From director Ken Russell, who never met an excess he didn't like, Crimes of Passion is the story of Joanna Crane - a fashion designer by day, a kinky prostitute named China Blue by night. China finds herself being stalked by a maniacal street preacher (Anthony Perkins) who wants to save her soul; she has also caught the eye of a private investigator (John Laughlin) whose marriage is on the rocks.
Crimes of Passion has its share of problems. The dialogue is often excruciatingly bad, and the subplot involving Laughlin and his wife (Annie Potts) is barely watchable. (Don't be surprised if you find yourself getting drowsy; even Potts seems to be struggling to stay awake during her scenes.) But as long as Turner is on screen, the film shines. This is easily the best performance of her career, and it almost makes you forget that this is the same woman that starred in Peggy Sue Got Married and Romancing the Stone. Nothing against those films or her performance in them, but when you see what she does to a cop, you'll get the idea.
** 1/2 (on a scale of zero to five)
Crimes of Passion has its share of problems. The dialogue is often excruciatingly bad, and the subplot involving Laughlin and his wife (Annie Potts) is barely watchable. (Don't be surprised if you find yourself getting drowsy; even Potts seems to be struggling to stay awake during her scenes.) But as long as Turner is on screen, the film shines. This is easily the best performance of her career, and it almost makes you forget that this is the same woman that starred in Peggy Sue Got Married and Romancing the Stone. Nothing against those films or her performance in them, but when you see what she does to a cop, you'll get the idea.
** 1/2 (on a scale of zero to five)