Assassination Tango
|
List Price: Our Price: $1.25 You Save: $13.73 (92%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Canada
Movie Reviews of Assassination Tango
Movie Review: For tangueros and Duvall fans -- exceeded my expectations.
Summary: 5 Stars
I had previously reviewed the theatrical production of Assassination Tango when it was shown in theaters. I liked the movie so much that I ordered the DVD. The DVD arrived on Saturday, December 13th. It is obvious that I liked the movie. However, the DVD exceeded my expecations. First of all, the movie is there with picture and sound presentation. It is, of course, available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. In addition, there are subtitles in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French.In addition to the movie presentation, there is also a presentation of the movie with an audio commentary while the movie is being shown on a scene-by-scene basis by Robert Duvall and Luciana Pedraza. They comment on who the characters (personajes) are in the picture, the actors who played them including some facts about their lives, how the secene was shot and why the scene was shot in that manner, etc. As you know, the whole premise of the movie was to have a movie about Tango. The aspect of assassination and organized crime was just a way to tie an American who was not a tanguero into the action. You already know that Robert Duvall had been in the Godfather movies and that Francis Ford Copolla was involved both with the Godfather and with Assassination Tango. The audio commentary brings together some discussion of the mafia in New York into the development of John J. Minor characters in the movie included Reuben Blades, a Panamanian living in Los Angeles, Julio Oscar Pedroso, a Cuban actor, and Raul Outeada who had been an Argentine boxer (the equivalent of Frankie Gio). General Rojas, the general who was to be assassinated, was played by Elvio Nessier, an Argentine actor who has had a distinguished career in repertory theater.
I was pleased to see some favorite tango people including Maria Nieves, Melina Plebs and Ezequel Farfaro, Carlos Copello, and Pablo Veron. I have had lessons with most of those people. We also noted seeing Adolfo (Jerry) Alonso and his wife Joji Alonso, who tangueros from Baltimore, in a background scene in a practica.
In addition to the movie and commentary, there was a presentation on the music in Assassination Tango, including the original music written by Luis Bacalov, an Argentine expatriot living in Rome. Bacalov is best known for the music to Missa Tango, Tangosain, and the Academy Award for the music in "Il Postino."
I liked the movie and would recommend it not just to tangueros. Some people are reluctant to buy a video even after they have seen the movie in a theater. I felt that the DVD offered me the ability to see more of the movie that I missed the first time and also gave me the additional "value added" feature of the commentary from Duvall and Pedraza, the omitted scenes, and the alternative ending.
Movie Review: An incredible character study of a quirky aging assassin
Summary: 5 Stars
OK so if you expect the normal fare of many of today's movies with wall to wall sex, violence, chase scenes, and, where you can pretty well deduct the outcome way before you finish you popcorn than baby do not buy this DVD ..... Tis will require some thought to enjoy ....
Duval and Ruben Blades and directed by Coppola .. it dont get much better that that for character studies, intrigue and romantic fencing that is mouth watering hot ....
Duval, and aging owner of a chain of ladies hair dressing salons and full time assassin falls in love with one of his hairdressers and her 10 year old daughter. After years of killing he now finds himself entranced by the love of his stepdaughter allowing his previously repressed paternal side to flower in to full bloom in the autum of his life. The mother and the daughter in effect become everything to him and his reason for living ....
The Duval character is faboulously written and of course, acted, as we see the assissin is a bland charater that can meld in quickly unnoticed while very much maintaining a very very quirky, paranoid and to some extent schizoid personality that he has to draw upon to be able to deal with his real job....
When Duval is sent to Argentina to do a three day job that circumstances turn into a several week stay our complex hero whiles away his time by indulging in his other passion, appart from killing, and that is Tango. He quickly finds a young tango dancer who is not only willing to teach him how they really dance the tango in Argentina but also flirts with him making their scenes practically sparkle with electricity ....
