Whore (1991)

User Rating:

5.0/10   

Director:

Ken Russell

Writers (WGA):

David Hines (play)
Ken Russell (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

4 October 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

This is no bedtime story

Plot:

This choppy melodrama investigates the life of a prostitute in a pseudo-documentary style. The bottom...

Plot Keywords:

Hooker | Prostitute | Sex In Car | Street | Gang Rape

Cast

Theresa Russell	...	Liz
Michael Crabtree	...	Man in Car
John Diehl	...	Derelict
Antonio Fargas	...	Rasta
Robert O'Reilly	...	Younger Man in Car
Charles Macaulay	...	Older Man in Car
Jason Kristofer	...	Shy Kid in Van
Jack Nance	...	Man Who Helps Liz
Sanjay Chandani	...	Indian (as Sanjay)
Frank Smith	...	Charlie
Gail McMullen	...	Nurse in Convalescent Home
Benjamin Mouton	...	Blake
Bob Prupas	...	Maitre'D
Bobby Bruce	...	Violinist
Danny Trejo	...	Tattoo Artist

Also Known As:

If You're Afraid to Say It... Just See It (USA)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual situations and dialogue, and for some violence. (edited version)

Runtime:

85 min | USA:80 min (R Rated)

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Italy:VM14 (cut) | Italy:VM18 | Iceland:16 | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Canada:R | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 | Ireland:(Banned) | Norway:18 | Spain:18 | UK:18 | USA:NC-17

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Cheap Date

Trivia:

Banned in the Republic of Ireland.

Quotes:

Liz: I must be some use to somebody. I mean, there must be a reason for me, right?

Movie Connections:

References The Lair of the White Worm (1988)

Soundtrack:

THE BITCH BETTER HAVE MY MONEY

"Whore" is the real-deal (in the unrated-cut)

The comments on this film are pretty amusing, I just hope Mr. Russell has seen a few of them, as it would probably tickle him to-no-end. Come on, people, this is the real deal here, and these are a lot of the realities of prostitution. It isn't pretty, is it? How much value is attached to the life of a prostitute? Ask the King County sheriff's Department and the Seattle Police, they allowed the Green River killer to run-riot for 20+ years.

I consider this a pretty pure film for Ken Russell, and a pretty compassionate statement FOR the victims of prostitution. Legalization is (wisely) advocated, and we even get a few of the arguments (from the pimp himself) what some of the drawbacks would be. Prostitution is illegal for means of social control, period. Watch this film, and you will understand that Mr. Russell is a GENUINE Christian with a heart--after all, Jesus consorted with such people, didn't he? They need our help and our compassion, which is the main-theme of the film.

Of course, Ken Russell also enjoys the inherent bawdiness of the material-at-hand, or he wouldn't be Ken Russell! The dialog is a dream, and David Mamet's plays/screenplays would be a good analogy. It's also clear that a lot of the dialog came from real prostitutes and their stories. While some have commented on the low-budget look of the film, I don't think that this is accurate. It looks pretty slick cinematography-wise, and the acting by Theresa Russell (no-relation to the writer/director) is astonishing. She is easily one of the greatest actresses of her generation. She's also incredibly powerful in projecting her sexuality as an actor, which is pretty rare.Only Kathleen Turner stands as her equal.

So, if you enjoyed "Crimes of Passion" nearly as much as I did (a masterpiece), this will be a wonderful companion-film for you, dear viewers. You either love or hate Ken Russell, and he has always been my favorite form of a high-stress personality endurance-test. Most tend to fail this test, but it takes all-kinds, doesn't it? Once it hits DVD, it will finally be able to be fully-assessed. That it shines so brightly on my (unrated)VHS-copy is testament to its brilliance, and the genius of Ken Russell. A message to be heeded on the "world's oldest-profession." Puritans, take-heed. It shouldn't be a problem to say it. Give this man money to make another film!