Rating: 
Summary: Remarkable
Review: Sorry to dissappoint the special effects freaks, who tend to measure the quality of a movie by how many explosions and mass destructions they can count in it, this is a classic example, where plain, real life is much more interesting. Human nature is portrayed at its best through a careful blend of intense emotions, misconceptions, hasted conclusions, vanity, duty and ethics. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: very impressive
Review: a stirring, well-acted film filled with psychological twists and riveting drama.The movie creates a highly interesting web of relationships and keeps the viewer guessing what will happen next. So many of its actors deliver the best performances you have seen in quite a while. Truly a remarkable film.
Rating: 
Summary: Australian Beauty
Review: In an odd way, "Lantana" reminded me of "American Beauty." Both movies follow numerous characters through a short segment of their troubled lives, showing how they all interconnect. In "Beauty," we know that the lead character will die soon; in "Lantana" we know that someone will die, but are not sure who. Both movies have well-written scripts, well-developed characters, and similar themes: temptation, adultery, and betrayal. "Beauty" won the US Academy Award for best movie of 1999; "Lantana" took similar honors in Australia in 2001. That said, I can't quite give "Lantana" the five stars I'd give "American Beauty." Why? Because in "Lantana," there's nobody to really root for. The central character is an abusive cop, and almost everyone is a loser in one way or another. I was intrigued as the movie unfolded, but I didn't really care very much about anyone. Definitely well above average; worth watching more than once. But not quite up to the standards set by "American Beauty" and other top-ranked films.
Rating:
Summary: Unexpected gem
Review: LANTANA was one of those films that quietly arrived at the cinemas in Australia, and through word of mouth quickly gained its reputation as a fine cinema. Before long, everyone was talking about it. Centered around a group of people who's lives become intertwined, Lantana pulls you in and doesn't let go. It's one of the most interesting films I've seen in recent years and the acting is outstanding. The cast includes Geoffrey Rush (Shine), Kerry Armstrong (SeaChange), Anthony LaPallagia (The Bank) and America's Barbara Hershey (Beaches). I assume they cast Barbara Hershey to sell the movie overseas. To be honest, it wouldn't have made much difference to her role if they cast an Australian actress. I'm not a big fan of Barbara Hershey and I think she is probably the film's only weakness. Lantana proves once again the brilliant movies that come out of Australia. If you like this film, I also recommend "The Hard Word" starring Guy Pierce and Rachel Griffiths, and "Two Hands" starring Heath Ledger and Bryan Brown. These are just two of a long list of outstanding Aussie films.
Rating:
Summary: A Chick Flick in Wolf's Clothing!
Review: 'Lantana' is a richly woven tale involving numerous characters -- all of whom seem to be serendipitously connected as if six degrees of separation were miraculously compressed into two! A woman psychologist hitchhiking at night (after her car breaks down) mysteriously disappears, and her husband immediately becomes the prime suspect. The movie strangely spends most of its time in the first half highlighting the lead detective's extra-marital affair. Leon (played by Anthony LaPaglia) is overly macho. But his love interest, Jane, (portrayed by Rachael Blake, a softer and more approachable version of Olivia Newton-John), is extremely enticing, especially as she makes love to him twice; the first time face-up on her bed, and the second time in front of him with her face buried serenely in a pillow. The missing woman, Valerie (Barbara Hershey) is a nicely chested brunette who paradoxically appears to have as many marital problems -- as the people that she counsels. Incredulously, one of Valerie's gay clients admits to having an affair with a married man; and Valerie becomes convinced that the patient's lover -- is her husband -- and that the man, out of jealously, is planning to secretly bump her off! It wasn't until the end (when Leon is duped into coming clean with his wife -- only to pay the consequences) -- that I finally realized that 'Lantana' is not really a murder mystery -- but a moralistic tale of infidelity, where the men are all jerks and suffer accordingly for their improprieties. The movie is extremely well done. But 'Lantana' is actually a clever chick flick -- disguised in wolf's clothing. Beware!
Rating:
Summary: Disturbing, unconventional movie
Review: I think I'm paying this movie a high compliment when I say it was very disturbing. After thinking about it a bit, I can see that although the movie seems random on the surface, it is actually a masterfully organized exposition on trust in marriage. Each of the three troubled marriages has problems with trust, and falters because of deceit. (And even the fourth seemingly happy marriage holds together only because the wife protects it fiercely against all comers, clinging desperately to her trust in her husband.) As the various couples come into contact with each other, an intricate web of deceit and misunderstanding makes for intriguing complications. I don't want to give away the ending, but let's say that several people come to an awakening, some in time and some too late. Not a happy go lucky movie, watch this when you are in the mood to really think, but not if you are feeling a bit doubtful of your own marriage!
Rating:
Summary: Intelligent, Ingenious, Compelling.
