On B List of Movie Reviews

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The Blood Oranges (1997)

Rate: 9
Viewed: 9/20

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9/20: Because I'm a fan of Angels & Insects, I sought for another film by Philip Haas which turned out to be The Blood Oranges.

Barely seen and negatively reviewed by the public, it's a good, intelligently made movie. The cinematography is top-notch, and it's nice to see each scene ending with a red fadeout to mimic the color of a blood orange.

I've always liked Charles Dance, and he's a strong actor who plays a formidable villain in films such as The Golden Child, Last Action Hero, and China Moon. However, I hadn't seen him be either nice or cast in a leading role. Hence, The Blood Oranges is a refreshing change on both counts, and Charles Dance is excellent. I didn't realize he was buff. The German-born actress Sheryl Lee serves as the catalyst by playing a sexually free character. Otherwise, the Zalman-esque picture won't have worked. Colin Lane and Laila Robins aren't bad, either.

To accept the premise, it'll require an open mind to soak in the whole thing; otherwise, adopting a negative perspective will be the fait accompli. Whether or not to approve the idea of an open marriage is the central philosophical point that takes place in Ilyria which is another word for Utopia or...perhaps Cyril's sexual fantasy to come true?

Two opposing forces occur through Cyril and Hugh. One sees the untraditional arrangement as perfectly fine because his attitude is "why not?" while the other just can't get past the concept of him doing it to his amenable wife although Cyril's woman is there for the taking. Either way, there are no easy answers, yet the damage is everlasting because the question becomes: could the perverted, sadistic photographer's suicide have happened so soon?

All in all, like Angels & Insects, The Blood Oranges is intelligent filmmaking.