Monday, April 10, 2006
BRANDO
I had never seen today's notorious Best Film
Of course, I had heard 'all' about it. It is remembered for its barrier breaking anal sex. I had heard about the he-on-she bit with the butter but not the she-on-he bit without the butter. Heroic.
Funny that they only 'remember' her taking it up the ass and not him.
That mentioned and disposed of, I have to say that the film is deeply engaging.
Brando is a force of nature.
Some believe that this is his last 'good' performance but I think that, more to the point, it is his last smoldering young/youngish man performance and most critics never forgave him for getting old; let alone fat.
He was a great actor to the very end.
The production is magnificent. There is always something to see and savor.
The photography is beautifully done and the shots are quite innovative.
A lot is done with Metro trains. Basic symbols, no?
It has (a great surprise) my favorite Frenchie Jean-Pierre Léaud in a 'small' role. He is, as always, a treat.
I thought that the film was about a lot of things but mostly growing old. Brando's need to coarsen and deprave sex to get 'excited' is not an unknown symptom of lost libido. You gotta amp it up.
The last tango idea is summed up in a great tango hall/contest sequence in the end.
So.
A lot of the enjoyment is of the 'you gotta be there' variety.
I was there. I enjoyed it. I will give it a 5 out of Netflix 5.
The link at the title is a double barreled Ebert review; in 1972 when the film comes out and 1995, when it was reissued.
