Frida
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Movie Reviews of Frida
Movie Review: Frida's Life EXPLODES on a Vibrant Screen!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Julie Taymor truly fascinates me. I was blown away by her knockout film debut Titus, and now she has created this excellent follow up, Frida. I loved Frida's artwork and was very excited to see this film, and was there in the theater opening weekend. I have to say I was not let down at all. Most of the audience enjoyed the movie too from what I overheard after the film ended. I loved the lush colors, as many other reviews has stated. But, a lot of the color schemes were beautiful as well. For example, the scene where Frida is in Paris with the singing woman (which she spent the night with) was excellent. I loved the washed golden pallet used for that part.
Also, the bus collision toward the films opening was perfectly done. I loved all the little details such as the blue bird, oranges, and gold. The shot of Frida covered in blood as the goled dust covered her was truly haunting. Other things were nice as well like the New York collage, and the way Frida's paintings blended into her real life showed the emotional aspect from where the artwork came from. One part that is truly heartbreaking was the painting with her in the back brace, when the stone pillar that represented her spine crackles into many disjointed sections, and water wells up in the paintings eyes like tears. Artwork like that packs a powerful punch.
True, it may seem that the movie is more of a "highlights" or "greatest hits" of Frida's life rather then a textured novel. The movie dances from one event to the other. But, then again, it probably felt that way to Frida herself.
On another note, Salma Hayek was excellent in this role. I remember during Oscar season when everyone said she was the first one out of the race for Best Actress. After watching this again, I storngly disagree. You can honestly see Frida morph from a young wild girl, into the artist and woman, and finally into a angry cripple that still retained her humor. Hayek did this role justice. I shudder to think that Madonna and Jennifer Lopez wanted to play the famed painter in competing projects.
Finally to round out this review I would like to compliment this wonderful 2 Disc Dvd set. Julie Taymor has embraced the format to full extent with Titus, and now with Frida. Nothing but top quality from her. Bravo!
Movie Review: Furious, Powerful and Beautiful
Summary: 5 Stars
Frida is a phenomenal epic. It doesn't illustrate the life of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. It draws you into that life. Visually and emotionally arresting, such satisfying films are rare to come by.
Young, vivacious Frida Kahlo is crippled in a bus accident. But even though her body turns on her, her spirit comes to life and she resolves to live life to its fullest. Her two greatest companions are the canvas and her husband, passionate and communistic playboy Diego Rivera. Their life together is not so much a rocky road but one littered with mountains. Slowly, her body gets more of a burden as well. Yet through all of that, her art keeps her strong.
Frida is such a joy to behold because it invites the audience along to experience all of the aforementioned. Not once are we reminded of the fact that this is a movie. This is the potential of cinema realised; to draw the audience into the world presented before them. Frida Kahlo not only creates her paintings, but we are somehow drawn into the world of the paintings themselves. So we get to explore Frida Kahlo's mind as well as her surroundings, and not only are we dazzled by this tempestuous woman, we also understand her pain and, even more amazingly, her art as a consequence.
Salma Hayek is utterly phenomenal in the leading role. She IS Frida Kahlo, not Salma Hayek portraying her. She even looks the part so well that the film often draws the audience into her paintings, through Salma Hayek, and it's hard to spot the difference. Alfred Molina is stunning as her impossible significant other Diego. All of the cast deliver stellar performances, but these two carry the whole ensemble on their shoulders, and they do it with grace.
Boy is this a gorgeous film! We don't just see the lavish parties, we take part in them. There is such a feisty passion pumping throughout this entire picture. There is a rich use of warm, delicious colours. Very often, the gap between the world and Frida Kahlo's art diminishes, with spectacular results. This is one wild story, and the two-hour running time feels like it passes in no time at all. Frida is a triumph of a film, a spicy and delicious dish.
Movie Review: A gorgeous whirlwind of passion, colour and duende.
Summary: 5 Stars
"Frida" possesses that mythical essence which the Spanish call duende: magic spirit or inspiration. The entire film--performances, music, visuals, explodes with passion and colour. We see Frida from her beginnings as an impetuous schoolgirl and her first introduction to future husband Diego Rivera, to her death at age forty-seven. In between we are priviledged to Frida's unique perspectives of life, love and art, everything drenched in vivid colours, ripe with possibility, a tango of pain and passion. The cast includes many high-profile names, such as Salma Hayek, Alfred Molina, Geoffry Rush, Ashley Judd, Antonio Banderas, and Edward Norton. I am amazed at how well Julie Taymor (the Lion King Broadway musical) has captured the feel of Mexico during the early-to-mid 20th century: the revolutionary atmosphere, inequalities, the textures and smells of everyday life.
