picture. As for the man who does the part of the person who is supposed to spy on Turner, he just plain stinks! What a sucker! What a lousy actor!

This film is pretty lousy. The beginning is somewhat interesting. Yet, soon, the film dips into a 'how low and sick can you go' marathon of sick sexual orgies. The film is gross. This reflects badly on the character of all persons involved. This is a stain upon the seemingly good career of Turner(until "Baby Genius" of course). As for Perkins, he always had his share of duds ("Edge of Sanity" and "Psycho IV" ring a bell!). Yet, this one goes beyond the usual garbage. Here, he is a plain old degenerate meant to get under most persons' skin. This is a sick film - 100% of the way.

Though, I will say, Perkins does a decent job in his performance - he does overact, but he does manage to convey the image of a sex toy totting preacher well! Turner is thrown away in the filfth. Also, there is one good scene - the final scene of action(there are virtually none - it's no action and all lurid sex)

Rating:
Summary: Showgirls and... Crimes of Passion
Review: I loved this movie. It was great. It's just shocking that... Blockbuster can carry this film unrated, but not Showgirls NC-17, and that people thought that Showgirls was so bad, didn't have a plot, had bad acting, and everything else. This film was worse than Showgirls in every way. Come on! Anthony Perkins walks around stabbing people with a dildo? The sex scenes were way worse than anything ever seen in Showgirls.

Rating:
Summary: Kathleen Turner fans need this film in their collection
Review: In 1984, Kathleen Turner was doing big Hollywood films such as "Romancing the Stone". However, on the side she did a more obscure Ken Russell film called "Crimes of Passion". This film truly showcases Kathleen Turner's talents as she portrays an advertising executive by day, and a Hollywood hooker by night. Anthony Perkins plays a 'preacher' trying to correct Ms Turner's wrong-doings, while John Laughlin plays a husband searching for intimacy. Any fan of Kathleen Turner will want this film in their collection. I borrowed my friend's copy, and am eager to get it my own.
DVD SUMMARY:
A great transfer to DVD by Anchor Bay, with some deleted scenes thrown in. Full uncut version of film, but only a mono soundtrack.