Violets Are Blue

PG-13

1986

1 hr. 30 min.

Romance

List

63%

8 Reviews

Tomatometer

22%

100+ Ratings

Audience Score

Sweethearts (Kevin Kline, Sissy Spacek) meet 15 years later: he's a yuppie with a wife and son, and she is a top photojournalist.

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Audience Member

A story of woman (Gussie) - a successful photographer - who visits her hometown and reconnects with her former boyfriend (Henry), who is now married. The tone of the movie is a bit too melodramatic; despite the tone, it ends ups addressing varied issues. Where is one the happiest? With whom? And doing what? Whoever left their hometown for something bigger can relate to the movie. There's some allusion to the woman's own selfishness. In fact, both lovers can be considered rather self-centered throughout the movie - with little space for anyone else's perspective. Sissy Spacek is really in her comfort zone in the role of that woman. And she seems to gather both the innocence and the ambition. Kevin Kline gets very intense and passionate... but oh boy! How frequently we have to see his intense stares... A bit overused, I'd day. All in all, it has the melodramatic tone of a soap opera. And "Jolene don't ever steal my man" could be a nice sound track... Yet, Henry's wife is surprisingly pragmatic. And she perhaps offers the best insight into her husband' s conflict. Likewise, Gussie's father also brings some important insight over his daughter. The movie is not terribly long, so it never gets too boring

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

Full Review

jon c

Roses are red, violets are blue true love is strong but can run eschew Kevin Kline and Sissy Spacek star as young lovers Gussie and Henry trying to withstand the passing of time Gussie's a photographer wishing to break free of her Maryland lifestyle. Henry on the other hand wants to stay behind and run the local paper. 15 years go by after their first encounter and a few things have changed. He's now married to a woman named Ruth and they have a son. When Henry and Gussie meet up again tensions start to rise into an awkward situation. They both might be falling for each other again. This movie is more of an emotional experience than anything. Spacek and Kline do their parts respectively each figuring out what's the next step in their lives as far as their happiness is concerned. Will they fall back on each other or stay friends despite having the different passions they've gained over the course of their lives? First lives are hardly forgotten let alone be rekindled. This movie is about the adults making some hard choices, facing some inflexible realities in their lives. This is a slow watch but not bad. Actors carry the heavy material.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Ugh,awful movie that disguises itself as a romantic drama. Completely ridiculous plot,nudity and adultery. Kevin Kline and Sissy Spacek should be ashamed

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Slow moving but not bad film, Kevin and Sissy are good as always but Bonnie Bedelia wraps it up as the wronged wife.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

i just like this movie because its filmed in Ocean City, Md. Its a good story

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

Full Review

Audience Member

All the cloying charms of Kline and the East Coast can't be countered by good girl Spacek and gentleman Jack Fisk. Stuck.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

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Jack Fisk

Director

Kevin Kline

Henry Squires

Sissy Spacek

Augusta `'Gussie'` Sawyer

Bonnie Bedelia

Ruth Squires

John Kellogg

Ralph Sawyer

Jim Standiford

Addy Squires

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

It's not necessarily the movie we expect it to be, and Spacek doesn't necessarily play the role we expect from her. It's a movie about adults making some hard choices, facing some inflexible realities in their lives.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 24, 2001

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...charming, compelling...

Rated: 3/4

Jul 14, 2022

Full Review

William Wolf

Gannett News Service

It's worth seeing Violets Are Blue just to enjoy superb stars Sissy Spacek, Kevin Kline, and Bonnie Bedelia. But the picture, directed by Jack Fisk and scripted by Naomi Foner, has other attributes.

Nov 6, 2019

Full Review

Daniel M. Kimmel

Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Rated: 1/5

Apr 16, 2004

Full Review

James Sanford

Kalamazoo Gazette

Disappointing romantic muddle

Rated: 2/5

Feb 21, 2004

Full Review

Carol Cling

Las Vegas Review-Journal

Rated: 2/5

Aug 22, 2003

Full Review

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Synopsis

Sweethearts (Kevin Kline, Sissy Spacek) meet 15 years later: he's a yuppie with a wife and son, and she is a top photojournalist.

Director: Jack Fisk
Executive Producer: Roger M. Rothstein
Screenwriter: Naomi Foner
Production Co: Rastar Films, Delphi IV Productions
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $4.4M

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