Rating: 
Summary: THE LAST TANGO IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
Review: That is maybe the only movie from those usually named "erotic" that you can put on your shelf together with "The last tango in Paris". One can write about this film a lot, but I will concentrate on what makes you watch it for the second, third, fourth time. It is a movie about Passion, about the time in a relationship when there is no point of return, about when love and hate are one deep feeling, which is called Passion. The story is not what is the most interesting here, the characters are. All four are brilliantly casted by Roman Polanski. Two girls show two totally different sexualities: one open, aggressive (Emmanuelle Seigner) and the other (Kristine Scott Thomas)- hidden, but it's like a volcano inside a sleeping mountain. When Seigner pours milk over herself during usual breakfast it's one of the most exciting moments in cinema, forget "9 ½ weeks". Two male characters also oppose one another: Peter Coyote, a-never-will-be-Scott-Fitzgerald, who wants to reach an end in everything, whatever it will bring to him; and Hugh Grant, an emotional coward afraid of anything connected to deep feelings. The story of Coyote and Seigner relationship affects differently the other pair but to reveal in what way will kill some part of potential viewer's interest.
Rating:
Summary: Bitter-Sweet Revenge...
Review: The renowned and legendary director Roman Polanski, has hit a pinnacle of originality with this tragically funny, dark humored sex tale. "Bitter Moon" is a uniquely one of a kind outing that you can't compare to ANY other film. ................... While on a cruise to put some sparks back into a troubled marriage, Nigel(Hugh Grant) and his wife Fiona, played by Kristen Scott Thomas (4 Weddings & a Funeral, also with Grant) meet Oscar (Peter Coyote) paralyzed from the waist down in a wheelchair, and his unexpectedly beautiful sexpot wife Mimi(Emanuelle Seigner). .................. Oscar senses a voyueristic listener in Nigel after taking note of the obvious attraction he has for his wife. Oscar invites Nigel to join him on board as he weaves the fairy tale start of how such an unlikely couple came to be. While we listen and watch in flashback, Oscar spins tales of obsession at first sight, an affair of wild passionate lust, a turn to kinkiness followed by boredom, and last but far from least, a two-fold twist of power within the relationship that changes everything. ................... Peter Coyote plays his role as Oscar the narrator, in a wonderfully slimy and of course "bitter" way. It's hard to decide if you hate him, feel sorry for him, or a bit of both. Hugh Grant is suitably uptight in the proper British stereotype, as Nigel. While he claims to be thoroughly offended by Oscar's rantings, his "virgin" ears keep begging for more of the same. Kristin Scott Thomas plays Fiona, the proper English wife of Grant's Nigel. Up until the "bitter" end, she is disgusted and suspicious that her husband is having an affair with Mimi, whom Nigel obviously finds to be a fascinating and mysterious creature indeed. Apparently, he's not the only one, as you'll see. Oscar dangles her like bait, and Nigel is hooked. As each intallment of Oscars story is told, Nigel becomes more and more desperate to uncover the mystery. Oscar relishes the sadistic hold he has on Nigels attention. He is like a drug dealer doling out doses of Mimi to an increasingly desperate imagination. .................... Seigner, a distinctive beauty, who happens to be Polanski's wife, is almost unrecognizable from when she appeared in Polanski's "Frantic." Compared to the skinny waif she'd been then, she is definitely and appropriately voluptuous here. A few extra pounds never looked so good, or worked so well. The role of Mimi calls for a total woman with femme fatale curves. When you view this film for yourself, you will understand what I mean. .............. One thing is for certain, with "Bitter Moon" you feel like YOU'VE been in Nigel's shoes along with him. You will also relate to Nigel because this film will most likely shock, perhaps offend as well too, but like Nigel, you WILL keep coming back for more.
Rating: 
Summary: The War of The Roses Meets The Love Boat...
Review: The War of the Roses meets The Love Boat is the only way to describe this hybrid of sexual eroticism crossed with comedic and tragic acts of despair. However, where the Roses filed for a divorce, Coyote and Seigner tie the knot for better or worse, and worse, and much worse...The actors are just as entertaining; Hugh Grant as the uptight and sexually repressed Brit, Kristen Scott Thomas as the faithful wife longing for some "real passion" and adventure, Peter Coyote as the cynically sarcastic womanizer, and Emanuelle Seigner as the French voluptuous version of Brooke Shields ! This movie is only recommended if you like dark and twisted comedies. The film is a bit lengthy and slow at times but it is in the telling of the story through Coyote's character that keeps you wanting to know what the ultimate destination will be on this cruise ! The soundtrack by Vangelis and other various artists is perfectly tailored and provocative for this film as well ( I wish there was an actual version of this soundtrack for sale out in the market--currently there isn't)...
Rating:
Summary: what is love?
Review: this is a black comedy but not really because something in Seigner's performance gives way to total and indescribable loss.Almost all of Polanki's films center around the death of innocence,of women believing in love only to find it disguised as a form of manipulation.I enjoy his films that have a passionate core,the Ninth Gate was obviously an exercise in pointlessness.But this one is all campy and vibrant is filled with life and its burning torture.
Rating:
Summary: Love: Polanski-Style
Review: This is a film which seems to attempt to explore the darker side of love (lust?). Peter Coyote is the self-pitying wheelchair bound Oscar, who decides to share a ghastly story involving sex, jealousy, lust and humiliaton with ultra straight Nigel (Hugh Grant). Oscar's real motive for telling Nigel this bizarre storyis never clearly defined, perhaps whem you watch it you should make up your own mind. Does he tell it for attention? He seems to get a kick out of shocking Nigel.
