Love Crimes movie storyline. A tough female district attorney is investigating a man who picks out women from public places by posing as a famous photographer, then takes pictures of them, then pushes on their submissive tendencies and takes advantage of them physically and financially. The trouble is that none of these women want to press charges, because they feel fulfilled in some way by their encounter. The DA arranges to meet him and finds herself in a similar situation as the other victims, and has to come to grips with her own submissive desires.
Love Crimes is a 1992 thriller film directed by Lizzie Borden starring Sean Young and Patrick Bergin about an assistant district attorney who tries to seduce and apprehend a psychopath. Other starring are Arnetia Walker, James Read, Ron Orbach, Fern Dorsey, Tina Hightower, Donna Biscoe, Danielle Shuman, Rebecca Wackler and Jill Jane Clements. The screenplay is by Allan Moyle and Laurie Frank, based on a story by Moyle.
Love Crimes received negative reviews from critics and flopped at the box office. Young earned a Razzie Award nomination as Worst Actress for her performance in the film, where she lost to Melanie Griffith for both Shining Through and A Stranger Among Us. The film is listed in Golden Raspberry Award founder John Wilson’s book The Official Razzie Movie Guide as one of the 100 Most Enjoyably Bad Movies Ever Made.
Film Review for Love Crimes
With “Love Crimes” (citywide), feminist filmmaker Lizzie Borden moves into the mainstream with a gritty, timely erotic thriller that is as provocative intellectually as sexually. In its consideration of edgy, often hostile contemporary relationships between men and women, it represents a natural progression from Borden’s wryly perceptive documentary-like “Working Girls,” set in a Manhattan bordello.
With her controversial off-screen image, Sean Young couldn’t be a better choice to play a headstrong, even foolish Atlanta assistant district attorney, who affects a severe mannish look and who is determined to bring to justice a man (Patrick Bergin) who impersonates a famous photographer in order to seduce a string of women. According to his victims, who are not particularly attractive, he makes them feel special and beautiful only to make them vulnerable to humiliation and intimidation. Bergin’s photographer operates in that “gray area between seduction and rape.”
Released sans press previews and long in post-production, “Love Crimes” has a raw, rough-around-the-edges quality and at times is downright choppy. Although not nearly as clear or as developed as one could wish, it is nevertheless sustained by its unflagging energy and by a highly charged sexual ambiguity. When Young finally catches up with Bergin, she’s attracted to him as much as she is repelled by him. As a smart, vibrant and earthy Atlanta policewoman, Arnetia Walker brings to the film its strongest, healthiest presence.
While Borden the feminist explores how hard it is to bring sexual offenders to justice, Borden the artist is able to take a larger look at the complex nature of sexual attraction and its consequences. The director has too much integrity to try to have it both ways.
She does not exploit what she’s ostensibly deploring, for the film’s sex scenes are as unsettling as they are sensual. “Love Crimes” (rated R for sex and language) leaves us with the feeling that there could have been more to it but grateful that one of the most honest and committed American independent filmmakers was able to get as much across as she did.
Love Crimes (1992)
Directed by: Lizzie Borden
Starring: Sean Young, Patrick Bergin, Arnetia Walker, James Read, Ron Orbach, Fern Dorsey, Tina Hightower, Donna Biscoe, Danielle Shuman, Rebecca Wackler, Jill Jane Clements
Screenplay by: Allan Moyle, Laurie Frank
Production Design by: Armin Ganz
Cinematography by: Jack N. Green
Film Editing by: Mike Jackson, Nicholas C. Smith
Costume Design by: Irene Albright, Iris Lewis
Music by: Graeme Revell
Distributed by: Miramax Films
Release Date: January 24, 1992
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