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Crimes of the Heart

Play trailer Poster for Crimes of the Heart PG-13 1986 1h 44m Drama Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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82% Tomatometer 22 Reviews 64% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
In this tearjerker based on a successful stage drama, an untimely death haunts a trio of sisters, yet their love proves stronger than any familial tragedy. Meg (Jessica Lange), Lenny (Diane Keaton) and Babe Magrath (Sissy Spacek) aren't exactly mirror images of one another, as becomes clear through their dealings with Old Granddaddy (Hurd Hatfield). But when one of the siblings is pushed to the brink by desperation, they pull together during a makeshift reunion.
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Crimes of the Heart

Critics Reviews

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Pauline Kael The New Yorker 09/13/2023
The movie has some élan anyway, because these women working together are something to see. They giggle over the stagy exposition, treating it like choice, well-loved gossip. Go to Full Review Sheila Benson Los Angeles Times 04/11/2013
1/5
It is excruciating: a combination of Beth Henley's insistently eccentric screenplay, Bruce Beresford's frenzied direction and the sight of three singular talents on an acting roller coaster with no one riding the brakes. Go to Full Review Time Out 02/09/2006
Beresford fails to generate sufficient chemistry to bind the performances. Occasional bursts of delicious tragic humour nevertheless make this a not unlikeable 'feminist' mood piece. Go to Full Review TV Guide 04/11/2013
1.5/4
A dismal affair that reeks of pretentious self-importance. Go to Full Review Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com 12/30/2008
3/5
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 06/03/2006
3/4
Using eccentric personalities situated in seemingly ordinary locales, Beresford's comedy is still too theatrical to qualify as cinema, but it's well acted by Diane Keaton, Jessica Lange, and particularly Sissy Spacek, as three Chekhovian sisters. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Alec B 01/10/2024 I understand that the weepy melodrama here is grating to some but what makes the movie (and the original play even more so) work is the odd little character moments and the dark humor, both of which add a crucial layer of honesty. See more 01/05/2023 This is a powerful group of ladies providing the foundation for this film. But, as deep as the plot of losing their mother to suicide could go, we're left with a bunch of awkward moments and an ending with cake and bizarre laughing. Not sure why the reviews are so great. See more 12/12/2021 There are crimes then there are those of the heart Starring Jessica Lange, Sissy Spacek, and Diane Keaton as 3 sisters not entirely on the same wavelength as far as personality and character But one thing brings them together Based on the stage drama of the same name by Beth Henley and directed by Bruce Beresford it follows Babe, Lenny, and Meg McGrath They all grew up in Hazelhurst, Mississippi but grew apart over time Babe is married but after suffering abuse from her husband she takes a gun and shoots him damaging his spinal cord Lenny is the wallflower of the siblings and Meg used to be a Hollywood singer but suffered a nervous breakdown Coming home they all have to face their own personal demons The performances are top notch from all 3 actresses, they each have their own set of problems and hardly come to a mutual understanding Sure they chew the scenery every now and then and hardly anything is resolved by the time the credits roll but the film has that feminist mood Nothing grand but as a stage play it works well enough See more 02/18/2021 I understand that the weepy melodrama here is grating to some but what makes the movie (and the original play even more so) work is the odd little character moments and the dark humor, both of which add a crucial layer of honesty. See more steve d 07/13/2020 I didn't care about the characters so I didn't care about the film. See more 03/17/2020 It's my favorite movie of all time. Beautifully Southern. See more Read all reviews
Crimes of the Heart

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Cast & Crew

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Bruce Beresford

Director

Diane Keaton

Lennora Josephine 'Lenny' Magrath

Jessica Lange

Margaret 'Meg' Magrath

Sissy Spacek

Rebeca 'Babe'

Sam Shepard

Doc Porter

Tess Harper

Chick Boyle

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Crimes of the Heart

Crimes of the Heart (1986) Crimes of the Heart (1986) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In this tearjerker based on a successful stage drama, an untimely death haunts a trio of sisters, yet their love proves stronger than any familial tragedy. Meg (Jessica Lange), Lenny (Diane Keaton) and Babe Magrath (Sissy Spacek) aren't exactly mirror images of one another, as becomes clear through their dealings with Old Granddaddy (Hurd Hatfield). But when one of the siblings is pushed to the brink by desperation, they pull together during a makeshift reunion.
Director
Bruce Beresford
Producer
Freddie Fields
Screenwriter
Beth Henley
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG)
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Drama, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 12, 1986, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 5, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$19.3M
Runtime
1h 44m
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