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Swept Away

Swept Away

List Price: $19.94
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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: A Razzie contender if ever there was one
Review: Based on the 1974 film, SWEPT AWAY is scripted by director Guy Ritchie. How could he? Based on SNATCH and LOCK, STOCK... I was under the impression that the man had TALENT. There's no evidence of that anywhere in this movie.
Madonna plays Amber Leighton, a snotty, spoilt social climber who ends up having to take a look at herself when she is shipwrecked on a deserted island (they always are) with a lowly crewmate Peppe (Andriano Giannini). They bicker and fight and gradually, guess what happens next... but they don't have to worry about starving because there's no shortage of turkeys on this island.
SWEPT AWAY makes BLUE LAGOON (the Brooke Shields version)and even its sequel, look GOOD.
Of all Madonna's movies the only two she was good in were DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN and EVITA. Here she tries to be taken seriously by bravely showing off her wrinkles to the world. She also demonstrates her astounding acting range by bitching and moaning while smoking a cigarillo and riding an exercycle simultaneously. Dustin Hoffman eat your heart out.
Is SWEPT AWAY meant to be comedy? Drama? A soap opera? In any case, Madonna and Ritchie should be paying US to watch it (Though even Ritchie has admitted this is an awful movie). This is one of those movies where you feel like you've been watching for half an hour but when you check the clock counter on your DVD/VHS only ten minutes have passed. However, if you've always wanted to see Madonna on her knees grovelling and being slapped across the face this might be money well spent.
Extras (which are mildly more interesting that the film) include commentaries by Ritchie and the producer, a behind the scenes feature with Madonna and Ritchie interviewing each other, subtitles and deleted scenes. Save your money, unless you're a die hard Madonna fan. On the other hand, Ritchie's fans (myself included) would probably like to forget this movie even exists.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Surprising!
Review: I had heard so much bad news about this film and saw that it only got a few weeks' play in theaters, so I bought a used copy and was mildly surprised. The film isn't horrible... as a matter of fact, I think it's pretty darn good. Madonna is not a bad actress as some claim, but rather her character is unattractive at first and that is confused with poor talent. The film is directed with style and wit by Guy Ritchie, one of the most underappreciated directors today. While some of the film is difficult, like Pepe constantly slapping Amber, I applaud Ritchie and Madonna for making such a risky and indie-feeling picture. I am tired of the same old romantic comedy, and this is a R.C. with some bite. This film is definately worth a look.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: All we are saying....is give Madonna a chance!!!!
Review: I have to agree with other reviews of this film and join the chorus of "It's not the worst movie I have ever seen." It's also not a bad performance by Madonna. I think unfortunately this movie was swirled with controversy (remaking a CLASSIC foreign film with politicial and feminist messges, lawsuits from another star who said HE wanted to remake the film with Madonna first, and Guy Ritchie directing his wife, and of course, Madonna's acting ability) before it was even made. When it came out, people were just downright MEAN. I would have loved to have seen it on the big screen, but it never opened here due to the bad press.

When you think about all the clunkers that many popular actors or actresses make, why does everyone act like it's the end of the world when Madonna makes less that a 5 star film. Isn't she entitled to some fun as an actress? Does it all have to be EVITA? I, for one, loved her performance in WHO'S THAT GIRL? I think it's a funny film and a good time.

I think SWEPT AWAY is a hoot. It's not brain surgery, but it's not meant to be. I agree that Madonna is over the top in the beginning, but during the subtle scenes later in the film, she is very convincing and dare I say, powerful. I think the film is a must own for a Madonna fan and the MTV special with Madonna and Guy is TOO CUTE.

Anyway, take time away from your finger pointing at the Material Girl and give Swept Away a watch. It won't change your life, but it wasn't made to.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: GOOD MOVIE!
Review: I think it's a good movie .... Madonna is not bad as critics say!! I love Guy Ritchie's british humor and I think is a very good director!!
I realized that is one of the best movies I have seen in the last 3 months!!!
So please before say that is a bad movie, see it!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Better than expected, better than the expectation set
Review: I just watched this movie last night. I have to say, I found myself emotional jerked by this movie. I was crying, appalled, laughing and uncomfortable. Madonna gets slapped I don't know how many times but it's kinda wierd. When the movie begins, Madonna's presence seems to override her character a bit. It's hard to explain but as the movie went along, you then saw the character develop. I liked the dance sequence the best, very sexy. That she pulled off perfectly on-accounta duh!! The movie did drag on a bit but it wrapped up in a way that is not typical. I liked it and am glad I purchased this DVD.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: WHAT NOT?
Review: Okay, so Madonna's acting career wasn't great (not to mention the good ones, like 'The Next Best Thing','Evita', and 'A league of their own') Madonna, why choose 'Girl 6' 'Four rooms' and 'Body of Evidence' is beyond me, but I love most of her work (especially her music) and I realy think she is the most beautiful woman in the entertainment industry. Now, moving along, 'Swept Away' was bashed before it's theatrical release, nobody gave her the benefit of the doubt, they assumed it was bad...Because the bad press and mixed reviews the film became a boxoffice flop. In fact, the movie is hardly available in stores. You have to order it or get it used if you want to own it, unless you get lucky and see it at a store. I think Madonna gave a good performance, one of her best. She is in teriffic shape, and looks very HAPPY and complete in the film which makes the movie more 'good mood' feel.The scenery is good and the DVD includes a 'MTV MOVIE SPECIAL' which is very funny. This movie is very enjoyable and the extras only add greatness. The only DVD movies I own with Madonna are the DROWNED WORLD CONCERT TOUR 2001 and the MUSIC DVD SINGLE and EVITA. swept away is madonna'S BEST ACTING PERFORMANCE AND deserves a second look...

