Rating: 
Summary: An interesting and eccentric movie
Review: I am a fan of Robert Duvall, who often likes to play interesting and isolated characters who have an inward struggle inside. In this movie, Duvall plays an aging hitman who is sent by his crime boss to assassinate a wealthy general in Argentina. When the general gets hospitalized, Duvall's character has to bide his time for two weeks. He gets enthralled by the tango, especially an attractive tango dancer whom he strikes a friendship with and occupies his time learning the tango, while waiting for the opportunity to complete his assignment. I will leave you to watch the rest of the movie for the ending.What I liked about the movie is that it offers a very original story, coupling a hitman with tango dancing(!). The story seems to talk about a man's inward struggle about himself, his relationships, and his future. What attracts him to the tango is that it offers a disciplined and beautiful structure which his own life is lacking. The movie also has some beautiful little moments, giving us glimpses into this man's relationship with his girlfriend and her daughter whom he adores, and later his relationship with the tango dancer. This movie, however, is not as action-packed as one would expect and it is fairly predictable. However, the tango dancing is great and the dancers are very attractive. I would say, don't expect too much watching this movie. If you enjoy an original story and drama which focusses on character development, you'd probably like this one. If you are looking for an action-packed movie, you'd be disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Much Tango
Review: I bought this DVD because of the tango. I tired to see the film at a theatre but it wasn't around for long. The movie is not exciting. People say Duvall did this movie to showcase his wife, tango dancer Luciana Pedraza. She is NOT an actress. Her acting is poor. The routines are very short and too few. Duvall sort of stands still while she dances around him. Scenes of Duvall in bed with a prostitute made me gag. I wanted more tango. I can see why this film died at the box office.
Rating: 
Summary: For tangueros and Duvall fans -- exceeded my expectations.
Review: I had previously reviewed the theatrical production of Assassination Tango when it was shown in theaters. I liked the movie so much that I ordered the DVD. The DVD arrived on Saturday, December 13th. It is obvious that I liked the movie. However, the DVD exceeded my expecations. First of all, the movie is there with picture and sound presentation. It is, of course, available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. In addition, there are subtitles in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French. In addition to the movie presentation, there is also a presentation of the movie with an audio commentary while the movie is being shown on a scene-by-scene basis by Robert Duvall and Luciana Pedraza. They comment on who the characters (personajes) are in the picture, the actors who played them including some facts about their lives, how the secene was shot and why the scene was shot in that manner, etc. As you know, the whole premise of the movie was to have a movie about Tango. The aspect of assassination and organized crime was just a way to tie an American who was not a tanguero into the action. You already know that Robert Duvall had been in the Godfather movies and that Francis Ford Copolla was involved both with the Godfather and with Assassination Tango. The audio commentary brings together some discussion of the mafia in New York into the development of John J. Minor characters in the movie included Reuben Blades, a Panamanian living in Los Angeles, Julio Oscar Pedroso, a Cuban actor, and Raul Outeada who had been an Argentine boxer (the equivalent of Frankie Gio). General Rojas, the general who was to be assassinated, was played by Elvio Nessier, an Argentine actor who has had a distinguished career in repertory theater. I was pleased to see some favorite tango people including Maria Nieves, Melina Plebs and Ezequel Farfaro, Carlos Copello, and Pablo Veron. I have had lessons with most of those people. We also noted seeing Adolfo (Jerry) Alonso and his wife Joji Alonso, who tangueros from Baltimore, in a background scene in a practica. In addition to the movie and commentary, there was a presentation on the music in Assassination Tango, including the original music written by Luis Bacalov, an Argentine expatriot living in Rome. Bacalov is best known for the music to Missa Tango, Tangosain, and the Academy Award for the music in "Il Postino." I liked the movie and would recommend it not just to tangueros. Some people are reluctant to buy a video even after they have seen the movie in a theater. I felt that the DVD offered me the ability to see more of the movie that I missed the first time and also gave me the additional "value added" feature of the commentary from Duvall and Pedraza, the omitted scenes, and the alternative ending.