Review: Australian Director Ray Lawrence's second movie and his first for 17 years is an articulate, intelligent and totally compelling examination of human relationships, as well as a thought provoking thriller. Award winning and critically acclaimed, this is the type of movie that Oscar should be honouring, instead of the commercial Hollywood formulaic mediocrity the Academy often seems to prefer. Lantana opens with camera panning down through a tangle of shrubs to reveal the dead body of a woman, stockings ripped and one shoe missing. Immediately drawn to this image we are led to wonder who the dead woman is and to wonder how she died and who killed her but rather than this being merely a thriller it is also a highly intelligent and very rewarding examination of troubled marriage. The title 'Lantana' perhaps doesn't translate well to most countries outside of Australia. It is never explained during the movie, which is a bit of a shame, because Lantana (the name of the tropical shrub which surrounds the deceased) is used as a metaphor for the web of tangled relationships portrayed throughout this film. At the centre of the plot is Leon Zat (Anthony LaPaglia), a burnt-out forty something Sydney police detective. Over-weight and troubled by chest pains, he is conducting an affair with a woman by the name of Jane O'May (Rachael Blake), who is separated from her husband. Meanwhile, unbeknown to Leon, his unhappy wife, Sonja (Kerry Armstrong) is seeing a therapist, Valerie (Barbara Hershey) about their troubled marriage. However, Valerie's own marriage is also in crisis: Following the death of her 11-year-old daughter her husband (Geoffrey Rush) no longer engages in sexual relations and appears to deliberately avoid spending time with her, whilst often 'working late at the office'. Leading Valerie to suspect her husband of a homosexual affair with one of her clients, Michael, who appears to be baiting her. A third couple are also central to the plot and become embroiled in the tangled web; unemployed Nik (Vince Colosimo) and his wife (Keira Wingate) live with their kids next door to Leon's mistress, Jane. Nik is friendly with Jane's estranged husband, Pete (Glen Robbins) but overlooks Jane's 'affair', on the advice of his wife, when he spots Leon leaving his mates house. Meanwhile two other relationships between gay Michael and his married lover and Leon's police partner and a mystery stranger also play out in this beautifully judged, thoughtful and well-written movie, adapted by Andrew Bovell from his original stage play, Speaking in Tongues. Not only is 'Lantana' well-written and well-directed but it has depth. At its core are the central themes of trust, grief, fidelity, betrayal and redemption. Anthony LaPaglia (The Client, So I Married An Axe Murderer), Geoffrey Rush, Barbara Hershey and Kerry Armstrong all give great performances, subtly conveying a broad range of emotions throughout the course of the movie. In particular, LaPaglia, an Australian perhaps best known for his TV appearances (Murder One, Frasier, Without A Trace) and whom I previously assumed was Italian-American, is superb as Leon and it is his uncompromising performance that is at the core of this excellent film. Ray Lawrence, an Aussie TV commercials director must take enormous credit too for the pace and balance of the movie, as well as the performances, which are all pitch-perfect. Lantana is at once a psychological thriller/drama, an essay in love, and an intelligent examination of human relationships, marriage and fidelity. After making this little gem of a movie, let's just hope that Ray Lawrence doesn't wait another 17 years before making his next one. Totally compelling, Lantana kept me hooked throughout every moment of its two-hour minute running time. If you're open minded and looking for something intelligent, this absorbing and superbly acted Australian drama that shouldn't be missed.
Rating:
Summary: ...awesome!
Review: It's been a long while since a movie just blew me away the way that this one did...Based on the trailer, I'd assumed that this was just some typical mystery movie...it just didn't look terribly interesting. Some guy's wife disappears, the cop thinks that the husband did it...This movie is SO MUCH MORE than that. The characters and their relationships are the real focus of this film...it has a depth and a richness to it that reminded me of Atom Egoyan's "Exotica"...then you really must see this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Stars who look & act like real people
Review: Other reviewers on these pages have done a good job summarizing the 'Lantana' storyline and the intricate lattice which is woven around the protagonists. I have nothing new to add on that front. I will tell you that each of the actors in this movie - with the notable exception of Barbara Hershey - triumphs because they simply look like we've peered in on their real lives. This is how real people talk, behave, and react. No grand moments, staged soliloquies, or dense dialogue. Things happen, they react. It's all scripted to some degree, I'm sure. But it all feels so fresh and natural. Of special note are Anthony LaPaglia (known in the US as 'the guy who replaced the bald guy on Murder One') and Kerry Armstrong. Ahem. I wasn't aware of Ms. Armstrong's work before this, I'm embarrassed to say. What a beautiful woman. And confident enough to show that she's aging a bit. It's easy to see why she swept the leading actress awards in Australia in 2002 for both TV *and* film. You can't keep your eyes off of her.
Rating:
Summary: Sweeter Astral Vista
Review: This cerebral movie about people just missing each other, trying to connect or connecting is both a superb crime drama as well as emotional fare. It's reflective and the male and female characters are alive.
| 