OK .... enough to this point since I really do not want to give away the unexpected surprises or endings of this wonderfully story .....
Movie Review: Pedraza Alone Worth The Price Of The DVD
Summary: 5 Stars
I took a shot at buying this DVD sight-unseen, something I rarely do and usually regret, but not in this case. I found it even more fascinating than I hoped, thanks to a totally-unknown actress. Two viewings within a year has not changed my opinion.
This movie is just different, a unique portrait of strange older hit-man and the people in his life. I am not surprised a number of viewers did not like this film, even fans of Robert Duvall. It's probably just too quirky for most tastes and too slow for most viewers. Despite being low- key, there are some moments of intense temper and violence on the part of Duvall which helps keep ones attention.
I didn't need that, however, to keep my attention. Just trying to figure out Duvall kept me intrigued. My attention, however, accelerated when newcomer Luciana Pedraza entered the picture.
Pedraza is one of the most interesting "new faces" I've seen on film: a woman who has intelligence written over her face as few modern actresses ever have. This woman has a lot to offer: looks, intelligence, a good figure, a great dancer, wonderful voice and despite being Argentine, speaks better English than many Americans. A pity that to my knowledge, this is still her only screen appearance.
Between her and Duvall - who are both complex characters to say the least - along with some wonderfully-colorful cinematography, great dance scenes and intrigue about how an assassination plot will turn out,
I found this film and the DVD - which is inexpensive - very pleasing.This is unknown film that isn't fully appreciated.
Movie Review: This is clearly an act of love for Duvall.
Summary: 5 Stars
Robert Duvall is one of the best actors of the late 20th Century. We are aware of Duvall's versatility in movies in everything from "The Godfather" and "The Apostle" to "Gods and Generals." Few people outside the tango community know that he is a passionate tango dancer. It is obvious that this production was an act of love. This movie will probably not go into general release at your local theater. I really expect it to have a limited release. Notwithstanding that, my advice to you is to see it even if you have to drive two hours [one way] to go to a theater as my wife and I did recently. It was really worthwhile.It is a movie that did not do well in the Toronto Film Festival in 2002. Because of that, certain portions of the film were re-shot in Buenos Aires. Even still, the movie provoked discussion on the Tango-L listserv. It has been criticized for its "weak" plot. I find the plot less complicated than Sally Porter's "Tango Lesson," and the style of dancing to be less of the "fantasy tango" style and more of the salon style that you see in Buenos Aires today. This movie will have definite appeal to milongueros and tango junkies, as well as some die-hard ballroom dancers.
I loved the dancing in the movie, and I really wish there was more of it. A few years ago, I was pleased to have seen some of the people in the movie dance several years ago at Duvall's farm in northern Virginia. This is the kind of dancing I like. I would love it if there were a "director's cut" of this movie available soon. I would be the first to buy it.
Movie Review: A journey to tango `s antipodes!
Summary: 5 Stars
Robert Duvall has made a solvent work with this picture whose commercial hook would seem another additional thriller. This motive is just a pretext, a real invitation to that magic and mysterious tour: tango's world.
The erotic cadences, the sublime movements, the powerful expressiveness, love and hate: a way of living through a musical genre, plenty of anecdotes and sinister fascination. The tango is memory and passion, the perfect combination of light and shadow. The fusion of the couple, wild and captivating, hard to evade and easy to engage us.
The plot will follow the classic style: Duvall is a hired mercenary. He will be sent from New York to Buenos Aires to pay a painful debt. But the fascinating portrait made by Duvall is unique, very personal and warmth, through smart dialogues and a very well assembled script , that will capture your interest.
There are certain edition problems and unnecessary concessions, that avoid to know a little more about this retired General; may be a flash back would have been enough; and that is why I guess this was not the main intention of Duvall; he wants to focus about the tango, and the crime won't be but the frame of the dramatis personae.
He is a beloved father behind his job. And the cast is fine; a human portrait and an invitation to enjoy this art dance.