This is a movie most to be appreciated as a rare opportunity to watch three actresses at the top of their game share the silver screen with one another. It's based on a Pulitzer Prize winning play by Beth Henley, and it does admittedly feel somewhat stagey. It's filled with monologues and dialogue that feels better suited for the stage than the screen. That being said, I still find it a highly entertaining piece that showcases the fine talents of two of the three leading ladies. Unfortunately, Keaton tends to go over the top and doesn't seem on the same wavelength as her co-stars. Lange and Spacek feel more at home with the Southern feel of the picture and create a true feeling of sisterhood. Watching it 35 years later, I admit it feels a bit dated, particularly a subplot involving Spacek's affair with a young African American man. I'm not sure it would fly in today's political atmosphere. But there's lots to appreciate here and an ending that will undoubtedly put a smile on your face. Those who appreciate movies about the eccentricities of the South will probably enjoy this more than others.
Review of Crimes of the Heart
