Rating: 
Summary: Lack of chemistry, other problems mar biopic
Review: This movie about the steamy, stormy relationship between early 20th Century French poets Arthur Rimbaud and Paul Verlaine fails on a number of levels. Considering the talent involved in front of and behind the camera, the film is a bit of am embarrassment. Verlaine was a widely respected poet when he invited the very young [16 or 17] to visit him and his family in Paris. They developed a volatile friendship that became a torrid love affair. In the process, they destroyed Verlaine's marriage and reputation. Their escapades also cost him two years in prison. Rimbaud wrote brilliantly but only for a few years. He wound up gun running in Africa and died of cancer in his mid-30s. Their tale has the makings of a powerful drama, but "Total Eclipse" forgoes this opportunity by focusing on the more shocking aspects of the relationship. In the process, both characters come off as vain and selfish. In Rimbaud's case, this can perhaps be justified by his youth, his genius and his homosexuality in a repressed society. An actor such as Ewan McGregor might have pulled the role off, but Leonardo DiCaprio, though excellent in several other movies, seems lost here because his anger and angst feels like that of a California kid. David Thewlis is also up the creek, but for a different reason. As written, his Verlaine is so smarmy and reprehensible that he's impossible to relate to. After a scene of horrendous cruelty towards his wife and infant, one wishes he would go ahead with his threats to blow his brains out. There is zero chemistry between DiCaprio and Thewlis. This makes is hard to figure out what attracted the two poets to each other, especially since little is made of their intellectual bond. Perhaps the biggest mistake the movie makes is to assume that the audience will give the characters a break because they are artists. This is problem because there are few direct references to the poetry that made them famous. In "Amadeus", we also were presented with a crass, prissy, childish genius as the central character. That movie succeeded because Mozart's glorious music was featured throughout and because there was a great deal of humor. "Total Eclipse" takes itself seriously without ever giving any serious insights into either Verlaine or Rimbaud.
Rating: 
Summary: Two Great Actors Portraying Two Great Poets
Review: I was not familiar with the two poets depicted in this movie prior to seeing the film. Afterwards, I was intrigued enough to read books of Rambaud's poetry & biography. I felt that Leonardo DiCaprio provided a wonderful portrayal the manipulative and at times cruel French teen poet/genius, Aurthor Rambaud. David Thewlis' portrayal of Rambaud's violent, yet weak poet/lover , Paul Verlaine, is equally masterful. Neither actor pulled any punches while portraying characters who are not particularly likable. Perhaps that is why this film was not well received initially. Like most of DiCaprio's films other than TITANIC, this film is not meant to have a broad appeal for mass audiences. I think the best part of this film is its honest portrayal of how sex is used by both Rambaud and Verlaine's wife to manipulate Paul Verlaine. In the end Verlaine's weakness causes him to lose the affection of both. This is a character-driven film that I found riveting. I highly recommend this film. But, it is not for everybody.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic, Leonardo DiCaprio is brilliant
Review: This is a great movie and is by far Leonardo DiCaprio best performance yet. He should of won an Oscar for his harrowing portrayal of 19th Century French poet Arthur Rimbaud. Rimbaud was a literary genius at the age of 16, who wrote wonderful and obscure poems about sex and death among other topics. His intense and volatile relationship with fellow poet Paul Verlaine was often times disturbing and mad. Verlaine had trouble accepting the fact that his friend, confidant and lover was extremely gifted and more successful than he ever was. Arthur Rimbaud was a merciful and shrewed young man who found pleasure in getting his way all the time and making other people look ridicule (especially the ones he did not like). Verlaine's young wife could not tolerate him and blamed him for making her husband abandon her for long periods of time. Verlaine would always come back to his wife but found Rimbaud so irresistable that he always ended up doing what he wanted and would succumb to his every need be it emotional or sexual. Arthur always knew had to get Paul wrapped up around his finger and got him to do whatever he wanted atleast most of the time. This film is highlated by great performances from the entire cast and once again it is DiCaprio's remarkable performance that makes this film extremely interesting to watch. I don't think this movie is for everyone especially the ones that only think that a good movie is not good unless someone or something gets blown off. DiCaprio's character goes thru many changes in his appearance especially when he is dying of a terrible disease (I'm sorry but I can't seem to remember which one) his character is both physical and emotional and he plays it with incredible strength and emotion. If you are a serious movie collector this is a "must have" for your collection. I love everything about this film and is one of my favorite movies ever. I gave it a 5 star rating because that as high as it goes but I would give a 10 rating because it has all the ingredients a great movie suppose to have. Watch this movie and it will leave you breathless. Superb and beautiful all the way through.
Rating:
Summary: Exceptional movie
Review: I must say that this was an excellant film all around. The quality of the production and the acting was outstanding. DeCaprio did a fantastic job, in fact the best acting I've ever seen him do to date. I was totally impressed with the story and I could not find one poor performance in the film. The script is based a true story with damatic additions I'm sure, however it was a very enjoyable film if only for the chance to see what I believe is some of the finest acting I've ever seen. This is a fantastic investment and a must for the video collection. Be aware that most of the film deals with subject matter best viewed by adults because of sexual content,implied sex acts and nudity. This is not a film for narrow minds or prudish thinkers.
