Imaginary Crimes (1994)
While a petty con man attempts to raise two children on his own as he dabbles in some shady deals, one of his daughters develops a crush on the English teacher who helps her endure a troubled family life.
While the logline for the film may seem like something that is bound to head towards tawdry territory, in truth Imaginary Crimes is a classic example of a family-friendly domestic drama which we rarely get these days. While it does not have the wonder of something like October Sky, you can use that film as a good source of comparison when approaching the project. Harvey Keitel is pretty great in a role that feels like a distant cousin to characters he has inhabited for Tarantino or Scorsese. Ray Weiler (Keitel) is “lovable” con man , or at least that is what he would want you to believe. He is the type of person who is always angling for one of his schemes to pay off, even when his attention would be better spent elsewhere. In particular, he could stand to be a much better dad to his two daughters, Sonya (Fairuza Balk) and Greta (Elisabeth Moss). After losing his wife, he has groomed them to be the perfect little accomplices when necessary, such as when a dissatisfied associate comes to collect payment. The film expertly engages with your emotions as it bounces back and forth between before the girls lost their mother and afterwards.
Ray is not an abusive dad in the strictest sense of the word; he truly loves his daughters and wants to provide a life for them that he feels they deserve. Yet, it is his erratic behavior as a parent that puts a burden on his children that no child should have to experience. Balk is incredibly good as Sonya, the older sister who sees the way in which their dad is failing them but feels powerless to make it better. From what I have seen, Balk typically plays darker or weirder characters due to her striking features, but she still shines when she is playing it straight. Through her writing for class, we get to know more about her father and how his tendencies impact the family. Vincent D’Onofrio is very paternalistic in nature as the teacher who sees potential in her. A very young Elisabeth Moss is not given a ton to do, but it comes as no surprise that she would grow up to do amazing things when you see what she accomplishes here. Imaginary Crimes is a very steady movie that does not surprise in any notable ways, but so thoughtfully executes its poignant story that you cannot help but fall for it.
Silent Fall (1994)
Having seen the murder of his parents, autistic youth Tim Warden (Ben Faulkner) is sent to therapy with Dr. Jake Rainer (Richard Dreyfuss). Jake tries to talk with the silent child about what he saw, but he gets more details about the Wardens’ household dynamics from Tim’s teenage sister, Sylvie (Liv Tyler). As he spends more time with the siblings, Jake learns that the Wardens’ marriage was not as perfect as it seemed, and he uncovers other new details that might help solve the crime.
Silent Fall is another movie that feels very much of its time, and the effects of that are a mixed bag. This is not a good film, but it is very watchable for someone looking to turn off their brain for a couple of hours. On the surface, you might be inclined to believe what you are viewing is actually good; Richard Dreyfuss is very charming as the reluctant psychiatrist who is the only person that is willing to truly connect with the autistic young child. His characteristics in the film are amplified by the fact that all of the other characters, such as former colleagues and the members of the police, are one-note in the way they are willing to dismiss Tim. The simple act of watching someone slowly be understood when everyone else has written them off is engaging on some base level. Yet, the more you pull at the strings the more flaws stand out and the fun begins to lessen.
As you journey throughout Silent Fall, you try to convince yourself that the most obvious suspect is not the actual killer. The only thing surprising about this film, though, is the way in which it does not attempt to surprise in the slightest. The manner in which it completely throws out believability in evidentiary procedure will have some pulling their hair out. Linda Hamilton (Terminator 2: Judgement Day) is completely wasted as Dreyfuss’ wife who is supportive but gets jealous of the young Liv Tyler for a scene before completely disappearing from the film. Tyler does a good job with what she has in her film debut, serving as one of the stronger points of the whole experience. John Lithgow is one of the top billed performers in the film, but his role as an uncaring psychiatrist is so miniscule that it is barely worth mentioning. The film is constructed to the most intense degree to get to a specific outcome without anything feeling natural. The movie is paint-by-numbers, yet many will find it a comfortable ride due to the unchallenging nature of the film.
Video Quality
These two titles are included on a single Blu-Ray disc courtesy of Mill Creek Entertainment with dated 1080p masters that result in a passably pleasant transfer. These forgotten films were never going to receive a 5-star treatment, but the basic masters are largely in good shape. Compression artifacts are not a persistent issue despite the films sharing a disc. The transfer provides natural film grain with only the occasional specks of damage or subtle digital anomalies. This disc wonderfully represents the sleepy, small town settings of each respective film. There are some nice, vibrant colors that make the films pop visually in an exciting way. Skin tones look natural, and the presentation offers up some fairly deep black levels. The disc shows off some strong details in the production design in most instances, but there are moments of softness present in some shots. Mill Creek Entertainment has provided an enjoyable transfer for films that have been missing in action on Blu-Ray.
Audio Quality
This new Blu-Ray set comes with a lossless DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix for Silent Fall and a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix for Imaginary Crimes that are even better than the video presentation in terms of quality. The dialogue holds up very well, coming though clearly without being stepped on by the score or sound effects. The environmental effects are subtle but appreciated in the presentation. These tracks do not exhibit major instances of age related wear and tear or distortion. The surround channels on Imaginary Crimes help the film feel a bit warmer and enveloping, which complements the general tone of the film. These are not the most dynamic tracks you have ever heard, but they bring each film to life in an accurate manner. Optional English subtitles are provided on this disc.
Special Features
There are no special features included on this disc.
Final Thoughts
Imaginary Crimes and Silent Fall are two very 90s movies that offer up a fair amount of entertainment in their respective ways. Imaginary Crimes is legitimately a good movie with impressive performances and a heartfelt story. Silent Fall is not a good film, but it works as mindless entertainment if that is what you are seeking. Mill Creek Entertainment has rescued these mostly forgotten films by giving them a solid HD upgrade that allows the films to look and sound the best they ever have on home entertainment. If you are a fan of any of the talent involved, this budget-friendly release should prove a decent use of your money. Recommended
Imaginary Crimes + Silent Fall 2-Pack is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray + Digital Combo Pack.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Mill Creek Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
