Imaginary Crimes

PG

Released Oct 14, 1994

1 hr. 44 min.

Drama

List

60%

10 Reviews

Tomatometer

62%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

The daughter (Fairuza Balk) of a small-time hustler (Harvey Keitel) remembers her last year of high school in 1962 Portland, Ore.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Peacock

Stream Now

Fandango at Home

Peacock

Prime Video

Apple TV

Rent Imaginary Crimes on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

ronald h

"Imaginary Crimes" (1994) is an unambitious little period piece, but don't let that stop you from watching it. It's so artless and unaffected that it will charm all but the most hardened cynics. Harvey Keitel plays Ray, a widower and an inveterate con man who's scam is soliciting investments for an Oregon mining operation. But the operation is really a pyramid scheme. He uses the investors' money to take care of his two daughters, Sonya and Greta (Fairuza Balk and Elizabeth Moss). The story takes place in the early 1960's, with flashbacks to the 1950's when Ray's wife Valery (Kelly Lynch) was still alive. Even in those early days, Ray never held a regular job. He was always pursuing the next get-rich-quick scheme. Keitel portrays Ray not as a lowlife criminal, but as a nice, well-spoken man who cares about his family. He's just missing the DNA that would make him get an honest job. Obviously, having a father like that has an impact on the family. After their mother dies of cancer, the two girls learn to answer Ray's irate investors of their landlord calling or knocking at the door with "He's not here." Based on the autobiographical book by Sheila Ballantyne, the story is narrated in poetic voiceover by Sonya, and the entire film is seen through her eyes: her happy memories of her long-suffering mother, watching her little sister grow up and eventually becoming her caretaker, seeing her father ultimately jailed for fraud. Sonya is a writer. and her stories catch the interest of her English teacher Mr. Webster (a mellow and agreeable Vincent D'Onofrio), who turns out to be a mentor and advocate, even paying her father's bail when he's arrested. He has one of the best lines in the film. Referring to Ray, he tells Sonya, "He is one hell of a source for material, isn't he?" The period aspect of this film is done skillfully—not just the sets and costumes, but in societal terms as well. When Ray catches Sonya reading "Lady Chatterley's Lover," he chastises her for reading "this crap." Nowadays, kids can see stuff on their smartphones 24/7 that would stupefy D.H. Lawrence. Can a crooked man also be a good father? This is the question the film wrestles with, and it doesn't flagrantly spell out the answer for us. Instead, it leaves us with a voiceover at the end, spoken by Sonya. Her words say more than any big, dramatic scene could.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imaginary_Crimes

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A film about life crisis. Harvey Keitel was good, but the story doesn't grip.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

dave j

Monday, June 14, 2010 (1994) Imaginary Crimes DRAMA This is one of those films that if you actually read the reviews can deter to see this film since this film has no memorable stars, the plotline has really been done before on other films and the actors are virtually unbeknownist or unpopular to the mainstream crowd! Decided to watch this film because I was totally oblivious about what it's about except that I knew it was a drama and that Roger Ebert as well as other notable critcs gave it a thumbs up! Just like you can't judge a book by it's cover and with the right mood, I decided to check it out! And I have to say that it's quite well done since the story is narrated by the central character Sonya- a teenager's point of view, and it happens to involve Ray Weiler (Harvey Keital) since he's her father! As the story progresses it tends to reveal itself each time without picturing somebody as being the bad guy! There is also some similarities between this film and "Benjamin Button" except this one actually has a credible story which I can relate to with characters that still exist in real life such as tele- marketers, some who may also have families of their own like the title character Harvey Keital has portrayed in this film and is still happening as we speak! Based on a book by Sheila Ballantyne! 3.5 out of 4

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Very nicely produced, some fine period detail. Touching film, very well acted by everyone. Harvey keitel is ideally cast, Fairuza Balk is exceptionally good and kelly Lynch shines in a small but important role. I moves along slow at times, but it is a rewarding film.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Between a 6/10 and 7/10, this teenage girl coming-of-age story boasts some fine performances, but is somewhat weakened by an overly familiar plot.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Anthony Drazan

Director

Harvey Keitel

Ray Weiler

Fairuza Balk

Sonya Weiler

Kelly Lynch

Valery Weiler

Vincent D'Onofrio

Mr. Webster

Diane Baker

Abigail Tate

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

95%

92%

Hundreds of Beavers

TRAILER

for Hundreds of Beavers

67%

27%

The Stranger

TRAILER

for The Stranger

50%

92%

The Stolen Valley

TRAILER

for The Stolen Valley

93%

95%

Dune: Part Two

TRAILER

for Dune: Part Two

71%

60%

Immaculate

TRAILER

for Immaculate

82%

75%

In the Land of Saints and Sinners

TRAILER

for In the Land of Saints and Sinners

69%

87%

Sweet Dreams

TRAILER

for Sweet Dreams

56%

84%

DogMan

TRAILER

for DogMan

%

39%

Jimmy Carr: Natural Born Killer

%

%

An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th

TRAILER

for An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: C-

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Daniel M. Kimmel

Variety

This teenage girl coming-of-age story boasts some fine performances, but is weakened by an overly familiar plot.

May 8, 2005

Full Review

Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

Rated: 4.5/5

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Quentin Curtis

Independent on Sunday

Keitel manages to endow this compulsive liar with a degree of tenderness. And the film, unusually literate and textured for today's Hollywood, presents him as an emblem for an uptight, self-deceiving era.

Dec 14, 2017

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

All too familiar coming-of-age story.

Rated: C+

Feb 23, 2011

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Jun 19, 2005

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

The daughter (Fairuza Balk) of a small-time hustler (Harvey Keitel) remembers her last year of high school in 1962 Portland, Ore.

Director: Anthony Drazan
Executive Producer: Gary Barber, Robert W. Cort, Ted Field
Screenwriter: Kristine Johnson, Davia Nelson
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Morgan Creek Entertainment
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 14, 1994, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 12, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $70.7K
Sound Mix: Stereo, Surround

Most Popular at Home Now