Women in Love

Director: Ken Russell
Year Released: 1969
Rating: 1.5

Intelligently performed but pretty lifeless film of the D.H. Lawrence novel, where all the tender whispers and never-ending blather about amour fit perfectly in high school (and college) classrooms and with repressed teenage girls. The irony of the title is that yes, the two women are in love, but the guys aren't completely sure, refusing to give up their carefree, irresponsible freedom or acknowledge that they are ready to settle down. There's a lack of sexual chemistry between the leads, so the conversations about love and their actual lovemaking carries little power or emotion and despite the abundance of talent, there's little payoff. Might have used more of Russell's flamboyance to liven up the monotony.