Rating:
Summary: Frustrating film with some very special moments
Review: This movie is truly annoying. It never lets you share what the two men (the 19th-century poets Paul Verlaine and Arthur Rimbaud) find in each other, despite some explicit scenes. From moment to moment, we see what the two of them did--alone, with each other, or with family members--yet there's little insight into their characters, their motivations, and particularly the literary work that so strongly connects them. Verlaine loves Rimbaud but can't detach from his wife; Rimbaud is "very fond" of Verlaine but eventually leaves him. Along the way they have sex, torment each other, break up, get back together, romp through the French landscape and parts of Europe, and finally separate. Rimbaud, in particular, is cruel and capricious. Leonardo DiCaprio takes a big risk as an actor in playing Rimbaud. It's not one of his best characterizations: he doesn't find in the part Rimbaud's intellectual brilliance, or that particular sly self-awareness of their own cruelty and misbehavior that such enfant terribles inevitably have. Leo looks too handsome, feels too innocent, as the rough farm boy that Rimbaud supposedly is. Yet the actor commits himself to the part boldly, withholding nothing. He has two gorgeous scenes. The first is Rimbaud's initial seduction of Verlaine; the second is when, after their long trek across the French countryside, Verlaine and Rimbaud finally reach the ocean, which Rimbaud has never seen. In an outburst of joy, Rimbaud hurls himself wildly upon Verlaine and kisses him ecstatically. David Thewlis is a fine actor too, but the script (or the direction) doesn't allow him to show the depth or the nuances of Verlaine's obsession with Rimbaud. Still, a number of individual scenes in the film are quite interesting to watch. Some are definitely not, chiefly those during the men's trip to the sea--embarrassing, silly business. And the filmmakers' efforts to age Leo by 15 years have an unintentionally comical outcome.
Rating:
Summary: Dicaprio and Thewlis brilliant as creative misfits.
Review: I loved watching this movie mostly because of the acting. The story itself is pretty over-the-top about self-absorbed creative types. All the other characters just take it in the neck, especially if they try to interact or inhibit them. I really related to these characterizations because of personal experience with "artistic types" in NY. Back to the acting: Dicaprio and Thewlis are both brilliant in these roles. There was no self-consciousness in the middle of either the nonsense philosophizing or passionate sex. There is never any doubt that these two characters have taken over the actor's bodies and minds. Bravo! The impact of the story, about where the alienated and self-absorbed philosophy that drove early 60s and 70s pop and rock stars came from is worth watching the film for: Morrison fans take note.
Rating:
Summary: Totally brilliant biopic
Review: Despite poor reviews and disappointing box-office takings, this is an excellent attempt at portraying the turbulent relationship between the poets Rimbaud and Verlaine. The cast all give good performances, and Leo is superb as Rimbaud, as right for the part as Madonna was for Eva Peron. The film does take some liberties with the historical facts (the scene where Rimbaud is seen urinating at a dinner party is surely made up), but the main purpose of any biopic is to awaken interest in the subjects portrayed and on that level Total Eclipse succeeds admirably. Before watching it, I knew nothing about Rimbaud except that he was a French poet. The day after finishing it, I went immediately to buy a volume of his poetry. The film contains some beautiful landscape shots, as well as harshly realistic views of the Paris slums. The romantic and sex scenes between Leo and David Thewlis are convincing, erotic, and at times painfully moving. Definitely recommended for anyone who is a fan of the poets, the stars or French poetry in general.
Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece!!
Review: an astonishing film. one i wont soon forget. i love how leo dicaprio has a special ability to play any type of character he chooses!
Rating:
Summary: Not altogether accurate, but fun.
Review: Total Eclipse does a fine job at painting a portrait of a beautiful, disturbed genius. However in actuality some of Arthur Rimbaud's photos from his childhood show a less attractive poet. Much dialogue was taken from Rimbaud's own writings, so don't expect that he actually told Verlaine one day that "Love needed to be reinvented." This is simply a line from his "A Season in Hell" and the verse that proceeds it says that he does not like women. Then again we will never know some of the amazing things that Rimbaud said in his daily life, but from his poetry the director takes the best of what he wrote and almost makes it seems as if he said the phrases to Verlaine one day while drinking absinthe. One who is truly familiar with Rimbaud should expect the movie to contain sadomasochism and sexual content. I've read other reviews that said the movie contained too much. Denying Rimbaud's role this would make the movie a fairy tale as thankfully the director knew that Rimbaud experienced these things and wrote of them. Lastly, just expect to see a small portion of Rimbaud's life in the movie. He had other companionships and childhood friends which were more interesting than Paul Verlaine. I do appreciate this film and the viewer should expect to be shocked. Or as Rimbaud would say "Then why would you suppose that I intended you to be?"
Rating:
Summary: Only Leo
Review: Only Leonardo DiCaprio would do a film like this. He stands in the nude, and has several...encounters with another man played by David Thewlis. After seeing DiCaprio in this movie I was not surprised that his [orientation] has been questioned over the years. (Some say that he is "friends" with Tobey Maguire and Edward Furlong...hmm?) The only thing that caught my eye was Leo. The film is too bland and boring for me. The only thing that kept me interested was seeing another shot of the hot young Leo, while trying to ignore Thewlis' unwanted shots. You should see Leo's face in the erotic bedroom scene, it looks so real (maybe it is). The thing that dissapointed me was seeing Thewlis while Leo was going at it. I just tried to forget about Thewlis and focus on Leo. If you are a teenage boy like me, there is also a hot chick for us in this movie by the name of Romane Bohringer she plays Paul's new wife. Also look for the african girl he gets with in the end.
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