It seems somehow ironic that Ken Russell - usually the most indulgent and variable of directors - produced his most solid work in North America. 'Altered States' (like 'Crimes of Passion', its odd, binary-star sibling) teeters toward a kind of brilliance that Russell never really demonstrates in his British output. Although the film is certainly flawed, almost ultimately collapsing under its own ambition and finite budget, certainly the first two acts are as good as anything I've seen in the cinema. At its heart is a jaw-droppingly stunning ensemble cast who Russell choreographs (there can be no other word) with remarkable precision and confidence: those who equate Russell with only the low-camp depths of something like 'Gothic' will be astonished at this film's naturalism. Balaban's house party, set early on in the proceedings, is a case in point, effortlessly summing up both an entire era and a complex set of relationships.
'Altered States' also boasts John Corigliano's fine score and Jordan Cronenweth's lucid cinematography - it's worth noting that Cronenweth subsequently moved on to DOP perhaps one of cinema's most arresting visual landmarks: 'Blade Runner'.
'Altered States' also boasts John Corigliano's fine score and Jordan Cronenweth's lucid cinematography - it's worth noting that Cronenweth subsequently moved on to DOP perhaps one of cinema's most arresting visual landmarks: 'Blade Runner'.