Crimes of Passion (1984)

Very disappointed :(

How sad is this?

Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

I remember when this film was originally released. At the time I was becoming interested in director Ken Russell and his works. But seeing this one the first time I felt like it wasn't comparable to the films he'd made I enjoyed. Watching it this time around I appreciated and enjoyed it far more than that first viewing.Kathleen Turner, fresh from her success with ROMANCING THE STONE, stars as China Blue aka Joanna Crane. Crane is a well-established fashion designer by day but when night rolls around she takes to the seedier part of town and becomes China Blue, a prostitute with a kinky clientele and a peeping tom neighbor named Peter (Anthony Hopkins), a self-proclaimed preacher who finds himself drawn to her while condemning her at the same time.Into both worlds is thrown Bobby Grady (John Laughlin). The owner of the design studio Crane works at thinks she might be selling designs to a competitor and he brings Bobby in to investigate and prove if she is doing so or not. Bobby follows her and discovers her duel identity, watching as she handles her clients. Involved in a marriage with a frigid wife, Bobby finds himself aroused by Crane's night time persona.Eventually Bobby confronts her and the two fall in love. Or is it lust? They sleep together with the question of who is selling the designs still out there. Obsessed with her, Bobby puts his career and his marriage on the line as he frequents the room of China Blue more often. At the same time the preacher is also becoming more obsessed as well, with the intent of doing something drastic to cleanse the soul of this woman he sees as the ultimate sinner. The odds of both story lines clashing are pretty good.There were several things that made this move stand out at the time of its release. First and foremost was the sexuality on display here with a then high profile actress like Turner in the lead role performing somewhat explicit sexual acts (for that time) on screen. In today's world they wouldn't seem so but in 1984 they were controversial. But Russell was used to that and sometimes it seems he courted that controversy in his films on purpose.The second was that Russell used Perkins to play the role of the preacher. Having spent most of his career trying to peel himself away from his association with killer Norman Bates, Perkins is once more playing a killer, although a different sort. Along with Turner his performance here is intense and frightening. In his case due to his maniacal feelings leading to a release of rage. In her case it is a role of a woman longing for love and settling for lust instead yet still hopeful.The film has a seedy feel to it but that is on purpose. The story draws you in once the initial shock wears off (the film opens with Turner receiving oral sex while pretending to be a beauty queen making her acceptance speech). You begin to feel for all of the characters involved. It's an odd combination of repulsion and compassion that mix together to make it an interesting tale.I'm sure if you read what I write you're tiring of hearing my praises for Arrow Video. Sorry but they are becoming the best at what they do, presenting pristine copies of the movies they handle with some of the most interesting extras. The film is presented in a crisp 2k restoration from original film materials. Extras include an audio commentary with director Ken Russell and producer/screenwriter Barry Sandler, seven deleted scenes with commentary, a new interview with Sandler made for this release, home movie footage of Russell visiting in Florida for a retrospective screening of the film, the theatrical trailer, a reversible sleeve with new commissioned artwork by Twins of Evil and an illustrated booklet.If you are a fan of director Ken Russell you'll want to have this in your collection. The same goes for fans of Kathleen Turner. It is worth seeing at least once but come prepared. This is not for the faint of heart nor the easily offended.

Ken Russell+ music score by Rick Wakeman=brilliant film. Throw in the talents of Kathleen Turner, Anthony Perkins, John Laughlin and Annie Potts and you have a winner.A fashion designer by day and a prostitute by night, Joanna Crane, who goes by the name of China Blue when she is turning tricks, is suspected of stealing designs is being followed by an unhappily married Bobby Grady.China Blue aka Joanna is also being stalked by a street preacher, the Reverend Peter Shayne who develops an unhealthy obsession with being able to 'save' her.As a relationship starts to bud between Bobby and Joanna, Peter Shayne becomes more and more frenzied in his attempts to convert Joanna.Crimes Of Passion is a striking movie. The music which is perfect, adds to the sexually charged atmosphere as does the setting and lighting.A thriller that does not fear to cross any boundary and is still able to include genuinely touching scenes, such as one where China Blue is hired to have sex with a man who is terminally ill.The scenes between Bobby and his wife Amy are also tinged with sadness as you can see how very unhappy they both are together.Despite the fine performances from the cast, this is definitely Anthony Perkin's movie. His portrayal of Peter Shayne is both comical and terrifying as the menacing and deranged preacher who is desperate to find salvation in saving China Blue, no matter what the cost.Kathleen Turner also puts in a great performance as the tormented woman who leads two lives. My only gripe with Crimes Of Passion is that Joanna's backstory was never really explored. But that would be a gripping film within itself.Ken Russell's film really explores the darker side of sexual attraction and obsession.It does end on a lighter note though which gives the film a more optimistic feel that gives the film a bit of a lift.Crimes Of Passion is not for everyone, some of the scenes are explicit, but it is worth checking out.

First of all, if you are going to watch this movie, you'd better get the uncut version. "Crimes of Passion" is pure 80's entertainment, thanks to Anthony Perkins mainly, who was given some of the most hilarious (bad) lines ever. Characters are so over-the-top and absurd, dialogue is so unnatural and bad/funny, the acting is exaggerated and sometimes awful (intentionally maybe?), the music is so out of place that the whole thing is a Camp Masterpiece. Anthony Perkins seems to be spoofing his own classic "demented" persona, even the ending looks like some sort of "Psycho" parody. The preacher's maniacal performance, sniffing drugs in sleazy sex booths, reminded me of Dennis Hopper in "Blue Velvet". This is funny stuff, and it looks like a De Palma film. The sexual content is surprising for a mainstream movie with famous actors, and it only adds to the quirkiness. The point seems to be going everywhere, and the plot, crazy and unlikely as it is, is all over the place– the movie can't decide whether it's a satire, thriller, comedy, love story or marital drama, the common element being sexuality and what it represents for different individuals. For the housewife, sex is something dirty and unpleasant, a conjugal duty; for the husband, it's the best way to express love and respect; for China Blue, it's a means to avoid emotional attachment; for the preacher it's a destructive impulse, a source of guilt and self-hatred. Despite some "hard-core" scenes, the movies remains light-hearted, and it's very entertaining.

Or, you won't. This exploration of gender and sexuality has a similar problem to some people, it's not sure which way it wants to go. It's got genre confusion. Is it a drama? Is it a satire? Certainly, images of a man as hp or "human penis", slowly rising as his friend hums "Thus Spoke Zoroaster" and then spitting milk out of his mouth as his wife sits in horror surrounded by harsh scenes of family strife seems to scream satire, but the performances are all over the map. Annie Potts is deadly serious and Anthony Perkins is psycho. Kathleen Turner is the bright spot. She sells such odd scenes as her prostitute dressed in a nun's habit jumping on her bed while singing "Onward Christian Soldier!" Strangely, even with these three off the wall things mentioned, it's the straightness of the movie as a whole that makes it too dramatic. But the ending is priceless, John Laughlin does another one of his weepy monologues about how he needed his woman to tell him that everything would be alright, it's OK to be scared, then, he looks at the camera with a smile and says that they f**ked like animals. Classic.P.S. One of my favorite scenes ended up on the cutting room floor. Bruce Davidson analyzes this girl in a bar, makes an animal noise, and asks her if she likes the Bee Gees all while laughing. It's hilarious and it hits on an interesting point. Isn't it all just a game? If you say the right thing, you get a prize.