Rating: 
Summary: dull backstage drama
Review: "Write about what you know" has long been the dictum for writers ranging all the way from accomplished published authors to struggling composition class students; is there a playwright then who can resist the temptation to compose a play about composing a play? It has, of course, been done countless times in the past ("Shakespeare in Love" being but the most recent popular example), but, alas, rarely as dully as in "Illuminata," Brandon Cole's tale of a turn-of-the-century repertory company struggling, amid personal conflicts, theatrical roadblocks and even death, to produce an original work (itself entitled "Illuminata"). Cole, along with co-writer and director, John Turturro, centers his story on the playwright, Tuccio, (also played by Turturro), as he copes with temperamental actors, theatre owners and critics, all of whom conspire, intentionally or unintentionally, to sabotage his work.Like so many films that attempt to deal seriously with the creative process, "Illuminata" seems naively to suggest that inspiration can only be achieved after the creator has undergone a series of concomitant life experiences that somehow illuminate the truths hitherto obscured in darkness. Thus, since, in this case, the play-within-the-play deals with the issue of marital infidelity, it is only after the entire cast and crew of the production have participated in a night long sexual roundelay (which consists essentially of switching partners in a style too cute for words) that the play (which failed in its first performance the night before) can come to complete artistic fruition. This cloying and cliched view of theatre as merely a reflection of life (or vice versa) might have been acceptable had the script provided any truly interesting characters, profound insights or satiric wit to carry us through. As it is, though, the characters are both unappealing and woefully underdeveloped, the insights consist of mere self-indulgent paeans to the glory of artistic creation and the humor rests mainly in a series of surprisingly crude illustrations of sexual activity. Furthermore, Turturro is such a dull, uninspiring lead, with his constant sadsack expression and look of pained bewilderment, that he conveys no sense of the dynamism essential to a person capable of producing a work of genius. This leaves the rest of the cast, some of whom are very good, pretty much adrift as they thrash about looking for something solid in the way of character development to hold onto. Actually, the highlight of this film comes during the opening credit sequence, a beautifully done marionette performance that is almost heartbreaking in its otherworldly beauty and delicacy. It is a measure of the failure of the rest of the film that the audience wishes IT were performed by marionettes as well.
Rating: 
Summary: Meandering story dreadfully done.
Review: 'Illuminata' has expanded the limits of John Turturro's mediocrity from second rate actor to third rate director, writer and producer. This film was dreadful. It is disjointed and flits from scene to scene with little flow or meaning relevant to the main story line. We are served with a smorgasbord of fragmented scenes, each a non sequitur to all the others. The only thread that seems to run through them is that they occur in the lives of the members of the same theatre repertory company. The few scenes that do matter to the plot are so convoluted that you frequently can't tell if the dialogue is from the story or the actors running their lines for the play within the story. If this story were a person it would be a schizophrenic with mulitple personality disorder. It couldn't decide if it was a drama, a romance, a comedy, a tragedy, a sex farce, or a parody of theatre. It came closest to being bearable as a sex farce. Turturro was lifeless and impassive as Tuccio, supposedly a complex and passionate writer whose play gets its big chance when the currently running show needs to be cancelled due to the illness of the lead actor. Susan Sarandon gave a good performance as the aging actress trying to seduce Tuccio for a role. Unfortunately, she found it necessary to go topless which only goes to illustrate that the hardware of aging sex symbols is much better left to the imagination. Christoher Walkin gave a delightful performance as the uppity theatre critic who makes impassioned overtures to a member of the cast. Beverly D'Angelo and Ben Gazzara also had minor roles. I gave this film a 2/10. Other than Walken's vignette, there is really not much to recommend it except that the puppets used in the opening and closing credits were phenomenally lifelike and beautiful. Avoid this movie like the plague that it is.
Rating: 
Summary: Inticing the Senses...
Review: A very interesting movie that needs to be watched more then once because of the different genres that reside in this movie. Having been on the set and watching the film build and unfold, it is a beautiful movie with its wonderful costumes and ideas. Don't rate this movie by what we, the reviewers have said, rather watch the movie yourself and see what you get out of it. It is hard to understand at times but sometime movies need to be deeper then the fashes of action and explosions that catches our "attention span of a tick." Sit back and just enjoy something that is either meaningless or thought envoking.
Rating:
Summary: Watch again and again
Review: A very interesting movie that needs to be watched more then once because of the different genres that reside in this movie. Having been on the set and watching the film build and unfold, it is a beautiful movie with its wonderful costumes and ideas. Don't rate this movie by what we, the reviewers have said, rather watch the movie yourself and see what you get out of it. It is hard to understand at times but sometime movies need to be deeper then the fashes of action and explosions that catches our "attention span of a tick." Sit back and just enjoy something that is either meaningless or thought envoking.
Rating:
Summary: light and intense
Review: Humm, it seems that my fellow Illuminata watchers have strongly bent one way or the other. I saw the movie over a year ago, so I can't be descriptive as far as plot twists go, but I found it very moving, tender, slow-moving and intense, with remarkable acting performances. It is true indeed it played on different levels, which I find added strength to the whole, instead of confusion; why should we have to choose ONE genre and stick to it? God, how boring and unlife-like!
