MovieChat Forums > Crime and Punishment Discussion > Astoundingly bad

Astoundingly bad

posted 13 years ago by KingVidor
3 replies | jump to latest

I really like the idea of a version of Crime and Punishment set in modern Moscow. Unfortunately, this version is incredibly amateurish. Like a tv movie filmed by 12-year-olds. The actors come off badly but it's because of the awful directing. The pacing has no flow to it and the actors are made to read their expository lines at a quick clip before moving on to the next awkwardly executed scene. I wouldn't be surprised if they filmed the entire movie (and edited it) within a few days.

It's a shame. I wish someone would do a proper, modern version of this story.

[–] bon22 12 years ago

Totally agree, almost felt like a high school production. Too bad because I also would love to see a good modern version.

[–] mick_aka 12 years ago

Seems there was a very good reason this film sat on a shelf for 9 years.

I suppose after all that time the money to make it was gone and forgotten, so why not make a few quid from the bargain bins.

Great cast, mostly in the wrong roles, terrible film.

[–] sgcim 11 years ago

I like Crispin Glover usually, but this director should stick with his usual garbage. It's not an easy novel to film, and even the 1935 Peter Lorre version had some embarassing moments, but it was a billion times better than this.
There was a modernized US version called "Crime and Punishment, USA" done in the early 1960s, but that didn't work out so well, either.
I couldn't watch this version for more than ten minutes without having to turn it off. Unbelievable.