Jane's Reviews

This is a beautifully made film, but I truly wish I had never watched it. The stupidity and waste it depicts is highly distressing. A young man, born with the sort of privileges most people in the world cannot even imagine, just throws it all away. It's one thing to live a life that spurns materialism, to travel and discover and learn, to celebrate the beauty of nature. It's quite another to be a complete fool while going about it. To deliberately put family members through heartbreak and agony. To be so, so self-centered. Penn supposedly avoids judging the subject of his film. But given that the movie is almost entirely told from his point of view, it cannot help but promote his utter selfishness as something brave and enlightened. Leaves a bad taste in the mouth (joke for those who have seen the pic).

Fascinating, very strange film. Bruno S. is amazing - so vulnerable, heartbreaking. This is one of those movies that stays with you long after watching it. Single scenes leap out vividly. An elderly doctor cradling a newborn. A man being spanked on a piano. This is a sad, funny, poignant film. And it has one of the best final lines of dialogue in all cinema.

Super cheesy, dreadful acting by the two leads (but Max von Sydow is wonderful as evil emperor Ming). Just remember, this movie is intentionally tongue in cheek, and if you watch it in this spirit it is SO MUCH FUN! Hilarious costumes, psychadelic backgrounds, funny dialogue, fabulous Queen soundtrack. Highly entertaining.

This movie is not for everyone. It is meticulously crafted and wonderfully acted, suffused with wry humour and devastatingly clever. But if you demand linear plots and clear messages then you probably won't like it. The movie makes gentle demands on the viewer - to think, to question, and make associations. Those that are willing to do this will be greatly rewarded. It gets to some fundamental questions - about the meaning of life, about what we are here for and how we make sense of things that happen to us. I love Cohen brothers movies, and this rates up among their very best. But be warned - if you want it all tied up with a bow, this movie won't deliver. And the final devastating scene will either leave you completely furious, or breathless with admiration for some of the most audacious filmmakers around.

Yes, it has stunning cinematography and intense performances. Plus a portrait of descent into madness which rivals that of Kane. The music score is beautiful and strange, and creates a thoroughly unsettling tone throughout the film. I couldn't help drawing analogies about the dangers of rampant capitalism, and its destructive force both for nature and for ordinary people. Add to this the madness of fundamentalist religion, and a rivalry between the two that was, on a deeper level, a kind of sickening alliance. But most importantly, this film affected me in a way that few films do. It strongly stayed with me for days, and weeks later I still think about it regularly. I'm not even sure why, but there it is.

This beautiful film is clever, funny and visually stunning. My two children (3 and 6) were fascinated throughout and loved it, and I was equally enthralled. For those of us a bit nauseated by the Disney representations of Africa, this is a wonderful antidote. Very, very highly recommended.