Tag: Diane Keaton

CRIMES OF THE HEART (1986)

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Directed By: Bruce Beresford 

Written By: Beth Hanley 

Cinematography: Dante Spinotti 

Editor: Anne Goursaud 

Cast: Diane Keaton, Tess Harper, Jessica Lange, Sissy Spacek, Sam Shepard, David Carpenter, Hurd Hatfield, Beeson Carroll  

Three sisters with quite different personalities and lives reunite when Babe, the youngest, has just shot her husband. Oldest sister Lenny takes care of their grandfather and is turning into an old maid. Meg, who aspires to make it in Hollywood as a singer and actress, has had a wild, man-filled life. Their reunion is joyful but also stirs up much tension.

This is one of those films that seems to be a claim for its time and while it’s not horrible, not a film can easily get into.

As the story is obviously based on a play and that they’re in lies the problem as lived in as the direction production design and dialogue, tries to feel the acting feels like it is more a writer’s invention rather than necessarily natural.

So that throughout while quirky and revelatory, and at times it might seem relatable. It always feels more like a production than anything that rings true. This can be fine but for such a film that wants us to feel down deep at times, it feels almost like a designing women episode that’s been extended.

Not to mention some of the stories, mindset, and plot lines that make up this film might’ve been passable and somewhat racy back then, but now it feels more taboo and unacceptable, and today’s climate.  

One can understand going for realism, but there is one scene in the use of racial language that just seems maybe natural for the character but just seems inappropriate for the film, and the mood and tone that it seems to be going for don’t sink into the film just throw it off at times. Same thing where Sam Shepard Dr. character has messed up teeth for no reason then to maybe make Shepard not seem like such a dreamboat and more like a regular character or a guy. You might wonder why when this film is hardly a bastion of realism half the time.

All the performances are great and Tess Harper, who got a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award nomination for the film truly does stand out as more of the thorn in the side of the characters a busybody, who is always opinionated and shockingly memorable. She is barely in the film. 

This film should be a great triumph with such dramatic actresses altogether on the big screen all at once such as Jessica Lang, Diane Keaton, and Sissy Spacek, and they all are given much to do and characterizations, but unfortunately, the film just doesn’t feel that big or special maybe that strength is that supposed to feel subtle. No, it doesn’t come off as satisfying, and by the end, it just feels like it just stops instead of having any real feeling of resolution.

Grade: C 

POMS (2019)

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Directed By: Zara Hayes
Written By: Shane Atkinson 
Story By: Zara Hayes & Shane Atkinson 
Cinematography: Tim Orr
Editor: Annette Davey 

Cast: Diane Keaton, Jacki Weaver, Celia Weston, Alisha Roe, Charlie Tahan, Rhea Perlman, Pam Grier, Phyllis Somerville, Patrica French, Bruce McGill 

POMS is a comedy about a group of women who form a cheerleading squad at their retirement community, proving that you’re never too old to ‘bring it!’

Usually every summer there are certain types of films that come towards the end of that season. There is the urban thriller that has something to do with domestication. There is a fantasy romance that somehow involves travel or older characters or both and there is the older ensemble movie. Which usually involves a group of older female or male characters whose characters get together for a cause.

Somehow have a setback or are underestimated because of their age. Then manages to impress and show off the young people. 

The film will usually involve the character doing things you wouldn’t expect them to do at that age. Usually, the cast will be filled with recognizable actors. Who will either all get a chance to shine or two of them will be more the focus. While the others fall by the wayside (Think the movie CALENDAR GIRLS) the other way is that it is an ensemble filled with all ages whereas a group they bond and we see the individual problems of each across the ages.

This film is the one that involves an ensemble and two of the actors take the lead. As well as having older characters doing something together that is only thought to be done by younger people. Here it is cheerleading. The two main leads are Diane Keaton and Jacki Weaver 

Jacki Weaver is more the flirty and rambunctious character. Who comes across like Blanche from THE GOLDEN GIRLS. She is also more the wild child and veteran of the retirement community they are part of.

Diane Keaton is the new resident who mainly came there to be alone and dies slowly from Cancer, but as she keeps being made to socialize and brought into her neighbors schemes. She decides to do an activity as a last hurrah, also to stick it to the community board and make a mark.

We see as they recruit new members and even has a touching side story. Where an older woman has bullying kids who won’t let her do what she wants. As they think they know what they want is best.

The film Is predictable but it’s Supposed to be it’s Light and is more for an audience to enjoy, not necessarily think about and more have the film affect their feelings. Not to mention be representative of the audience they want to attract and also for the younger audience members maybe remind them of their loved ones. 

While enjoyable, one is definitely bit the audience for this one. Not to mention it all feels too familiar. There is no attempt at anything new or original. So that most of the film feels like it’s On autopilot.

So while it’s Great to see these older actresses get a project and screen time. One only wishes it was either stronger or worthy of their time and talents. Then again they can’t all get the roles Susan Sarandon and Helen Mirren seem to get that offer more versatility and flexibility.

Grade: C-