Rating: 
Summary: Stylish And Brilliant.
Review: "That Obscure Object Of Desire," the last film by Luis Bunuel, is a masterpiece of the cinema. One of the best works in film ever made. Bunuel shows us desire and love with style, elegance, brilliance and of course, romance. This movie is never boring and keeps the viewer watching from the first frame to the last. His use of settings, costumes and photography is exquisite here. He even nicely adds Spanish flamenco music into the mix, adding to the hypnotic effect of this movie. But what makes "That Obscure Object Of Desire" such a great movie, is how Bunuel understands a man's desire towards a beautiful or special woman. It is a study of lust, and of what really is love. "That Obscure Object Of Desire" brilliantly disects the scenario of a man falling in love with a woman, lusting for her and enraptured by her. Bunuel basically studies the whole concept of love itself. It is touchingly romantic at times and surrealistic at others. No one other than Luis Bunuel could have made this movie. The direction is near perfect. The screenplay is just a work of pure genius. It was Bunuel's last film, and a fitting, breathtaking finale for a genius. There are surprises at every corner, and Bunuel manages to touch our heart, something you don't see very often in his masterworks because they are usually made to shock or provoke. This one is about feelings and desires. A masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: His last and best
Review: "Any man who thinks he can read the mind of a woman is a man who knows nothing." -- Robert Evans.
This could have been the tagline for Bunuel's final movie, in which Fernando Rey's Mathieu grapples with his lust for Conchita, who seems to be leading him on for sadistic thrills. In his final surrealistic touch, Bunuel casts two women in the part of Conchita, a choice that has been interpreted a hundred different ways, though Bunuel himself insisted it was a random whimsical idea that just stuck. One thing on which everyone should agree, though, is that it adds to the mystery and ambiguity that is at the heart of Mathieu's relationship with Conchita. Had Bunuel made Mathieu consciously aware of this fact, it would've reduced it to a gimmick. This way, it preserves the obscurity of the title. I rank this movie as his best because he only got stronger as a filmmaker with time, and, this being his last one, it's informed by everything that came before. It's also wildly hilarious and very disturbing. This being a Criterion DVD, you can count on the best picture and sound quality, and a score of extra junk which may or may not interest you.
Rating:
Summary: Stylish And Brilliant.
Review: "That Obscure Object Of Desire," the last film by Luis Bunuel, is a masterpiece of the cinema. One of the best works in film ever made. Bunuel shows us desire and love with style, elegance, brilliance and of course, romance. This movie is never boring and keeps the viewer watching from the first frame to the last. His use of settings, costumes and photography is exquisite here. He even nicely adds Spanish flamenco music into the mix, adding to the hypnotic effect of this movie. But what makes "That Obscure Object Of Desire" such a great movie, is how Bunuel understands a man's desire towards a beautiful or special woman. It is a study of lust, and of what really is love. "That Obscure Object Of Desire" brilliantly disects the scenario of a man falling in love with a woman, lusting for her and enraptured by her. Bunuel basically studies the whole concept of love itself. It is touchingly romantic at times and surrealistic at others. No one other than Luis Bunuel could have made this movie. The direction is near perfect. The screenplay is just a work of pure genius. It was Bunuel's last film, and a fitting, breathtaking finale for a genius. There are surprises at every corner, and Bunuel manages to touch our heart, something you don't see very often in his masterworks because they are usually made to shock or provoke. This one is about feelings and desires. A masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: Discreetly Wielded Bourgeois Power
Review: A disturbing exageration and revelation of gender and power roles, this story is as true today as it was when penned over 100 years ago. It highlights the objectification that perverts love in capitalist society: while we see Conchita as the obvious (sex) object of Matthiu's desire, we are less conditioned to seeing Matthiu as the (success) object of Conchita's desire. Throughout the movie, Conchita's running hot/cold attitude does nothing but inflame Matthiu's desire to possess her. (This split nature is highlighted by having two separate actresses play her role--although not necessarily synchronized with her frigid/steamy responses.) His language in courting her speaks of possession, of ownership. Bunuel highlights this ultimate consequence of capitalist society, where people become