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Madonna is an ACTRESS!
Review: Swept Away showcases Madonna's most vulnerable and emotional role to date. She gives a stellar performance as Amber, a rich snobby socialite who, after being shipwrecked with a lowly fisherman, stripped of all the luxuries to which she has become accustomed, begins to discover how unhappy her life has been, and what true love really is. Truly a heartwrenching movie and I highly recommend it. Forget what all those critics say, this is a standout performance for Madonna.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Surprisingly emotional
Review: This film seemed to produce so many different reactions in people that I had to see it for myself. Part of it was what I expected - some imperfections and some lags - but another part of this film really blew me away. The little imperfections seemed to be there for a reason - I was amazed to see Madonna photographed not in the best light, but as an aging beauty, desperately unhappy and longing to find something more. Of course, this didn't come out til the end, but it was cool to see her character to evolve. It also made me think of her performance in "Dick Tracy," another character that gets a chance to try to evolve, and I liked that alot.

There also seemed to be a subtle (or not so subtle) dom/sub theme going on, and that was wild to take in. It was almost a modern take on "Taming of the Shrew" where Madonna's rich shrew becomes the subordinate to the rough sailor (played beautifully by Adriano Giannini) and thusly finds her true spirit and her happiness.

All in all, I found myself far more moved by this film than I expected. I would give it 3 1/2 stars as it was a good effort.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Many different ways to judge this movie
Review: As a fan of Madonna for 20 years (since I was seven), I admit that I am most likely unable to offer an unbiased review of any Madonna project. I am always giving her the benefit of the doubt, especially in the genre she has the most difficulty with: movies. After many many attempts, and despite a Golden Globe award for Best Actress in EVITA, true movie star status eludes Madonna. It is a mystery to me how Madonna can be the most successful female singer of all time, and yet usually give bad performances in movies. It is a mystery to me why - after selling over 100 million albums - she even *wants* to be an actress. Alas, she does. And, alas, she usually fails. And, because I love her, I keep coming back ... hoping.

One level on which to judge this movie is in terms of Madonna's evolution as an actress. On those terms, she gives an astonishingly beautiful performance, perhaps the best of her career. But one must keep in mind how awful she has been in the past to grade on this curve (THE NEXT BEST THING anyone?). If she were any other actress, I would have turned off the DVD. I can still see her mistaking body positioning for emotional expression (she thinks she's still in Martha Graham's interpretive dance studio). Actors have a term for this kind of acting: "mugging." To her credit, however, she doesn't do that much of it in SWEPT AWAY.

Another way to judge this movie is to remember that Madonna does not do single projects. She launches franchises. In 1987 it was the WHO'S THAT GIRL? era, with a movie, an album, a song, a video, and a world tour all with that title. In 1990 it was the "blonde era" with Madonna starring in DICK TRACY as the Marilyn-inspired blonde bombshell Breathless Mahoney, releasing the album I'M BREATHLESS, and launching the BLONDE AMBITION world tour. SWEPT AWAY is part of the "work with my husband" era. Madonna wants to constantly remind the public that, unconventional though she is, she *has* found a husband and *does* have a family: Madonna's husband, Guy Ritchie, directed SWEPT AWAY, as well as the video for WHAT IT FEELS LIKE FOR A GIRL and a car commercial in which she starred. The basic premise of SWEPT AWAY - a rich woman scorned by many but given a type of redemption by a younger man with less money - perfectly mirrors Madonna's current life. The behind-the-scenes footage of Guy Ritchie in his director's mode yelling at Adriano Giannini (the true star of this film) to "Get off her!" was shown around the world. She is not the Boy Toy anymore. She is Guy Ritchie's wife. So, as a singular project, SWEPT AWAY is not a success (the storyline does not translate well from the Italian or the '70s). But as a means to reiterate Madonna's current franchise, it does the trick.

And yet, and yet, at moments SWEPT AWAY almost works: Madonna occasionally seems natural, and the scenery is always beautiful. It's enough to make me think that Madonna may actually, possibily, be on the road to one day being a legitimate actress.

Bottom line: as with most Madonna films, this is only for the diehard fans.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Muy buena pelicula
Review: Madonna esta estupenda, la pelicula, te hace recorrer una serie de sentimientos muy padres, no se la pierdan.


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