Crooked Hearts (1991) User Reviews

Family Counseling Might Have Helped

[jayraskin1 · 5/10 · 25 October 2010]

Any movie with Jennifer Jason Leigh, my favorite actress, automatically gets at least five stars. I have never seen her play a character and be less than riveting...until this film. She just plays a very minor role. On screen for less than ten minute, she is good, but bland compared to her other performances. The same thing can be said for Juliet Lewis. She is cute and natural as the family sister, as usual, but relatively bland.

Bland is a good word for this film. The plot, acting and directing is pedestrian and average, really television show quality. All three lead brothers went on to star in television shows, Peter Berg in "Chicago Hope," Noah Wyle in "E.R." (Doctors) and Vincent D'onofrio in "Law and Order: Criminal Intent" (Detective). It is nice to see them this young, before they moved to television.

The movie is essentially about two brothers and their attempts to move away from their family. Apparently the family is a warm and loving place, but because their father had an affair with a waitress, it is all a sham. The characters keep saying that the family holds them back from doing bigger and better things, but that is not evident in anything that happens.

There are several rather interesting scenes and shots, but they are in the last 1/3 of the film. If you can get past the first hour which drags, it does improve somewhat. The burning of the father's love letters scene sticks out for the tension it builds as the letters seem to escape and start burning dangerously close to a gas station.

Their are better movies of this genre out there, but if you have seen "East of Eden," "Hotel New Hampshire," Running WithScissors, and other better dysfunctional family movies, you might consider this movie. It is dull, but has enough mildly entertaining moments to make it watchable.

Ties are almost put to sunder.

[michaelRokeefe · 7/10 · 13 May 2010]

A bit depressing, but a solid drama based on a novel by Robert Bosewell. Director Michael Bortman is also responsible for the screenplay that has a well knit family slowing falling part. It goes to show that perfection isn't all its cracked up to be. The Warren family is well meaning on the most part in spite of being dysfunctional. Vincent D'Onofrio steps up to become a star as a father/son rivalry drives a stake into the family's well being. At times a bit harsh, but you get the whole idea of how relationships among these family members try, but can't really grasp unity. A fine cast that also features: Peter Coyote, Noah Wyle, Peter Berg, Juliette Lewis, Marg Helgenberger and Cindy Pickett.

dysfunctional family drama

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 28 October 2018]

As a young boy, Tom admires his older brother Charley (Vincent D'Onofrio). He follows him to the local diner hangout. Charley talks to Tom's crush waitress Jennetta. She tells them that she's willing to wait for their father (Peter Coyote) to settle matters. Some years later, Tom (Peter Berg) drops out of Berkley to go home. Ask (Noah Wyle), Charley, and Cassie (Juliette Lewis) are still living at home with mom (Cindy Pickett) and dad. Charley is bitter to escape but can't pull away from the gravity of the family. Tom dates Marriet Hoffman (Jennifer Jason Leigh) who is equally adrift in the world after leaving L.A. The family is slowly imploding from everybody's secrets.

This is one dysfunctional family. I like everyone in this cast although this may not be their most impressive performances. I was feeling this movie for the first half until the fire. I like the fire but the fire should be the climax. It can't get more climatic than the fire. The stuff after the fire is the family chasing their own tales. This family is not getting fixed without a healthy dose of psychotherapy. They need a cleansing fight to finish off the story so that they can start anew. It just drags on too long.

Fun Indie Film

[chthon2 · 10 February 2003]

When a young man, Tom (Peter Berg), comes home to visit his family, he finds that since he has left the Warrens have become majorly disfunctional as a result of his father's hidden infidelity. His father, Edward (Peter Coyote), refuses to deal with these problems, going into denial and pretending that everything is fine. His older brother Charley (Vincent D'Onofrio) attempts to get kicked out of the family by causing emotional trouble, becoming violent, and he finally beats up Tom in the end, to no avail; Tom realizes that Edward won't throw Charley out because that would be letting him win.