The most impressive part of the film for me was the music and visuals. The soundtrack includes a liberal dose of traditional Mexican tunes and singers, including Chavela Vargas, a legendary folk singer and one of Frida's real-life lovers. It was incredibly powerful to see the weathered face of Vargas as she serenades Salma's Frida; one can only imagine what memories she was recalling of her time with the real Frida. Mexican folk singer Lila Downs also contributes, as does Caetano Veloso and Hayek herself on "La Bruja."
Taymor uses Frida's actual paintings as inspiration for the visuals, at times combining live action with Frida's paintings, photo montages, and puppets to bring to life Frida's creative genius, trying to go behind the paintings into the events that inspired them.
The two-disc DVD comes with several short extras on visual effects, interviews with Chavela Vargas and Lila Downs, Salma's recording session, Although overly ambitious and sidetracked at times, "Frida" manages to paint an unforgettable portrait of a fiery spirit: communist, painter, wife, lover, infused with the soul and passion of Mexico.
Movie Review: mesmerizing
Summary: 5 Stars
I first saw this film on a French language TV channel (in French) and was mesmerized by it. I don't speak French, but knew some basic details about Frida & Diego Rivera, had heard of the dust-up with Rockefeller and had seen Rivera's murals in Mexico City, so was able to follow most of the plot. Next day I ordered the DVD & played it in English) over & over again till the fabulous music score & the song "Burn this bed, Burn it blue..." rang in my head for days.
The film is visually stunning (from the vibrant colours of the locations and costumes to Frida's paintings), the characters fascinating & the music score haunting.
It is set in the lively world of culture & society in Mexico between the two World Wars - a hotbed of politics, music, literature & avant-garde art - everybody who was anybody in the 1930's went to Mexico for a good time. It focuses on the tumultuous life of the Mexican-born artist Frida Kahlo, who was married to the larger-than-life muralist Diego Rivera.
Frida's work is very surrealist, very personal, exotic, original and unforgettable. The director Julie Taymor has done a wonderful job of suggesting how Frida's life experiences melded into her painting. Lesser artists since have imitated Frida's style, but none of them have portrayed the inner world of pain and blood as Frida did.
Taymor's commentary on the DVD is valuable for the additional insights it provides on Frida's art, life and times.
There are only 5 films produced so far in the 21st century that are worth the time it takes to watch them & I no longer recall what the other 4 are.
A beautifully illustrated coffee-table book "Frida Kahlo" was produced to accompany an exhibition of Kahlo's work at the Tate Gallery in London in 2005. I recommend it for those who wish to experience more of Frida's work without the expense of going to Mexico City.
Movie Review: Frida Kahlo's artistry shines in spite of a painful life!
Summary: 5 Stars
Bravo for this 2002 film that brought the life and times of the artist Frida Kahlo to life! Starring Salma Hayak in the title role, the audience is treated to a visual feast of her colorful and pain-filled life. I've always admired Ms. Kahlo's paintings and yet never knew anything about her. Now, its all here, and Julie Taymor, the director, uses the backdrop of Mexico and the colors of the sun to tell this inspiring story.
Born in 1907, Frida was only fifteen years old in 1922 when she was seriously injured in an accident. Her back was shattered and a steel rod had pierced her body. For the rest of her life she was never free of pain. And yet she managed to direct her agony into magnificent works of art.
The acting is outstanding, and Salma Hayak really was able to translate the complexities of role onto the screen. Alfred Molina was cast as Diego Rivera, a fellow artist who loved her completely but could never stay faithful. Together, the couple light up the screen with their passion and jealousy, which lasted a lifetime. Frida had love affairs of her own, with women as well as men, and the romantic scenes keep the screen sizzling. It's also clear how directly her pain is translated into her art.
Mexico itself was also a star of the film. It seethes with beauty and political intrigue. And the sunshine colors are a perfect backdrop for the tempestuous romantic story. There are also some scenes in Paris and in New York and the director managed to convey a time and a place that once really existed and now is remembered with nostalgia. The political climate also comes to life, as Frida ad Diego were Marxists and had optimistic visions of changing the world for the better. In retrospect it all seems naïve, but the times were alive with the turmoil of preconceived concepts being challenged.
I loved the film, loved the characters and was caught up in the story. Highly recommended.