Henry & June
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Movie Reviews of Henry & June
Movie Review: Beauty, and other charms of waking life
Summary: 5 Stars
The beauty in "Henry and June" is full-throttle. There's the bike race through a sunlit forest; there's a colorful bohemian festival with tribal dress and sexual opportunity; there's a series of postcards, accidentally discovered, that picture erotic delights. In the most sublime scene, Nin, in a red dress, dances to sensual, rhythmic music, and her face is given a fantastic close-up. All of the film's beauty, all of its detail and technical mastery, create a luscious idyll.
The film balances between dreams and waking life. Its rhythms vary, and are a vital part of its narrative. There are many moments in it when time slows, focusing our attention on a mood or an object, inviting our reverie. The narrative depends as much on music, color, and editing as it does on dialogue. Each scene is thoughtfully made; each part of each scene has been considered.
Watching it, we experience an intelligent world full of strong, interesting personae. Nin and Miller, fearless and imaginative, have high goals, and appetites possibly insatiable. Miller is emotional, articulate, and experimental. He appreciates the sensuousness of life. He begs and at least once steals; he struggles to write and to think for himself. Nin is his equal, tenacious and curious, sometimes cruel, trying to understand her desires and trying to bring them to fruition. Watching two dancers with her cousin, she says, "Oh, look at them, Eduardo. They're so exquisite. If I were a man, I'd be swept away." At one point, she writes in her diary, "I feel restless... spirited... adventurous. To be absolutely truthful, I hope secretly to meet someone else. I have erotic imaginings. I want pleasure."
Beauty and strong characters give the film an essential lyricism and lightness. For instance, when June returns, the extended scenes are nightmarish, appropriately raw and claustrophobic. But these scenes conclude in the fog. The fog shifts the mood of the film from the sense of heat and the fire in the claustrophobic rooms to one of regenerative possibilities, a drowsy, dreamy, shadow-heavy world returned. Daylight follows, and the sense of renewal suggested by the fog is made explicit, and further elaborated, by ensuing character development.
The beauty is constant and illuminating; the characters seek their satisfactions from life. Stunningly accomplished, director Philip Kaufman's fluid filmmaking is ultimately about delight.
Movie Review: A beautiful erotic film..
Summary: 5 Stars
When I was in my mid-thirties, I read every book Anais Nin and Collette wrote and enjoyed them immensely. They were sophisticated women who led lives decidedly different and more daring than my careful existence, and writers who told the world about their affairs. Today, their writing may seem tame, (Colette wrote "Gigi") but it was shocking a few years ago. Nin's diaries are still pretty steamy.The film, based on Nin's diaries, recalls the period when Anais (Anna eess') and her husband lived in Paris and became acquainted with Henry Miller and his wife June. Henry Miller may seem retro today, but there was a time when his steamy "Tropic of Cancer" was 'Banned in Boston' (according to my mother who had a copy hidden where my father wouldn't look). Miler was writing "The Tropic of Cancer" when he knew Nin.
I saw "Henry and June" in the theater several years ago and bought the DVD. This is a very well done film--and very beautiful--Paris in 1931. (I keep it stashed with "Sex, Lies, and Videotapes" which is tame by comparison.) I also wanted the film because Kevin Spacey is in it.
Maria de Mederios plays Nin to perfection. Richard Grant plays her husband who seems willing to go along with anything that will improve her writing. Fred Ward and Uma Thurman play Henry and June. Thurman's acting is better in this movie than in "Pulp Fiction." Spacey plays a writer who is part of the writer's network, and has some funny scenes.
The movie has a lot of sex on screen. There is so much sex I found myself laughing after awhile. The characters seem to live for the erotic. I say "seem to" because it is never clear to me how much of their behavior is driven by erotic desire and how much is driven by a desire to run back and write it down in their diaries and books. The story definitely contains a 'tongue-in-cheek' element.
Nin revealed the story to the world after all the characters were dead, so we'll never know how much was fact and how much fiction.
Movie Review: Wow! A Masterpiece!
