Before Night Falls
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VHS Movie Reviews of Before Night Falls
Movie Review: He's gay! He's gay! He's very very gay! Then he's dead. feh
Summary: 3 Stars
The actual books by Reinaldo Arenas are probably really good. That's the main feeling I got watching this yawn fest. There are just enough hints of passion in the screenplay to suggest really good books hiding behind this version of video cliff notes. And since they are compressing 5 books into one 2 hour movie, it's pretty good bet that you are going to get more out of the interesting characters that show up for five minutes on the screen never to be seen again (even if some of the actors come back)Story: Reinaldo Arenas (or whatever his fictional alter ego is called) grows up in Cuba, celebrates the Revolution, has lots of sex. When Castro starts cracking down on dissidents including homosexuals, he spends a lot of time in jail - writing. A lot of his money is made writing for other prisoners. He tries to escape several times but his friends are idiots (including the one guy that dumped him and whom he never should have trusted in the first place) and he keeps getting caught. Eventually he leaves Cuba in one of those "take them if you want them" moves by Castro. Five minutes later he's dying of AIDS. Ten minutes later he's dead (and one gets the feeling that those ten minutes are an entire last book). The end.
What works in this movie is Javier Bardem's acting (although the rest of the cast is great too). What doesn't work is Bardem's crotch in the camera every other scene. We got it. He's gay. He loves sex. But every other scene? Maybe if I was gay I'd be more into that, but I doubt it -- it's just too crass.
What also doesn't work is the fact that all five books have to be compressed into this thing. I spent the entire movie promising to buy the books as soon as I had money (sadly 2001 came and that was it for my checkbook) but not enjoying the movie itself.
So it's not a bad movie. Not a great movie either. It would have been better if the director had only decided to adapt parts of it instead of the whole thing (like The Mambo Kings where the movie is only half the book) but it's not the greatest movie ever either.
Movie Review: A must see for anyone interested in politics and art
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie was passionate enough about issues like self discovery and individual expression to elevate itself into timelessness. It's a must see for anyone interested in politics and/or art.Movie Review: Whats all the hoopla
Summary: 2 Stars
This movie was very disappointing to me. I read all the reviews but I must have missed somthing. Long, drawn out and never an up beat moment. Sean Penn appears for 3 minutes.Movie Review: 133 minutes of brilliant film-making
Summary: 5 Stars
One doesn't need to know who Reinaldo Arenas was to appreciate this film. By the time it's over you can't wait to read Arenas' books (or re-read them as the case my be). Julian Schnabel has created a rich and multi-layered film about freedom and art - how staying true to the art of expressing yourself (even in the face of adversity) is the only truly liberating thing in life.For non-Spanish- (or French-) speaking film audiences, Javier Bardem and Olivier Martinez are the acting-Finds of the decade! Bardem is as well known to Spanish-speaking audiences, as Martinez is in France. We can only hope to see them both more often in English-language films that get widespread releases internationally. It's only a shame that Bardem didn't win the Oscar he was nominated for at the 2000 Academy Awards - seldom have I been so moved by an acting performance. Johnny Depp is lots of fun as "Bon-Bon" - the smuggling drag queen, but looks somewhat out of place in his double role as a Cuban police inspector (it's probably the glued-on mustache that doesn't work for me!). Keep and eye out for Sean Penn, too.
The film is an extraordinary masterpiece! A "Must-See"!
Movie Review: Captures the Atmosphere of the Book
Summary: 4 Stars
While debate rages over the film and the items in Arena's book that are given brief screen time, (while other items are expanded in portion)one cannot dismiss the rich work that is done here. Javier Bardem and Johnny Deep are awesome in their roles and deliver amazing perfomances, that unfornately didn't get the recognition they justifiabley deserve. Read the book, then see the movie and admire two same, but differnt works of art that come from the life of a powerful, brillant writer.