{"id":3765,"date":"2007-07-24T09:21:13","date_gmt":"2007-07-24T16:21:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3765"},"modified":"2021-02-01T15:45:10","modified_gmt":"2021-02-01T22:45:10","slug":"crimes-of-the-heart-1986","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3765","title":{"rendered":"Crimes of the Heart (1986)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t like his stinkin&#8217; looks.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Crimes-of-the-Heart-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Crimes-of-the-Heart-Poster-201x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"201\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-30172\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Crimes-of-the-Heart-Poster-201x300.jpg 201w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Crimes-of-the-Heart-Poster-85x128.jpg 85w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Crimes-of-the-Heart-Poster.jpg 372w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 201px) 100vw, 201px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nThree grown sisters &#8212; Meg (Jessica Lange), Lenny (Diane Keaton), and Babe (Sissy Spacek) &#8212; reunite in their Southern childhood home when Babe is accused of shooting her husband (Beeson Carroll).\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Deep South<\/li>\n<li>Diane Keaton Films<\/li>\n<li>Homecoming<\/li>\n<li>Jessica Lange Films<\/li>\n<li>Play Adaptations<\/li>\n<li>Siblings<\/li>\n<li>Sissy Spacek Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\n<em>Crimes of the Heart<\/em> &#8212; directed by Bruce Beresford and starring a triumvirate of Oscar-winning actresses &#8212; is, unfortunately, a disappointment. Pulitzer Prize winner Beth Henley adapted her monologue-saturated, flashback-heavy play for the screen, but her attempts to open up the stage-bound settings do little to mask the fact that her characters are basically talking at each other the entire time. And Henley&#8217;s unique strain of Southern gothic humor &#8212; Spacek&#8217;s overt lack of guilt for shooting her husband; Keaton&#8217;s &#8220;shrunken ovary&#8221;; their mother&#8217;s odd &#8220;double suicide&#8221; &#8212; ultimately doesn&#8217;t work within the context of a realistic film.  <\/p>\n<p>With that said, both Spacek and Lange give wonderful performances as damaged sisters coping in their own dysfunctional ways. Keaton, unfortunately, fares much worse, coming across &#8212; as noted by Paul Attanasio of the <em>Washington Post<\/em> &#8212; as &#8220;a parody of herself, all nervous gestures, daffy glances and Annie Hall tics.&#8221; Sam Shepard and Tess Harper (the latter nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar) are fine in minor roles, but don&#8217;t have enough screentime to make much of an impression. And, in the end, no amount of worthy acting can redeem what is essentially a flawed film. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Sissy Spacek as Babe<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Crimes-of-the-Heart-Spacek.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Crimes-of-the-Heart-Spacek.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67756\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Crimes-of-the-Heart-Spacek.jpg 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Crimes-of-the-Heart-Spacek-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Crimes-of-the-Heart-Spacek-128x72.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Crimes-of-the-Heart-Spacek-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Crimes-of-the-Heart-Spacek-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Jessica Lange as Meg<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Crimes-of-the-Heart-Lange.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Crimes-of-the-Heart-Lange.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67758\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Crimes-of-the-Heart-Lange.jpg 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Crimes-of-the-Heart-Lange-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Crimes-of-the-Heart-Lange-128x72.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Crimes-of-the-Heart-Lange-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Crimes-of-the-Heart-Lange-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>The hilarious moment when we first discover the notorious truth behind the girls&#8217; mother&#8217;s suicide<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Crimes-of-the-Heart-Cat.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Crimes-of-the-Heart-Cat.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67757\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Crimes-of-the-Heart-Cat.jpg 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Crimes-of-the-Heart-Cat-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Crimes-of-the-Heart-Cat-128x72.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Crimes-of-the-Heart-Cat-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Crimes-of-the-Heart-Cat-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo. Despite its Oscar-nominated performances, this isn&#8217;t must-see viewing. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0090886\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/reviews\/crimes-of-the-heart-1986\">Roger Ebert&#8217;s Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/wp-srv\/style\/longterm\/movies\/videos\/crimesoftheheartpg13kempley_a0cacf.htm\">Washington Post Review (Rita Kempley)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/wp-srv\/style\/longterm\/movies\/videos\/crimesoftheheartpg13attanasio_a0ad82.htm\">Washington Post Review (Paul Attanasio)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/crimes-of-the-heart\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t like his stinkin&#8217; looks.&#8221; Synopsis: Three grown sisters &#8212; Meg (Jessica Lange), Lenny (Diane Keaton), and Babe (Sissy Spacek) &#8212; reunite in their Southern childhood home when Babe is accused of shooting her husband (Beeson Carroll). Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Deep South Diane Keaton Films Homecoming Jessica Lange Films Play Adaptations Siblings Sissy Spacek Films Review: Crimes of the Heart &#8212; directed by Bruce Beresford and starring a triumvirate of Oscar-winning actresses &#8212; is, unfortunately, a disappointment&#8230;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3765\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3765","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3765","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3765"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3765\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67759,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3765\/revisions\/67759"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3765"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3765"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3765"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}