Crimes of Passion

The cover blurb for the DVD release of this 1984 film describes director Ken Russell as “inimitable.” That's one way of putting it. Here's another word for Russell's Crimes of Passion (the director's dubious oeuvre includes such other monuments to excess as Tommy and Lisztomania): unwatchable. Not to mention turgid, mannered, pretentious…the list goes on. The plot, such as it is, centers on fashion designer Kathleen Turner, whose double life as an L.A. streetwalker (who calls herself China Blue) attracts both a crazed preacher stalker (Anthony Perkins) and a private investigator (John Laughlin) whose unhappy marriage (to Annie Potts) fuels an amorous obsession with the Turner character. Besides the preposterous attempts to give the characters any kind of backstory, depth, or soul, this unsavory mess is luridly lit, ludicrously overacted by people who should have known better, and less-than-memorably scored by Rick Wakeman of Yes. DVD extras include deleted scenes, as well as audio commentary by Russell and writer/producer Barry Sandler. Definitely not recommended. (S. Graham)[Blu-ray/DVD Combo Review—July 26, 2016—Arrow, 112 min., R, $39.95—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1984's Crimes of Passion features a fine transfer and a DTS-HD mono soundtrack. Extras include both the director's cut and the uncut versions of the film, audio commentary by director Ken Russell and writer Barry Sandler, the behind-the-scenes featurettes “Rick Wakeman: Composing for Ken” with the composer (29 min.) and “Barry Sandler: Life of Crime” (22 min.), deleted scenes (22 min.), an “It's a Lovely Life” music video, and trailers. Bottom line: this controversial ‘80s cult classic from Russell shines on Blu-ray.]