Style: Romantic Drama
Director: Michael Cristofer
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Antonio Banderas, Thomas Jane
Working Time: 116 minutes
Synopsis: In Cuba of the late 1800s, profitable businessman Luis Vargas (Antonio Banderas) marries American mail-order bride Julia Russell (Angelina Jolie). He’s astonished at her magnificence and rapidly falls in love. Letters of concern from Julia’s sister are adopted by the looks of personal detective Walter Downs (Thomas Jane), asking about Julia’s well-being. Luis begins to suspect that Julia is hiding secrets and techniques, however he stays hopelessly infatuated.
What Works Effectively: The variation of Cornell Woolrich’s novel concerning the irresistible powers of affection and lust advantages from enticing location filming (in Mexico) and an earthy if romanticized sense of time and place. Director Michael Cristofer and cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto use elegant and swoopy digital camera actions, surrounding Luis and Julia with vibrant dynamism. The couple’s erotic scenes of lovemaking sizzle with the required ardour to underpin Luis’ subsequent devotion to a lady who in any other case stays an enigma.
What Does Not Work As Effectively: Luis’ background and character traits are simply assumed, and his willful dismissal of apparent indicators of foul play and betrayal erode logic and credibility. In the meantime, Julia’s compelling backstory suffers from tell-but-don’t-show shortcomings. The second half begins to pull with repetitive feelings and a doubling down on the identical beats, prolonging the await the inevitable remaining confrontation.
Key Quote:
Julia (to Luis): So this is to us, a brief life, however an thrilling one.
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