Frida
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Movie Reviews of Frida
Movie Review: Instant Classic!
Summary: 5 Stars
Salma Hyak looks amazingly like the actual Frida Kahlo in this wonderful testiment to one of the most misunderstood and fascinating personalities of the 20th century! Frida was the victim of a bus accident that nearly crippled her and left her in agony throughout her life. As a result, Frida saw the dark side of life and painted some of the most amazing abstract works of art that I have ever seen.
Frida formed a bond with the famous political painter, Diego Rivera. The two share a stormy relationship and eventually marry. Frida overlooks most of Diego's extramarital affairs until Diego goes after Frida's sister. Thus, she feels betrayed and leaves him.
Frida herself is a kinky persona sharing relationships with both men and women. There is a very erotic scene of Frida dancing tango with another woman.
Frida eventually meets Leon Trotsky and the two united by their socialist political views end up having an affair. When Trotsky is murdered, Frida and Rivera are suspected but are later exonerated.
In a touching scene in the movie, an incredibly ill Frida is brought in her bed to attend her own art exhibit at which her talent is expounded to a crowd by Rivera.
This movie should not be missed and anyone with an appreciation for good art would love it!
Movie Review: Standing ovation!
Summary: 5 Stars
For those unfamiliar with the union of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera this movie is a good starting point. And hopefully the movie will encourage people to read more about the lives of both of these intense people. Rivera came to San Francisco in 1940 to execute the Pan American Unity mural for the Golden Gate International Exposition. Frida Kahlo was a woman ahead of her time in many ways. Especially in light of the times she lived in when women were pretty much expected to be wives and mothers. One thing lovely about the movie is the gorgeous cinematography that shows off the vibrant colours that Kahlo and Rivera used in their works, as well as the colours that are the basis of Latino life.Watching the movie I like to savor the sound, and simply soak in the visual richness. The movie is also a wonderful historical maze. Anyone who has seen the Anthony Hopkins movie Surviving Picasso, Henry and June or even Reds with Warren Beatty will appreciate this movie. And I personally believe that Salma Hayek, deserved the best actress Oscar simply because her role spanned decades and because this was a movie she had a major role in making. I did like Nicole Kidman in The Hours by the way...
This movie is simply a feast for all the senses....
Movie Review: Beautiful Bio-Pic
Summary: 5 Stars
Frida is one of the best films about someone's life I've seen in a long time. Usually such films tend to be self involved or leave out important details. With Frida there is a good mix of everything.
The visuals of the film are striking and in some places unique in the way it shows Frida's paintings almost coming to life. Her relationship with Muralist Diego Rivera is shown exactly how it was: harsh, violent but passionate. In the end, despite the infidelity of both husband and wife numerous times, their enduring love and respect for each other as artists and comrades out lasted any lingering problems they had.
Alfred Molina and Selma Hayek give truely great performances and fit their characters personalities well. I hadn't been a huge fan of Selma before this film but even though I'm still not, her acting here has proven me that when given the right material, she can be just as good an actress as the best of them.
The music present in the film is gripping and soaring. The voice of singer Lila Downs cutting through triumphantly. The traditional Mexican music is well done and a joy to listen to. In the end I highly recommend this film on all fronts: acting, music, direction, plot and cinematography.
Movie Review: A triumph!
Summary: 5 Stars
Salma Hayek worked for years to bring this story to the screen. The result is one of those rare, perfect films. The casting, cinema-photography, art direction, script, musical score and performances are all stunning. Hayek is clearly much more than a beautiful and talented actress. She has shown that she can take a project from beginning to end without missing a step.I am also a painter, and have always been particularly touched by Frida Kahlo's ability to channel years of physical and emotional suffering into a body of lyrical and stunning work. Hayek's performance captures the complex nature of Kahlo's personality. Alfred Molina is wonderful as Diego Rivera. So often Rivera has been depicted as a one dimensional bad guy, but Molina's performance reflects a more nuanced understanding of this brilliant artist. He may have been a singularly flawed individual; but his reputation as one of the world's greatest muralists in unassailable. Geoffrey Rush was a real treat as Leon Trotsky, a figure whose own life story was cinematic.
This film not only tells a great story, but also is one of the best depictions of the creative process that I have ever seen. This DVD should be part of any movie lover's library.
Movie Review: Emotionally riveting! Not a typical biopic.
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm usually disappointed when it comes to biopics; apparently they are very hard to make. Getting inside the head of a surrealist painter and telling her life in two hours with only celluloid and a soundtrack seems like an impossible task. But you wouldn't know it to experience this hauntingly beautiful symphony of sights and sounds which is in itself a work of art. I disagree with most of the criticisms on this thread. The beginning is not boring; I was convinced I had to own this DVD within the first twenty minutes. The writing is brilliant and moving. Most biopics fall into the trap of being a mere chronology of events. This one succeeds where most fail: it is a story. The characters are all rich, deep, real, and thereby completely loveable. Of course it is probably scientifically impossible to not find Salma Hayek loveable. In this film, though, everyone shines. Trotsky, Diego's ex-wife, even the bar musicians radiate with human beauty. Salma Hayek has shown the world that she is quite capable of taking the lead in a serious role. And with a role as powerful as Frida Kahlo, if it's done right, the resulting portrait achieves its potential as a masterpiece.