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Crush 2001 |
Review by Jonathan Cornwell |
Directed by John McKay
R, 110 min. (sexuality, language) |
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Starring: Andie MacDowell, Imelda Staunton, Anna Chancellor, Kenny Doughty, Bill Paterson
Producers: Lee Thomas, Hanno Huth, Julia Chasman
Screenplay: John McKay
Cinematography: Henry Braham
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Released: 4.05.02 (Limited) |
Rating:
 (out of ) |
Crush visits the lives of three single women, living in England in their 40's, who meet every week to lament the state of their
miserable love lives. They are Kate (Andie MacDowell), an American headmistress of a private school, Janine (Imelda Staunton),
a policewoman, and Molly (Anna Chancellor), a doctor who has been divorced three times. When one, Kate, suddenly falls
for a 25-year old organist, Jed (Kenny Doughty), the close-knit group begins chaffing under the strain of such an unusual
relationship. Director John McKay is interested in exploring the affects of such a love affair when the woman is much older
than the man. Although a worthy endeavor, Crush begins to falter when it stretches the limits of believability that it has
set forth for itself through place and setting.
Is it lust or true love? This seems to be at the heart of the film's character/humor study; do such people in their circumstances
merely find comfort in the sexual needs of the other, or is there something deeper, more meaningful at work? Although
McKay eventually tips his hand, Crush treats the material with a restrained vigor, allowing each character to show their
true feelings and shortcomings during the whirlwind affair. When a sudden marriage proposal enters the picture, the horrific
reaction from friends and family tells the story. But if Kate and Jed are truly matched, how can society judge them?
McKay's own convenient and somewhat cowardly answer to the question proves disabling for the film, one that concludes
with a whimper of self-pity and embellishment.
© 2002 Jonathan Cornwell
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 |
 | Masterpiece - Film perfection |
 | Excellent - A Must See |
| Good - Highly Recommended |
| Fair - Worth seeing |
| Average - Viewable, but not recommended |
| Below average - View at own risk |
| Poor - Avoid at all costs |
| Very poor - An embarassment to the film industry |
| Zero | Awful - One of the worst films ever made |
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