Death and the Maiden
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Movie Reviews of Death and the Maiden
Movie Review: One of Sigourney's top performances!
Summary: 5 Stars
Sigourney Weaver, next to Meryl Streep is one of the best American actresses going today. I'm not sure why Oscar gold has eluded her for so long. Death and the Maiden, Gorillas in the Mist and A Map of the World to me are Sigourney's best performances to date. I have yet to see the made for TV movie, Prayers for Bobby. And if you are like me and enjoy the occasional action, suspense or horror film, you will remember her fine performances in the Alien franchise, Copycat with Holly Hunter or the Grimm Brother's Snow White: A Tale of Terror. Roman Polanski (Rosemary's Baby, Frantic) directs these wonderful actors in a very intense, thrilling drama that engrosses the viewer until the final frame. On a stormy evening, Paulina's (Weaver) husband Gerardo befriends a stranger who helps him with his car trouble. When he invites the stranger inside, Paulina recognizes the voice from the other room as Dr. Miranda, a man who may have brutally tortured and raped her years before. She runs from the house, steals his car and pushes it off a cliff but not before discovering a tape of classical music in the car that was playing at the time she was brutalized. Feeling her suspicians are confirmed, she returns to the house as her husband and Dr. Miranda are asleep. Bound and gagged, Paulina taunts the doctor and presses him to admit the truth about what happened and reveals her plan to eventually kill him. He denies the accusations and husband Gerardo doesn't know what to believe. All is revealed in the end about whether the doctor is innocent or guilty. With only 3 actors and one main setting, the film is an intriguing character study that quickly sucks the viewer into the story and makes them question what may be true and what isn't until the climatic ending. This doesn't seem to be as widely known as some of Polanski or Weaver's other films and that's a shame. This is really some of the best work put together. Hopefully more people will discover this sad, yet meaningful film.Movie Review: Closer to Home Than You May Think...
Summary: 5 Stars
I have to agree with Donna Di Giacomo's review, and seemingly every other post, in disagreeing with Amazon's review, which classifies Weaver's performance as "underwhelming". I always found her portrayal in the film to be incredible! She more than holds her own with Ben Kingsley, who has always been one of our greatest actors. In fact, it seems to me that since the mid-90's, when this was released, Weaver has been given more recognition as a serious actor. Roman Polanski is often at his best with these modest, tension-filled little stories (Knife In The Water).
I also wanted to respond to the review stating, "Living in a democrasy(sic) it is hard to fathom the incredle(sic) cruelty of a dictatorship." I saw this film tonight after watching hours of news programs in which our new Democratic Administration actually wrestled with the idea of possible commitees/investigations/prosecutions of the Bush administration's practice of Rendition, Torture, Illegal CIA Black Sites, Illegal Detention of Prisoners, etc. etc. The other option, and it seems to be their preferred method, is to sweep it all under the rug and look the other way. We already know much of what has been committed in our name is Awful, Unconstitutional & we have already created many more human beings who must deal with the Destructive after-effects that Torture brings to the soul.
A very meaningful film such as this cannot be seen as Theatrical-Hypothetical but viewed as Very Real; This is what happens when governments 'Dictatorial' or 'Democratic' lose their souls and wreak havoc on others. There is Never a 'Good' excuse. This film confronted me with the issue and for that it should be seen.
Movie Review: A moral crossroad!
Summary: 5 Stars
Polanski as images maker is unique . He is a superb film maker and in this case this notable adaptation of the Ariel Dorfman play .
First at all , the emotive nervous is powerful and only a talented director and an admirabble cast could take this material and become in an unforgettable film .
Sigorney Weaver has made the best and finest acting of his career with this haunting story .
Since her husband Gerard (Sam wilkinson) is hired to investigate a lot of political issues , he will meet to Miranda (Ben Kingsley), and for those curious coincidences she is really surprised due that voice sounds her familiar .
This initial suspect will turn in the awful true that will reveal the crudeness , the insanity and the excess of a merciless and absence of any scruple in the Government represive forces .
Watch the film coda in which we will see the couple in a Hall Concert listening the death and the maiden this glorious quartet of Franz Schubert . That cross of sights , seem to vanish , ignore and rejoin themselves in a final which states clearly several issues.
First there is in the air the attempt to sacrifice in the name of a future free of revenge , the right spirit of justice and prevailing of the truth .
But there is the sense of blame of Gerard concerned with the fact of avoiding to croos the line and not going to the last consequences of the investigation , in contrats with her who to her own way established her own behavior and punishment code out off record .
Watch that shocking and haunting film . One of the most remarkable films of that decade and an artistic triumph in itself .
Movie Review: Good Acting, Good Sound, Good Images, and Heavy Story
Summary: 5 Stars
One of what I consider the best movies. I just want to warn you that this movie deals with torturing a child sexually although the scene does not show it, in case you would like to avoid that topic.
The actors are acting so well that it feels almost real. What amazes me most is the fact that there are only three persons acting in the movie. With only three persons so much is going on, and story evolves, never letting me bored. This movie is very interesting, but I wouldn't watch it when I am in a gloomy mood. Also I would not show this movie to any child or young person.
This movie is about an intense anger/resentment and forgiveness. I do not know if it is realistic for a woman to be that courageous. The story itself, together with the excellent acting is quite intense, and I would not say it is entertaining, but it is a good movie.
No revenge can satisfy you, then what do you do? This movie is about forgiving unforgivable.
Movie Review: Nice ambiguous ending
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't think Sigourney Weaver was "underwhelming" in this movie at all. In fact, I thought her performance was subtle and, indeed, mesmerizing.
Other folks have done justice to the plot's description. But one must watch the movie to get a feel for revenge, or at least some answers, that Weaver's character is seeking after years of torture inflicted upon her (especially after seeing her so nervous and jumpy in the beginning of the film).
What I like most about the film, and it's a trademark of Polanski's that draw me to his films, is the ambiguous ending. The "good" doctor wasn't killed, good didn't win out over evil, and the end wasn't tidied up, Hollywood-style, just to make the public feel good. It's not the way life works out.
"Death and the Maiden" is definitely one of the most underrated movies of all time and it's worth the time watching. - Donna Di Giacomo