transformed into commodities solely valued in their ability to fulfill the desires of another. Underlying the story of Matthieu and Conchita's complex relationship is a sense of the bizarre and of unexpected connections. Leftist and Rightist terrorist groups link up. A carjacking occurs outside the would-be lovers' window. A dwarf, who teaches private lessons in psychology joins Matthieu in his return trip to Paris, along with a judge who know's Matthieu's cousin. Matthieu, with his money and power, performing no useful task to society, stands out as a parasite. But Conchita, who only wants to dance, takes Matthieu's money, and is, in her own way, a parasite as well. Her mother, who only attends church, yet is willing to accept money for her daughter, is a parasite whose only contribution to society is to pray for the soul of her late husband. Eric Fromm has contrasted capitalism and socialism with the following distinction: Capitalism values objects over people, while socialism values people over objects. This masterpiece of Bunuel demonstrates that when objects become more valuable than people, people themselves become objects. Love gives way to the exchange of services for objects, and violence, as a form of redress, inevitably follows. (If you'd like to discuss this video or review in more depth, please click on the "about me" link above and drop me an email. Thanks!)
Rating:
Summary: A Mediterannean Woman
Review: A magnificient sample of Med woman. Reminds of my ex-girl friend. A must see film who are interested in art in film.
Rating:
Summary: One superb movie
Review: First at all , I must confess that my favorite film of Luis Bunuel is Viridiana.
But what this film has in particular is the special enchantment who Bunuel added when we watched the dramatic transformations suffered by a same woman in an unhappy relationship.
The progressive change , you perfectly can associate with the journey from Athenea to Aphrodite and back to Athenea with a touch of Gea .
Athenea besides being the knowledge , the prudence and wisdom's symbol , was virginal.
Instead Aphrodite simbolizes the love without restrictions and duties too. In Aphrodite's mind the idea of a perpetual relationship and marrioage, simply don't exist.
Gea represents the woman who thinks in the marriage as a commitment of life. She loves the family and kids, and that's her bliss.
That's why our troubled man (Fernando Rey) can not understand. Because he loves the best of both , and so his confussion grows and grows till the time comes for him to fade in that unexpected ending.
One powerful of the couple. A film carefully made and a brilliant portrait who reflect the behavior of many couples in any age.
Watch this monumental film . One of the most honest works of that genius: Luis Bunuel.
Rating:
Summary: Luis Bunuel is GOD
Review: I am so glad this one is on DVD. I hope Criterion will soon release "Belle De Jour" soon!! The film is presented in 1.66:1 aspect with mono French, and there is English Dub available. Special Features: Video interview with screenwriter Jean-Claude Carriere; Excerpts from Jacques de Baroncelli's 1929 silent film "La Femme et le Pantin"; Reprinted interview with director Luis Bunuel; Theatrical trailer.
Rating:
Summary: Bunuel's Last Sigh
Review: I really really enjoyed this film, even more than The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeosie. It may be Bunuel's most direct, accessible film--but that does not make it any less (terroristically) subversive. Fernando Rey stars as Don Mateo, an aging bourgeois, who has suddenly and completely fallen in love with Conchita, a Spanish seductress par excellence. Conchita however, proves a very difficult guitar to play... I watched it alone. But it is a good question. It is not easy to look at the characters objectively--to view their never-ending game of sexual politics as being just that: the historical "hatred of the sexes," as Nietzsche called it. This is an engrossing film and there are many reasons for this. One of them is the magnificent cinematography. That Obscure Object is a colorful film. It looks good. And Bunuel plays many of his usual jokes on his characters--overwhelming the upper middle class with terrorism--both actual and sexual! Fernando Rey plays a wonderful role and (though he may be a naive bourgeois!) is extremely charming and attracts our sympathy. This is a DVD worth buying. Criterion's transfers always amaze me. The special features are great: a relatively long interview with scenarist Jean-Claude Carrier, the theatrical trailer for the film, and excerpts from another 1929 silent film based on the novel (The Woman and the Puppet) which was the source for That Obscure Object's screenplay. Baroncelli's black and white treatment of the erotic novel seems to be a great movie itself and maybe Criterion should consider releasing it on DVD also! The Criterion Collection edition of Luis Bunuel's That Obscure Object of Desire was worth the price!