Rating:
Summary: A Disapointment
Review: I have been dancing the tango for about 10 years, so when I heard about this movie I was anxious to see it. However, it appeared locally for only about two weeks, and after seeing the DVD I know why. It was a big disappointment. The plot very thin, and the dancing--with one exception--was a letdown. I think many people would watch this movie just to see the dancing. But there was so little of it, and what was shown was not even that good. The best dance demonstration was at the end of the film, perhaps as a consolation. If you'd like to see an excellent tango movie, check out "Tango". It was made in Buenos Aires about ten years ago, and might be available at your local library. You won't be disappointed with this one.
Rating:
Summary: Robert Duvall and the Tango - A Great Mix
Review: I have loved Robert Duvall since I saw him in Tender Mercies with Tess Harper. His movies are excellent character studies of a person with a wonderful warm side and then there is that other side which may not be quite as admirable. The Apolstle is another example. I agree that the story line in Assassination Tango is a little weak and I personally was not all that interested in the dark side of his life although I understand the reason for showing his contrasting personalities. But his love of his girlfriend's daughter was just wonderful, and his relationship with a beautiful and talented Luciana Pedraza was just entrancing. I thought these relationships just flowed along very naturally and had no "Hollywood fakeness" about them. I am a fan of films done in other countries where naturalness is admired and consequently are more believable. And, the tango! I have always thought the waltz and tango were the most beautiful dances to watch. The tango flowed throughout the film whether someone learning the tango, professionals dancing the tango, just ordinary people dancing the tango, or Robert Duvall learning the tango - pulled it all together.
I would definitely watch this movie again and at some point will buy it.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating
Review: I was intrigued from beginning to end. It's laced with violence, moreso the precarious nature of being human, touching on nuances of community, human sexuality, relationships, psychology, and the meaning of dance. The Argentine tango is a fascinating culture in and of itself. Not for everyone, perhaps, but what is? Another fine film.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating
Review: I was intrigued from beginning to end. It's laced with violence, moreso the precarious nature of being human, touching on nuances of community, human sexuality, relationships, psychology, and the meaning of dance. The Argentine tango is a fascinating culture in and of itself. Not for everyone, perhaps, but what is? Another fine film.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best films
Review: I'm a Professional Dance Instructor & Choreographer and whene I heared about this movie I say "good, some dance has to be in it" but whene I went to see the film I did not stop thinking about how exelent this movie was for weeks. The story-line is exelent, the cast is good, original film locations, it was pretty much the one of the best movies I ever seen in my life. And if you want to try another exelent movie I recomend "The Mambo Kings" (1992, Antonio Banderas & Armand Assante.) Thank you. "Y Que Viva LA SALSA"
Rating:
Summary: Horrable Horrable Movie
Review: If there was a 0 star I would have given it that. The movie is incoherent; the acting is mediocre at best. The movie fails to grab your attention and you are left wondering when is it going to happen, until you realize that it isn't!
Rating: 
Summary: Good and Bad
Review: If you are a normal person, you won't particularly like this movie. The good in it is that this movie casts aside conventions of acting and how people should act on screen. This movie was made in such a way as though you really are looking in on the life of murderers and assasins. Trouble is - do you really want to get that close? To me, watching this movie is a little like sitting for hours in a jail cell with a notorious murderer. At first blush that may seem intriquing, but the reality of it is not all that pleasant.
If you are an abnormal person, and in need of a life, you may like this movie. I came away from it wondering if Robert Duvall in his material riches and the fading years of his career didn't just decide to throw caution (and his money) to the wind and make a movie he really wanted to make, regardless of whether the audience would like it. These Hollywood people can get into some pretty strange stuff. Maybe that is what is flaunted here.
If you are bored some evening and want to watch something out of the ordinary, this might be an okay flik, but if you want my advise, read a book instead.
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