Singles *** (1992, Bridget Fonda Campbell Scott Matt Dillon Kyra Sedgwick) – Classic Movie Review 6610

Writer-director Cameron Crowe’s 1992 tales of frustrated love among Seattle’s twentysomething singles are linked by an interest in the local expanding music scene and the ensemble’s shared home in a apartment building. This likeable film is motored by a reasonable modicum of smiles and truth, but there is little originality or freshness in the screenplay.

The pleasing cast keeps it going, but actors of the quality of Bridget Fonda (as Janet Livermore), Campbell Scott, Matt Dillon, Kyra Sedgwick, Sheila Kelley, Jim True, Bill Pullman, James LeGros and Eric Stolz can do so much more with more incisive scripts. Certainly there is efficient writing and direction by Crowe, but he finds it hard to reach those parts that refresh tired moviegoers.

However, it is good to have a film emphasising characters, character development and attention to detail, and it is bold to pull in to focus as many as 40 main characters (though it is mainly about six of Seattle’s young people). So it is mainly the lack of oomph, power and fire that makes you cool towards an otherwise warm movie.

The Warner Bros release runs 99 minutes, is shot by Ueli Steiger, is produced by Cameron Crowe and Richard Hashimoto, is scored by Paul Westerberg and designed by Stephen Lineweaver. The soundtrack features Soundgarden, Pearl Jam and Mudhoney.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6610

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Bridget Fonda plays Janet Livermore in Singles (1992).