"Do you have a psychiatrist?"      

FEMALE PERVERSIONS (R) 

Directed by Susan Streitfield, and capably starred by Tilda Swinton and Amy Madigan, Female Perversions is a brooding, psycho-sexual drama about Eve Stephens (Swinton), a successful female L.A. attorney who is up for a judicial appointment by the Governor.  By all outward appearances, Eve is the epitome of the 90's woman--successful career, good looks, power--she's got it all.  The focus of Perversions, however, is not this side of Eve, but rather the isolated, troubled, and insecure individual underneath the facade.  This other side of Eve reveals unstable relationships with a male lover (Clancy Brown), a female lover (Karen Sillas), and one kleptomaniac sister (Madigan).  Other demons lurk within Eve's psyche as well, with their constant appearances fueling Eve's insecurities even further.  Thanks to director Streitfield, this whole picture is painted with an artsy and definitely ambitious visual brush, though ultimately to mixed effect.

There is, to be sure, a message in Female Perversions, and as a reflection on the psychic damage caused by modern day life, it's a very intriguing film.  It has, as well, a very intimate and daring visual style.  Unfortunately, all of this psychic self-discovery borders on pretentiousness in Perversions.  In parts interesting, in parts absurd, Perversions is a film which seeks its own identity and sometimes finds it.  At other times it is, regrettably, somewhat trite. 

Responses from cyberspace--thanks for writing!

paborsat@hotmail.com gives this movie  stars: "as usual Tilda Swinton the goddess of all actresses is superbe. I have no words to describe what I feel when I see her on the screen, in this movie and in other performances. I love her with all my heart and sould. Dear Tilda forget me not. I love you and I'll always adore you. Nobody can compare to you. Bye for now." (11/7/98)

Leila Theirer gives this movie  star: "This movie was so incredibly simple minded and stupidly conceived that I watched the entire thing, transfixed. I briefly hoped a good actor would stumble onto the set and do something interesting, but soon fell into the rhythm of the film: no one ever talks for more than one sentence, the characters are all built around women's studies department's ideas of male oppression and the dream sequences, oh! what a trip, absolute triumphs of idiocy and a severe lack of imagination. SEE THIS FILM WITH ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS. And the sex is hilarious too--lots of boobs, a sort of rape scene in a hammock that turns into acceptance of oral sexy by a blonde bombshell who later makes a statement that I think was supposed to mean she was going straight, but could also mean that she wanted love not just roughish sex with "Eve." There are hints of repressed memory, a shaving scene, only two male characters, who are utter stereo- types, but at least they are recognizable. The female characters are completely out to lunch. The movie only needed Michael Douglas to make it complete, but even without it remains a true triumph of shallow thinking and putrid acting. Tilda Swinton has a wonderful body and looks great in underwear, but she couldn't act her way out of a paper bag. The rest, well, they do their best to live up to Tilda. I want everyone to see this movie. Bravo!" (10/29/98)