This is the sort of dark little film which is original and wonderfully written but too subdued and depressing to ever gain wider acceptance. The tale of a family's descent into mutual distrust and self pity is not something most people would be willing to watch, regardless of the quality of the work.

Good directorial work and writing here. The performances are also all solid, especially D'Onofrio as the aggressive sociopath son and Noah Wyle as his brother Ask, such a riveting performance from a young Wyle. Take the time to watch this at least once if you see it on the movie channels. It's too extreme for many people to relate to, but it does keep you entertained, and it has a good, realistic ending.

It's okay.

[bombersflyup · 6/10 · 8 March 2021]

Crooked Hearts is a solid engaging film, but fails to make any sort of impression at the end of the day.

Some of the characters are alright, none of them great. There's no forgiveness for Charley's actions though.

Pure Drivel

[lmason2926 · 3/10 · 4 May 2009]

The cast looked promising, but I was stunned to read the other comments about this movie. To compare this to Shakespeare would make the Bard spin in his grave. Not only did it not "grow on me" but I found it increasingly painful to view. The pain then turned to laughter as we started realize how stupid this movie actually was with it's predictable dialog and it's made-for-TV feel, straight from the Lifetime channel.The only lessons to be learned here besides always making your socks match your shirt, is that you should never keep incriminating items. The Warrens are one messed up family. So if there is absolutely nothing else on, It's one of those "it's so bad it's good" things. I give it 3 stars!

Forgiveness: GOOD! Personal responsibility: BAD!

[BrettErikJohnson · 2/10 · 26 July 2002]

Writer/Director Michael Bortman brings us a movie which will be loved by everyone who feels that the number one thing you could ever do in your life is support your family. On the surface, that may not sound like such a bad thing. After all, everyone wants to be loved and supported by their family. However, "Crooked Hearts" goes WAY past that.

The movie follows the ups and downs (mostly downs) of the Warren family. The members of this family are the type of people who would support their brother or son even if they were a convicted serial child molester. That's how obsessive and blinding their family structure is. I could never feel connected to any of the characters in this film because only one of them seemed like a nice person. To make things worse, the one nice guy is presented to us as being weak and childish.

Almost everyone in the Warren family is dishonest and selfish. In fact, at one point in the movie, being an arsonist is presented to us as simply being a very minor character flaw. This pathetic situation spirals out of control until tragedy strikes the family in one of the absolute most manipulative scenes EVER put to film.

The acting is quite good. That shouldn't surprise anyone who glances at the list of cast members. However, anyone who believes that taking responsibility for your actions is a positive trait will not enjoy this movie. Its "ethical" stance is completely at odds with anyone who believes you should be honest, thoughtful and stand up for what you believe in. 2/10

Why would you let Charlie back in the house?

[alexdeamonds · 1/10 · 29 August 2020]

The worst film ever, cannot believe i gave 45 minutes out of my life to watch a moron burn down a house, kill his brother and not only get away with it but only receive a little weak punch from the brother. And all for a fathers past fling.

Cast is promising. Film is weak af.

Dark little film

[Libbets · 8/10 · 10 December 1999]

This film starts out as a portrail of idealistic family life, then desends into something much deeper and darker. Many facets of relationships are shown, especially between father and sons. I enjoyed this film I liked the central theme of "can you trust another member of your family" which seemed to be concurrent throughout the film

a little Shakespearean gem

[sl2mail · 14 April 2003]

I saw this film recently on cable and found it almost Shakespearean in its depiction of family trouble: fundamental character flaws or weaknesses leading to tragedy, pride keeping the truth from being known when it would be better to bring things out in the open, old secrets coming back to wreak havoc.

It's not always an easy film to watch, because you want to stop certain things from happening. But every character is multi-dimensional and real, and - as in Shakespeare - there is humor in the story and hope for recovery and redemption in the end. I cared about these people and their situation.

Slow going at times, but give it a chance - it lingers.

A gem amongst Hollywood hogwash...

