Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing movie
Review: Having read so many reviews about "TotalEclipse", I rented the movie with great expectations. To put it mildly, I was disappointed. There was no quality at all, and even though DiCaprio tried his best, the movie just wouldn't lift. I suggest that you read some of Rimbaud's poetry instead of watching this poorly-made film.
Rating: 
Summary: Magnificent film
Review: Being a French citizen and having studied both Verlaine's and Rimbaud's poetry and personalities at school,I confirm that this film was totally misunderstood and that it didn't deserve to be turned down in the US. David Thewlis' and Leo's performances are absolutely remarkable with a special award for David who portrays Verlaine with rare perfection. But I suppose, people just saw the film as another gay love affair. I highly recommend this film and definately thinks it deserved an Oscar. I have watched it 4 times and am still not tired of it. You may think I recommend this film because I am French. This has nothing to do with it. The actor's performances are astounding and that's enough to make a good film. I would like to say more but it's difficult to express myself in a foreign language.
Rating:
Summary: The violence of this made it difficult to view
Review: While I was drawn in by the story and my curiosity about this relationship, I had trouble finishing this due to the violence. Although I feel some movies are "worth it" (like saving private ryan) I didn't feel that way about this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Leonardo DiCaprio's performance is totally RIVETING!!!!!!!
Review: Leo's performance is nothing short of wonderful!!!! He is so execelent in this movie!! Isn't he always though? The movie is VERY well acted by everyone, but the violence is rather shocking. The acting in this movie is VERY exceptional!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Two tortured souls with a desperate need to be loved!
Review: The acting in this movie is supurb. It motivated me to look up both poets and read, read, read. However, I found very little on Arthur Rimbaud. Overall it is a riveting performance by both actors!!
Rating:
Summary: GREAT MOVIE
Review: I THOUGHT THIS WAS A WONDERFUL MOVIE WITH LOTS OF FEELING AND EMOTION
Rating:
Summary: One Voice.....Alone....
Review: I agree with the previous viewer's opinion that this film is misunderstood and dismissed by many on the basis of the homosexual subject matter. I saw past that and examined Rimbaud's state of mind. He was a total revolutionary of the mind and spirit. He inspired the people who read his poetry in so many subjective ways because he saw our world through wholly objective eyes. This film depicts how stagnate the world is becoming and how one voice, one soul can refresh the old fashioned verse...how one can incorporate a new tune for everyone to sing. His vulgerness towards his fellow man shows how he knew then that the world would soon be entirely cynical. This film is one of the most inspiring I've ever seen...it gave me the urge to write. As for Leo, his acting is unparalleled in this flick. Definitely an Oscar worthy performance...the only of his career if I may be so bold. There should be more films like this in our artistically dying world.
Rating:
Summary: Eloquent, Erotic, Extraordinary brilliance
Review: True enough, it escapes from the norm and enters a world that tries to dazzle unlike any other. The characters are at times deplorable, spiteful, malignant, loathsome. But this is who these people were. Screenwriter Christopher Hampton is a scholar on Arthur Rimbaud, it's not as if DiCaprio harnessed himself as a wild, erratic creature of pompous disregard for on reason. It's part of the film's heartbreak, it's what makes Leo's performance virtuoso. I recall a message on an internet bbs that said "Yes, Leo is very bad in this movie". People thought of the performance as minatory because that is who Arthur Rimbaud was!. But he was also charismatic, and brilliantly seductive - a feet Leonardo pulls off with absolute iridescence. If you caught on to this, rather than critiquing with pessimistic aim you would have cared for his lead anyway. I sure did. Unfortunately, for the callous, naive, stupid public (which is most of the filmgoing society), asking a viewer to analyze a film is asking them to kiss the sun. T.E. pulls of brilliance in some of the most subtle ways imaginable. Verlaine's singing of his wifes' hair the symbolic fire that attacks his heart and desire for Rimbaud. Arthur's stabbing of Paul's hand our first clue to Rimbaud's inner pain that he's hidden so well. Paul's/Arthur's affair proof to the world that vulnerability can overpower our entire existence - that loving who we're supposed to love isn't always possible (in this case, women). It's raw, naked for you to look at, the themes don't smack you in the face, you have to look for them. I believe that Total Eclipse is extraordinary proof that blockbuster film viewers have lost their capacity to believe in anything that's apart from their own morals. The film has sodomistic themes - to some people that gives them merit to criticize the movie as a failure. It doesn't follow the normal legacy of conformity that most movies have set out - routine, chronological feelings that we all kn ow and understand - but does that mean the movie is bad because of it? Total Eclipse has flaws, but it has greatness. I am alone in a crowd pleading to many to see this acclaim, but much like Arthur's poems - it seeks to change the atmosphere of how certain things are made. And like Arthur again - it is very misunderstood. I applaud Leo for seeing this and taking on the role of marvelous confusion. END
Rating:
Summary: Total Leo
Review: "Total Eclipse" resurrects the enfant terrible of 19th century Paris -- no not Leo, Arthur Rimbaud. Modern poetry owes much to the outrageous behavior of Rimbaud, and no one performs outrageous better than Di Caprio. A lush, romantic stroll through bars and country, the story of Rimbaud and Paul Verlaine showcase the glowing talent of David Thewlis, Romane Bohringer, and of course, Leonardo Di Caprio. Some might find love between two men off putting, but there is sufficient hetero love in this film to keep everyone happy, and perhaps, intrigue some to read the writing of both poets in the process. Not a film for kiddies, young teenies, or fundamentalist conservatives, "Total Eclipse" brings to the screen a glimpse of life among the literary set, AND the spectacle of Leo au naturale -- what an actor, thank you very much!
Rating:
Summary: Stunning. Beautifully directed,beautifully acted. A must.
Review: Total Eclipse: the movie. Beautiful movie, so beautiful I watched it three times since I bought it (ten days ago). The day after I watched it the first time, I went out and bought Rimbaud's 'Collected Poems', which I love very much. I am very grateful to such a film for introducing me to the world of French poetry. I hope I'll be able to find the PAL Widescreen version of this film since the 'cut up', 'scaled down' versions always interfere with continuity of action. The film opens with Verlaine meeting Rimbaud's sister Isabelle, after her brother's death. She is seen sitting down in this bar. Verlaine comes in and beckons her to sit down. Curious thing to say since she was already sitting. Only at my second viewing I noticed a small part of her dress and black veil on the right hand side of the screen, as Verlaine approaches: obviously she had stood up but got cropped in the re-formatting to TV size. Thorougly entertaining, despite the cropping! Still, I sincerely ho! pe the widescreen version is available, both in PAL and NTSC.
|
