Ken Russell's great days were in the 70s but in hindsight he had a pretty good 80s because many of his films found popularity on video. This was one such movie - a drama about sex I guess you could call it with Kathleen Turner going balls to the wall as a designer who works nights as hooker, and Tony Perkins as a reverend who is obsessed with her.
You can tell Russell's heart is with this nutty duo rather than John Laughlin an all American guy who tails Turner. Laughlin has a difficult role to play - an ordinary joe - but doesn't pull it off. He's got all these scenes with Annie Potts as his wife - and she's acting her arse off, but she's hurt because her character is basically someone who doesn't want to have sex with Laughlin.
In its heart of hearts I feel the China Blue character should have been a guy - China talks a lot about cocks - which would make Laughlin's dilemma more solid, a married man attracted to a guy. I know why the writer did what he did.
Turner and Perkins really go for it especially Perkins - they completely commit. And it's a reminder what a powerhouse Turner was. They probably should have cut the Laughlin bit - or maybe he's useful as a straight man they just could have trimmed it down. I would have liked more with Turner as a designer.
There's some delirious stuff - sex involving a night stick, sex with a dying man, video clips. Russell went for it. A flawed film but consistently interesting.
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