[candyman_gypsy · 10/10 · 16 June 2002]

This would have to be one of my all-time favourite films!!! It's one of those brilliant little gems that get lost in the midst of all the over-hyped, formulaic things that Hollywood insists upon pumping out time after time. It is a story of a family torn apart by the indescression of one member. It is real & true & what people are willing to do to the ones they love. It is a must see for anyone sick of Hollywood hype. But be prepared to cry!!!

Good actors in a movie about a dysfunctional family.

[TxMike · 23 December 2004]

No spoilers in this first paragraph. The story is narrated by Tom, who as a young adult is played by Peter berg. But the story begins when he is a young boy, right before dad (Peter Coyote) pulls up stakes out East and moves the family to Washington state to begin a new career. We find out later that it wasn't that simple. After Tom grows up and goes off to school, the story picks up again when he comes back home. Older brother Charley (Vince D'Onofrio) seemed particularly restless, and wanted to leave home, but for some unspoken reason couldn't, saying "It isn't that simple." We suspect some deep, dark secret resides withing him. Juliette Lewis who was only 18 plays little sis Cassie. Jennifer Jason Leigh plays Marriet who becomes Tom's new girlfriend after he comes home. My wife and I found the story interesting and the acting good, but were both disappointed at the end. The movie brought many things to light, but with little back story to explain. In the end we were left more puzzled than satisfied.

SPOILERS are in the remaining comments.

Right before the family moves west we see Charley dancing with local pretty waitress Jennetta (Marg Helgenberger), then taking her outside. Young Tom (about 12 or so) sneaks around the corner to see them close, then brother Charley leaves in a huff. Tom goes to Jennetta to see what is wrong, she takes his head in her hands, and kisses him on the lips. Which he thought was great since he already had an infatuation with her. Then brother Charley comes back for him. Years later in Washington when the house burns down (we later find it was Charley as a way to leave), Tom is left a note with reference to a safe box, Charley had saved all dad's letters from Jennetta so they wouldn't burn, and wanted the two younger brothers to read them. Dad finds out, the boys go to burn the letters, embarrassed, the fire gets out of hand, younger brother Ask (Noah Wyle) chases down burning letters and gets run over, dies, later Charley comes home, the family is one big mess. In the end we see Tom and Marriet heading off to Berkely together. Dad had moved west years earlier as his only way to break off the affair with Jennetta. We never did find out why Charley felt he couldn't leave home.

2 1/2 stars are always best

[wlannon · 8/10 · 15 November 2006]

My late wife and I always agreed that whenever Malkin called a movie 2 1/2 stars, it tended to be a winner. 3 stars tended to be way overrated on the basis of the actors' reputations, and four stars meant predictable Hollywood hoke and Malkin's tendency to suck up to the industry. See his contradictory reviews of Sergeant Rutledge and Breaker Morant.

I spent my career as a stage director with a hiatus doing TV. My search for segues became unrelenting and I was particularly impressed with the way in which this film flowed. Character development was also impressive. The extent to which the family was/had been dysfunctional was marvelously understated. Certainly a minimalist triumph.

Some very strong performances here, deft writing, and superior editing make for a seamless production. The end result is a small treasure. Reminds me of Virgin Suicides.

Grows on you

[guyb · 8/10 · 1 March 1999]

I was (pleasantly) surprised how this movie slowly and surely grew on me as I was viewing it. I also was thinking that "this has got to be Canadian; it has that edge." Once I saw the credits, it surely was.

Bring the tissues for this one.

[Crowbot-2 · 10/10 · 25 September 1999]

This is a great movie. Great acting but, it gets a little long at some points, but, it is still is very touching. I have only cried while watching two movies and his was one of them. Great for fans of the genre, ****1/2 out of *****.

Enjoyable

[scsuntan · 8/10 · 1 July 2020]

How to parents name their child Ask? The female roles are weak. Vincent Do nofrio has always been an actor that's a bit off. In some of his movies you wonder what you will get. From his dark portrail of a newly minted soldier in basic training, to this movie where he seems normal, then to his later movies where that dark person returns. This show reminds me of one of my favorite shows Crash, from 2004. You have to watch it a few times to understand the different movies within the movie. I liked the movie. I saved it and will watch again and again.