Summary: 5 Stars
Henry & June may well be one of the best "artist" films I've ever seen. It has the fantasy of Paris, the fantasy of bohemia, lush and gorgeous photography, an evocative film score, beautiful art direction (scenery, clothes), and excellent acting. Jeez, what more can you ask for?
It's also a bit subversive, which may explain why (as I later read somewhere on the internet) it did rather poorly at the box office, barely earning back its shooting budget.
Apparently, the idea of a woman exploring her own sexuality -- and the notion of female promiscuity -- is still a threatening concept to many people. (Don't only blame men, however: a good many female critics, sadly, were repulsed by the character of Anaïs Nin.)
This is a classic triangle romance. Henry Miller meets Nin, and the two discover that they are kindred spirits; two writers in need of support and inspiration. Then enters June, Henry Miller's somewhat devious and manipulative wife. June is a dark muse not only for Miller, but for Nin.
All the actors are brilliant. I love Uma Thurman as June, in particular, who gives a standout performance as a street-smart "Brooklyn girl" and likely hustler. Fred Ward and Maria de Medeiros are also perfectly cast as the legendary writers. This is just a great film to own. After 'The Losers Club: Complete Restored Edition' by Richard Perez (a short novel about a bohemian romance), Henry & June is best "unconventional" purchase I made from Amazon this year. Don't miss it! It's a film you'll want to watch on a rainy Sunday with a nice glass of wine.
Movie Review: A rare film....an American film treating sex with intelligence and seriousness...
Summary: 5 Stars
I really liked this film. I am a major admirer of Henry Miller and Anais Nin, and this film is very accurate in the depictions of them. It's also one of the rare examples of an American director (in this case Philip Kaufman) making an erotic picture that's mature, intelligent, and serious about sex. Most sex in American pictures is played for laughs. It's almost as if Americans (and American filmmakers) are deathly afraid of it. Sure, there's a lot of smutty talk in films and TV, but it's not erotic, not intelligent, and it's more on the level of a 6th grader. Kaufman is the only one who has made some great erotic films (this one and The Unbearable Lightness of Being) that can stand up to the best Europe has given us. This film is a great film, showing Miller's struggle in finding his voice in Paris, and Anais Nin's support of his writing and her affair with him. The period flavour is wonderful, and the performances are first rate. Fred Ward (whatever happened to him?) gives a great performance as Henry Miller, and Maria de Mederos gives a lovely performance as Anais Nin. Uma Thurman is quite engaging as June Miller, Henry's estranged and very temptuous wife. Kevin Spacey has a small but effective role as one of Henry's writing friends. This was the first film to officially receive the "evil" NC-17 rating, and I wish that rating didn't have such a stigma over it. Adults have a right to see films aimed at adults. We should stop allowing Hollywood to make us feel ashamed over wanting something mature, erotic, and intelligent.Movie Review: In a word EXCELLANT
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie was much better than I expected. With all the nonsense about the "NC-17" rating wooooo, I thought it was gonna be all T&A and more. Not that I don't like that, but the movie was exactly what Siskel & Ebert were saying at the time: A movie that has a plot and sexuality. NOT porn, but a truly ADULT movie. This is a movie that deals with grown up issues regarding sexuality, marriage and fidelity.
Those who are to immature or whose sense of morality forbids them from whatching a movie about two adults having extramarital and love affairs, DEFINATELY will be offended and should avoid this movie.
If you can watch something like that with an open mind and are interested in such a story line or you are interested in a love story that gets a little complicated and convoluted then this is for you.
I am a big fan of UMA THURMAN and that only makes this movie better for me. The story gets a bit complicated as the lovers grow in different directions.
This is a very "artsy" movie. It deals with comlex love and sex issues. This by the way, was the first NC-17 movie. Yes, they made that rating especially for this one, but its not anywhere as hot as SHOWGIRLS as far as nudity. (see my review of that one) I was expecially surprised to find out that this is a TRUE story about famous people.
I loved it and I give HENRY & JUNE 5 stars.