If you're a fan of Polanski, not only will you find this film entertaining you're bound to notice the obvious Polanski trademarks found in his films. There is the restricted claustrophobic settings, the power to hurt and humiliate, the victim and the persecuter. And, of course, there is violence.
However, try not to read too much of Polanski's own real life experiences in this film. People often fantasize about certain things, particularly of a sexual nature. Bitter Moon merely tries to see where some fantasies will take you. Will you be bathed in happiness for all time? Or are you paving your own private road to hell?
Sometimes fantasies should stay that way.
Rating:
Summary: BITTER MOON ....Not So Bitter After All
Review: This is a tough movie to review in detail, especially on a family-oriented website, but I'll say that my only reason for buying this DVD was because I buy anything with Hugh Grant. His movies are almost always good and this pre-superstardom film of his is no exception. It is also one of the better non-Hollywood films that I've seen. Although I thought the movie was too long and that the flashback segments could have been shortened, the storyline holds your attention right up until the the brutal end. Highlights include a great music score by Vangelis and a hilarious twist ending. (Guess who gets the girl?) Some very memorable moments, indeed! I also liked the shots of the cruise ship and of the open water which established the setting and the mood very effectively. I haven't watched many of Roman Polanski's films, but this one would definitely encourage me to see more.
Rating:
Summary: A Romantic Tragicomedy
Review: this is one of those excellent films that gets unjustly overlooked at the theatres and by the public. the few that have learned to appreciate it have turned it into a cult classic. It's a romantic film that can be viewed sevral times as a result of the variety of emotions it stimulates. Love, hate, bitterness and laughter co-exist in this odd tale fileld with excellent character studies. The movie can be very romantic at times. The story of the meeting of the Peter Coyote and Emanuelle Seigner characters is simple, engaging and beleivable. The poignant and subtle score by Vangelis that accents the deeper scenes is one of his best-and most overlooked. Most appreciate the film for its - justly praised - eroticism. I rather enjoyed the study of human failure, of the symbiosis of love and hate that can exist in passion and both repressed and exuberant sexuality. Inevitably, Polanski also indicts traditional bourgeois values. Like many Polanski films there are also some very funny parts and some in the most unexpected situations. Find out for yourself what many have already discovered.
Rating:
Summary: Whoa!!
Review: This is probably one of the most depraved movies I have ever seen. It's a Roman Polanski film. (I usually have high regard for his films, so it's no surprise to me that I "enjoyed" this one.) Nigel (played by Hugh Grant) is on a cruise ship with his wife. He meets a strange couple, the crippled husband and his lovely young French wife, Mimi. The story he tells is one of extreme sexual passion and the consequences of a greedy sex life. (A strange sex life, at that!) There are two extremes to this relationship. This movie had my gut tied up in knots the entire time I was watching it. I was still having flashbacks from the film the next morning! I really can't recall having a movie effect me in such a manner. This movie is NOT recommended for the more "reserved" people.
Rating:
Summary: Quaint tale of sexual obsession retold to repressed Brit
Review: This really is a very unusual film, structurally and in its subject matter. The majority of the action takes place in flashback, with Peter Coyote's crippled writer relating tales of his love/lust affair with the stunning Emmanuelle Seigner to a hooray Henry played, surprise, surprise by Hugh Grant. In fairness to Grant his performance as Nigel is good, and this is before his role in Four Weddings And A Funeral catapulted him to stardom and eventual typecasting. Grant's reactions to Coyote's tales of sexual perversity, obsession, domination and cruelty serve as a comic foil to the rather heavy tone of the rest of the movie, preventing it becoming too dark. There are a few sexually explicit moments but they do not dominate the movie, which is more psychological and intelligent than that. One aspect which was not touched upon in the film was the possibility that the writer could be making most of it up - are these just his fantasies or did it all really happen? The structure makes it look as though you are watching two movies, one set in Paris, and the other aboard a boat. Indeed there were two separate crews, and Grant and Kristen Scott Thomas are only ever seen on board the ship., as are the other star names, Victor Bannerjee and Stockard Channing. It looks almost as though director Roman Polanski has made a very black film with the fairly unknown Coyote and Polanski's wife Seigner, then in order to sell the thing to Britain and America has tacked on a framing device with some well known actors in it. Special mention must go to the movie's music, from Vangelis's incidentals to Sam Brown's superb Stop and other 1980s hits, the film exudes good taste. There are a couple of re-recorded hits, but they are done so well I didn't notice until I saw the credits. The performances are good, the action convinces (Despite a bad model shot of the liner in a storm - it seems really small as the water has not been scaled properly), and you are left with combined feelings of fascination and disgust. This is not for the faint hearted, but enjoyable and thought provoking if you are prepared to suspend your moral judgement for a couple of hours.
Rating:
Summary: Mad story with morale
Review: This was one of the best movies I ever saw. Very good actors, almost looked as like they played themselves, they were just so good. Very good story or rather several interwined stories in this one crazy movie which would keep your attention from the very beginning to the very end. It starts as an erotic story - but with a moral, too much sex is no good if nothing else is present. I also liked the atmosphere of the movie - one could feel a touch of Europe while in Paris, the smell of sea breeze while of the ship.
I recommend it highly to all over 18!
|