Rating:
Summary: How True It Is
Review: I saw this film in New York City (where else) and will buy the DVD since this is one superb film. I doubt if anyone can see this film in any of the Red States, nor would they understand it; not that it's so complex. Actually I have a friend in a similar situation who deserves to see this film. Although he is not into foreign films, he would immediately relate to Bunel's tale. I am sure many of us have suffered a similar fate, although we might not have been given the opportunity to throw water on them. Beautiful film! I am surprised that one person did not relate to it.
Rating:
Summary: My Conchita...
Review: I would like to begin by saying that this is one of the most bizarre films that I have ever experienced in my career as a movie buff. I have seen some twist endings, some passionately bad French films, and even some stalker films, but nothing compares to the cinematic genius that I just witnessed. Being a Bunuel "virgin", I didn't know what to expect coming into this film. I was ready for anything, but interestingly enough nothing will prepare you for this film. Deeply rooted in cinematic symbolism, we watch as two very interesting devises that are used to bring forth the overall theme of this film. Two devises that I have never seen used in a movie, until now.
The first is the obvious. Bunuel successfully uses two different actresses to play the same role of Conchita. At first I thought perhaps it was going to be one of those "twin" double-cross films where these two girls used this older wealthy man for all his money. I was wrong. Similar to the title of this film, this is a film about passions and desires. It divulges in the emotion of obsession, and the reaction a man can have on someone that he desperately and sexually desires. Mathieu is our possible victim in this story. While both are not the most interesting characters (both have flaws and troubles), they do provide some structured characters. Mathieu is willing to give up everything for this woman that he hardly knows, but is physically attracted to her. It is hard to say that he loves her, but he does lust for her. The dual role of Conchita in this film is used for two purposes. The first is as a distraction, while the second is emotion. Both Conchitas are different in their own way and are used to push forward the story. Whenever Bunuel needed to convey a different emotion, he would bring in the actress that best represented that emotion. At first it was confusing, but as the film progressed you began to see less and less separate actresses, but instead as one character. It is impressive how Bunuel created this illusion.
As I mentioned above, there were two devises that I have never seen in a movie before. I explained above about the use of two women for one female role, but the second is a bit subtler. I briefly mentioned it above about how these two women (one character) were used to distract. If you pay attention to the film terrorism is a big part of the universe surrounding Mathieu. While he pines continually for Conchita, the world around him is falling apart. Bombings and deaths are at an all time high, yet he doesn't really seem to notice this. He is so caught up in Conchita that it seems like nothing else exists. He is oblivious to his surroundings. In fact, I would go so far as to say that we are also oblivious to the surroundings. Bunuel does this job of keeping our eye focused on the interchanging women that we sometimes forget or miss the actions surrounding this film. I believe that Bunuel is trying to prove the point that obsession does obscure your vision. It blurs your eyes and forces you to miss crucial elements of your surroundings. It isn't until the end when we are reminded violently of the truth surrounding our characters. I felt that Bunuel was slapping me in the face with that final scene. I had nearly forgotten myself of the terrorism outside, but easily he reminded me.
This was a spectacular film that really opened my eyes to a completely new way of filmmaking. It reminded me of some of the early works of another favorite director of mine Francois Ozon. Both of these talented artists have their own way of creating a world and an emotion, and both do it with some of the most beautiful strokes of their mechanical brush. I would recommend this film to anyone that is willing to experience radical, yet provocative filmmaking at its best. You will be impressed.
I cannot wait to include this film in my collection to watch over and over again. Thanks to Criterion, they have provided a beautiful packaging to this obscure film.
Grade: ***** out of *****
|
