On L List of Movie Reviews
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Lipstick (1976)
Rate:
4
Viewed:
8/20
8/20:
Directed, written, and produced by myopic males, Lipstick is a manipulative rapeloitation picture with a capital R.
These guys want to turn it into a case of "he said, she said," but I'm more pissed off at them for making me think
what Gordon Stuart did to Chris can be easily accomplished with no physical injuries. It's impossible.
Let's replay the rape scene, shall we? Gordon throws Chris against the closet door, breaking it, and the edge of the
mattress. They should've left bruises across her back. Then, he proceeds to smack her head against the bed post several times
and the edge of the sink after throwing her in the bathroom. Both should've produced two large bumps: the first on the back of
her head and the second on her forehead.
During the rape, Chris patently showed no interest in sex, being forced against her will; hence, there'll be an
unmistakable display of vaginal tears and anal fissures. Being tied on all fours to the bed post against her will should've
left marks on her ankles and wrists. Therefore, where were the medical examiners for witnesses in court?
In other words, there's too much physical evidence to indicate both assault and battery, along with rape, had occured. Yet the
movie attempts to force me to believe Chris suffered no physical harm and wanted sex after all. Yeah, right. Had it been
realistic, Gordon doesn't have a case and should be in prison for decades. However, the filmmakers want to go in another way,
prompting me to give Lipstick a deserved rating of '4'. Of course, the ending is I Spit on Your Grave all over
again.
I've tried to give it the benefit of the doubt by looking at the strength of performances. The cast does a good job
of trying to make the material succeed. It's Margaux Hemingway's debut role, and her acting ranges from "not bad" to
"needs work." Fourteen years old and young-looking, the also debuting Mariel Hemingway, Marguax's sister, gives a
decent but sometimes average performance and comes full circle by starring in Star 80.
At first, I was thinking, "What's Chris Sarandon doing in this by playing a good guy?" He never does that; how
things have quickly changed. Anne Bancroft's lawyer character goes too far in abusing the rape victim psychologically, but
she's superb during the courtroom scenes.
All in all, the filmmakers of Lipstick need to acquaint themselves with reality.