Imaginary Crimes

Audience Reviews

View All (14) audience reviews

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 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imaginary_Crimes Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  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 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 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 3/5 Stars •  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 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Audience Member I love this one.One of my all time faves Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Imaginary Crimes

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Most Popular at Home Now