Total Eclipse

Rating:
Summary: Fabulous!
Review: What a beautiful and moving experience this movie can be - Seeing the darkness and love of Rimbaud and Verlaine interpreted by such wonderful actors. This movie is a must-see!!

Rating:
Summary: loved it!
Review: leonardo dicaprio is an acting genious.i'm suprised this film did not recieve more attention than what it got.

Rating:
Summary: Di Caprio shines!
Review: This movie does an excellent job in depicting the darker side of creativity, and Di Caprio is fascinating in his portrayal of Rimbaud as moody & obnoxious, yet simultaneously brilliant & lovable. He draws the viewer like a moth to the flame. The conversations between Rimbaud and Verlaine are particularly intriguing. However, I felt that the sadly poignant plight of Verlaine's spouse was unjustly trivialized, making the film less than it could have been if this aspect had been treated with more sensitivity. Nevertheless, it is a great performance for Di Caprio! On!

Rating:
Summary: Leo plays a unique role
Review: DiCaprio did a fine job playing a character completely different from the one people are used to seeing. This role shows that he is able to do much more than just being a romantic, lovable guy.

Rating:
Summary: Rimbaud and DiCaprio (con't)
Review: (con't) One more things, guys. Don't hesitate to buy this movie just because you think if you buy it it means you're gay. And, don't like or hate a movie because of political correctness or conformity; this is one of the themes in the movie.

Rating:
Summary: Rimbaud and DiCaprio
Review: This movie does not portrait poet Arthur Rimbaud in a 100% precise way (it doesn't need to be anyway). Instead, it portraits a Rimbaud who is more crazy, courageous, and passionate. In another words, it shows more one side of Rimbaud than the other. Base on the poetry I've read, I like the real Rimbaud. But after I watch this movie, I like this Rimbaud too. Leonardo DiCaprio has a gift that he can express his own artistic interpretation and add something to the role. I also admire that he was willing to play this risky role (gay and nudity) regardless of the risk; this also partially reflects the personality of the real Arthur Rimbaud. Overall, this is a good movie but you must watch it more than one or two times; purchase the screenplay as well.

Rating:
Summary: It was great
Review: This book was an outstanding book. All readers at first will find this adventurous and sad and happy at the same time. It really makes you think. The movie really topped off the book making readers of all ages interested in it. I think it was wonderful to inspire this book with the movie and it was a great pablisity having Leo star.

Rating:
Summary: Great movie
Review: To me this is one of the best movies of Leo Di Caprio.
I personally love the story of the two poets as it has been represented by the director...
Nothing more to add. This is masterpiece to me.

Rating:
Summary: Some movies are just plain bad...
Review: ...and you can't help but criticize them. This is not one of those movies. If you set out with a mind to critique and scrutinize every second of the film, you will be disappointed, as you well should be. If you begin watching it with an open mind, with the intention to see a well made movie with a beautifully tragic storyline, full of talented actors, you will be very happy with this purchase. Don't expect it to be a masterpiece, it's only 2 hours long. Don't expect it to depict every aspect of Rimbaud's life fact for fact, again, it's only 2 hours long. It revolves greatly around the short-lived relationship he had with a fellow poet. The only people who know exactly what happened during Rimbaud and Verlaine's affair are Rimbaud and Verlaine. The writer of the movie could only base it's story on records, letters, poetry, etc., and yes, also on assumption.

I have never been a fan of Leonardo Dicaprio, but I must say, he was magnificent in this film. He absolutely captured the essence of our beloved Rimbaud during this time. Young, fresh faced, slightly naive, confused, arrogant, rude, loud, stubborn, brilliant, seductive...I could go on and on.

Dicaprio and Thewlis share an on screen chemistry that brings Rimbaud and Verlaine's love to life again. Every scene they had together held my undivided attention.

Don't watch this movie if you were cursed with a narrow mind and little imagination. True Rimbaud fans have neither of these. This movie was made for them.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully badass!
Review: This is my favorite movie of all time, but I'll start by acknowledging its critics: Yes, David Thewlis portrays Verlaine as a sadder dick than he probably was in real life. Yes, there's only one French accent in the entire film. And yes, anyone who really wants to gain an understanding of Rimbaud can skip this movie and just read his poetry.

However, that said, this movie still rocks! Leonardo DiCaprio takes the character of Arthur Rimbaud and skillfully makes it his own. A mon avis ("in my opinion" -- hey, let's get some French here), DiCaprio has been at his best when he's played badass roles, most strikingly in "The Quick and the Dead" but also to an extent in "The Basketball Diaries" and "Romeo + Juliet". In "Total Eclipse", he may have acheived the zenith of badass-ness. His Rimbaud is rude, but if scholarly biographies are any indicator, the real Rimbaud wasn't much nicer. DiCaprio's Rimbaud is cocky, adventurous, and sometimes intoxicated. Think Peter Pan, but taller!

Also, a tip for when you're watching this film: when you get to the scene where DiCaprio is naked on a rooftop with all his clothing swinging in one hand, press your dvd remote's "pause" button and then "step" from frame to frame until a certain freeze-frame is achieved. I don't need to explain what you'll see.