Violets are blue…

Directed by Jack Fisk, Violets are blue… follows Sissy Spacek’s Gussie Sawyer as she returns to her oceanfront hometown and almost immediately embarks on an affair with former flame Henry Squires (Kevin Kline). Filmmaker Fisk, armed with Naomi Foner’s screenplay, delivers an exceedingly lackadaisical yet mostly engaging drama that benefits substantially from its first-class performances, as Spacek and Kline offer up charming, compelling work that goes a long way towards consistently elevating the proceedings. (This is true as well of a top-notch supporting cast that includes John Kellogg, Mike Starr, and Bonnie Bedelia, with the latter’s turn as Henry’s supportive (but increasingly exasperated) wife a clear standout.) The movie’s watchable feel is perpetuated by its irresistible small-town atmosphere and smattering of distinctly compelling interludes (eg a palpably awkward dinner between the three leads), and although the somewhat sluggish second half isn’t quite as captivating as Fisk has intended, Violets are blue… builds towards a satisfying climactic stretch that ensures it ends on a rewarding, stirring note – which ultimately does cement the whole thing’s place as a solid romance oozing with charisma and chemistry.

*** out of ****

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