Frida
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Movie Reviews of Frida
Movie Review: An great film and an interesting performance.
Summary: 5 Stars
I really loved this film, I admit I'm biased, I have found Frida Khalo captivating, mysterious and interesting for years.
What I liked most was it's bravery in the tale telling and the avoidance of the usaul "Frida" cliches. Too often Khalo is dismissed as strange and kranky both in her relationships and her art. For me it has never been enough that the art world simply labels her as a "surrealist". Here Hayek plays Khalo as the passionate, caring, pained genius she was. The film endevours to display her agonies through accidents, infidelities, dissapointments and differences. She plays the head strong feminist and communist, a woman passionate about her nation and it's values, traditions and beliefs, a woman agonising to love her family while plow her own trough. A woman uniquely skilled in her creativity and brave enough to tell of her pain and development on canvas. Hayek is a brilliant leading lady and completely dominates the film with Frida's passion and personality, there are other strong roles, Molina and Rush are superb but they never detract from Hayek. The cinematography is delicious and the music is both appropriate and engaging. It's a shame this film didn't get a better run and better audiences. It's a joy to see Hayek get the chance to command a film and see her do it so well, in Hollywood she is too often the token latin girl.
The film is a real tribute to an inspirational and hugely misunderstood woman.
Movie Review: You can get lost in this Bio-Pic
Summary: 5 Stars
You can immediately feel that you are a part of history and even when you know their (Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera) story you still get surprised amused and amazed. I have seen their actual work and this film brings it back. For people that do not know their story this is an excellent introduction. I found it interesting how Frida (Selma Hayek) and Diego (Alfred Molina) complimented each others personality so well from the beginning until where we leave them.
Also the films surrealistic qualities will remind you of "Like Water for Chocolate". Many times this enhances instead of distracting form the reality of the films port ate. The colors being vibrant and even the music being vibrant fives a three dimensional quality to the film. I have only seen one other Julie Taymor directed film "Oedipus Rex" (1992) which also had this quality. Julie seems to know how to bring out thoughts that we do not know we have our selves and we see many things in a new way.
I started to buy the soundtrack but do not see Lila Downs on any of the tracks. And her singing was the soul of the movie.
Now it is time to read the Hayden Herrera (book) "Frida - A Biography of Frida Kahlo" to see how much is in this screen adaptation by Clancy Sigal.
Frida : A Biography of Frida Kahlo
Movie Review: Outstanding film-making
Summary: 5 Stars
`Frida' is an incredible film looking at the life of Frida Kahlo. It is set against the background of the Mexican revolution and her art. The first thing that struck me was the rich colours and beautiful locations throughout and this makes for a very visually stunning film. Frida comes across as passionate and joyfully and fiercely independent and Hayek's portrayal is exceptional, I have never seen her act as well as this. Alfred Molina is also amazing and the supporting cast (which includes Ashley Judd, Antonio Banderas, Ed Norton and Geoffrey Rush) also put out impressive performances. There is beautiful framing of certain scenes and the direction is a real highlight; there is wonderful use of cinematic techniques (like quirky animations and living paintings) that heighten and add to the overall feel. The music also stands out and is both atmospheric and evocative and stirs your emotions along with the scenes on screen. Not only is the story of Frida's life compelling and fascinating, this film also gives a deeper insight and understanding behind the emotion and meaning in her art. I look at her work now with a fresh eye and renewed appreciation. Her artwork is put into context with her life and has more meaning as a result. This is a beautiful film, about a uncompromising, passionate artist and makes for a couple of hours engrossing, stirring viewing and comes highly recommended indeed.Movie Review: A Great Film
Summary: 5 Stars
Many hate this film in Mexico because its not in Spanish and because Hayek is considered a Malinchista (Benedict Arnold). It also ignores Kahlo's avowed communism. But Hayek has created a picture of beautiful scenes and imagery which to me transcends all of those supposed faults. The girl-on-girl dancing scene was electric. So was Frida's date with a lady at a New York City diner. Antonio Banderas' appearance was mercifully short. The "artful dream" sequences gave something to the Fellini crowd and the memory of Kahlo as an artist. And the narrative may have been too conventional for some, but to me it was a welcome relief that paced the film along wonderfully (would you prefer 2 hours of dialogue on the merits of Trotskyism?). But best of all were the beautiful little indigenous images that only someone with a real knowledge of Mexico could appreciate: the peaceful setting of her parent's home in Coyoacán, the hairless Aztec dog (ixcuintle), the food and cooking instruments, the famous Mexican actress who played her mother, the power of the taboo against women in cantinas, etc. These are vivid symbols of Mexican culture, many of which date back thousands of years. The Mexicans may consider her a traitor, and she may well be, but this film has some of the most authentic and endearingly patriotic Mexican symbolism ever to be caught on film.Movie Review: Boo. This should have been SO much better. It did try
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a bad film on a great subject, Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, whose surrealistic self-portraits were ground-breaking art. Groundbreaking and more significant in fact, than the art of Diego Riviera, whom she married and whose story shares the screen here. "Blue House" it is not, meaning, in Kaholist terms, not having artistic merit. The script is what's at fault. And I had some quibbles about the stylistic use of animation for the nightmare scenes of Kahlo's operation after her horrendous bus accident; after the brilliant scene staging her impaled body, spackled with gold leaf in a setting very like a Kahlo painting, the following Tim Burtonesque El Dio de Muerte operation room was jarring. It could have been done with animation, perhaps more surrealistic and less horror-cartoon. It didn't work for me visually, though I applauded the concept.
There is plenty of sex, including a hot scene with Kahlo doing a tango with another woman, showing her bisexual side. And Salma Hayek obligingly takes off her clothes frequently enough to keep any male viewers not into "chick flicks" happy enough to prevent loud sighs of boredom. The cast is good, Alfred Molina, a cameo with Antonio Banderas and more, But if you expected a well-told tale and tight script, look elsewhere. This was an utter waste of a stunning story, and I was completely disappointed.