Rating:
Summary: Quelle Pretension!
Review: I bought 'Illuminata' on the strength of its cast (how wrong can you go with Christopher Walken, Susan Sarrandon and the perpetually under-rated Beverly D'Angelo?) Well, I guess you CAN go wrong, for the wonderful ensemble is totally wasted in this rambling, disjointed and, above all, pretentious movie. It has some funny moments, certainly, but director/star John Turturro never seems to decide GENRE he's working with; is it a comedy? Is it a fantasy? Is it a love story? Is it a caustic look at theatre or an affectionate one? I gave up trying to figure it out twenty minutes into it, but I stayed with it in the hopes that it might redeem itself. It doesn't. It deteriorates into the most pretentious movie of all times (don't laugh, but there is actually a very poor monologue on the theme of love which is followed by a 'written dedication' to a real-life person!) This is the stuff of first year film students. To its credit, 'Illuminata' is a lovely film to LOOK at (the costumes and set design are beautiful), but aesthetic value aside, 'Illuniata' - like all things based on pretention - is an empty vessel, and one I don't intend to sail in again!
Rating:
Summary: A film experience worth repeating
Review: I feel it is only just to give fair warning to those viewers not familiar with the original play. Illuminata can not be confined to a single genre. Just when have laughed so hard you begin to cry, Illuminata will make a fast moving 180-degree turn on you. With the culmination of artists in this film, it was enticing to see how they all fit together to bring an entertaining view of the theater. The answer is...quite grand. I agree with my countryman regarding the performances of Mr. Walken and Ms. Turturro. Susan Sarandon also plays a wonderful aging actress who can not publicly face the fact that she is no longer able to play a nineteen year old virgin. (An audience can only have so much imagination;) yet you are reminded by the smirks on the faces of the male audience members, she's still got it. Ms. Borowitz was inspiring in her role as the independent outwardly strong woman who can not live with out love no matter the cost. Rufus Sewell is the ever-handsome, insecure male (Dominque) who hides his insecurity with an appearance of egotism. As everyone knows, someone eventually must show his or her true colors; and Dominique allows the viewer just a glimpse of his vulnerability. There is not one character that is forgettable and each plays a vital role. This is not a movie to watch just once if not just for the great one-liners. Granted, this is not a movie for everyone, but it is a movie that will be on my mind for some time to come.
Rating:
Summary: A film experience worth repeating
Review: I feel it is only just to give fair warning to those viewers not familiar with the original play. Illuminata can not be confined to a single genre. Just when have laughed so hard you begin to cry, Illuminata will make a fast moving 180-degree turn on you. With the culmination of artists in this film, it was enticing to see how they all fit together to bring an entertaining view of the theater. The answer is...quite grand. I agree with my countryman regarding the performances of Mr. Walken and Ms. Turturro. Susan Sarandon also plays a wonderful aging actress who can not publicly face the fact that she is no longer able to play a nineteen year old virgin. (An audience can only have so much imagination;) yet you are reminded by the smirks on the faces of the male audience members, she's still got it. Ms. Borowitz was inspiring in her role as the independent outwardly strong woman who can not live with out love no matter the cost. Rufus Sewell is the ever-handsome, insecure male (Dominque) who hides his insecurity with an appearance of egotism. As everyone knows, someone eventually must show his or her true colors; and Dominique allows the viewer just a glimpse of his vulnerability. There is not one character that is forgettable and each plays a vital role. This is not a movie to watch just once if not just for the great one-liners. Granted, this is not a movie for everyone, but it is a movie that will be on my mind for some time to come.
Rating: 
Summary: good and bad
Review: I still have mixed feelings about this movie. At times it becomes rather bumbling, and a bit hard to follow as it jumps between subplots. You never really, truly get to know any of the characters on more than a surface level--although this could have been Turturro's point: audiences only become acquainted with actors' parts and their public images, not the real people. As for good points, Illuminata has a pretty great cast. Susan Sarandon is good and Christopher Walken is delightful, but I was especially taken with Rufus Sewell and Katherine Borowitz. When they (along with Georgina Cates) finally perform Tuccio's (Turturro) play Illuminata, it was so tender and beautifully done that that one scene pretty much made up for any of the movie's shortcomings, as far as I was concerned. Illuminata is certainly an interesting movie, and despite any complaints I have about it, I don't regret seeing it. There are some truly lovely moments.
Rating:
Summary: good and bad
Review: I still have mixed feelings about this movie. At times it becomes rather bumbling, and a bit hard to follow as it jumps between subplots. You never really, truly get to know any of the characters on more than a surface level--although this could have been Turturro's point: audiences only become acquainted with actors' parts and their public images, not the real people. As for good points, Illuminata has a pretty great cast. Susan Sarandon is good and Christopher Walken is delightful, but I was especially taken with Rufus Sewell and Katherine Borowitz. When they (along with Georgina Cates) finally perform Tuccio's (Turturro) play Illuminata, it was so tender and beautifully done that that one scene pretty much made up for any of the movie's shortcomings, as far as I was concerned. Illuminata is certainly an interesting movie, and despite any complaints I have about it, I don't regret seeing it. There are some truly lovely moments.
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