That Obscure Object of Desire - Criterion Collection

That Obscure Object of Desire - Criterion Collection
by Luis Bu?uel

That Obscure Object of Desire - Criterion Collection
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DVD Cover Information

Actor: ?ngela Molina, Andr? Weber, Carole Bouquet, Fernando Rey, Julien Bertheau
Director: Luis Bu?uel
Cinematographer: Edmond Richard
Writer: Luis Bu?uel
Editor: H?l?ne Plemiannikov
Producer: Serge Silberman
Writer: Jean-Claude Carri?re
Writer: Pierre Lou?s
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; English (Subtitled)
Format: Anamorphic, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.66:1
Running Time: 102 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2001-11-20
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Criterion

Movie Reviews of That Obscure Object of Desire - Criterion Collection

Movie Review: La donna e mobile ...
Summary: 5 Stars

It is common practice in Hollywood to take a successful old movie and remake it. Producers only care about maximizing their investments, so if a story made money the first time, why not try again? On the other hand, there are movies that would never be made today, let alone remade. "That Obscure Object of Desire" is one of those movies. The level of ability it takes to make this movie is way beyond what we have today, in any case - Spielberg and Scorsese are pikers compared to Bunuel - which is a pity.

But there are other reasons as well.

This movie is the last thing Bunuel did and shows that his creative powers did not diminish one bit as he got older, quite the contrary. Of course, it helps to have for inspiration the likes of Carole Bouquet and Angela Molina, vastly different women, each beautiful in her own way, but playing the same character. Yes, that's right. Two different actresses play the same role in this movie. Has anyone ever thought of that before or since? That's a key reason why this movie works.

You can do some research on the question and get lots of different answers from various and sundry critics and film buffs, including Bunuel's own explanation - he was drunk when he thought of it, he said (tongue in cheek, no doubt.) The reason for picking Bouquet and Molina to play the same part is quite simple, actually. One is the Madonna-type - Bouquet's angelic good looks and perfectly symmetrical features got the attention of Chanel later - the other the whore, the two key sides of a woman's character according to Bunuel. I told you this movie would never be made today, and that's a reason why.

The middle-aged male protagonist in the movie, Mathieu, vacillates (oscillates, rather like a needle) between the two, and is played brilliantly by Fernando Rey (Frog One in "The French Connection.") This Matt dude is frustrated in the extreme trying to bed the lady (ladies). Bunuel has a lot of fun with this pursuit theme that I'm sure even teenage boys today, familiar with the "hot/cold, yes/but no" behavior of cheerleaders, would identify with. As in my other reviews, however, I won't give away whether Matt succeeds in his quest, or which of the two ladies he manages to, um, penetrate. Enjoy the show and maybe urge Hollywood to make movies like this at least every once in a while. It might just encourage some budding young director to aim higher.

P.S. The title is a joke, since the object of desire isn't obscure at all, which is why the train scene features a midget shrink, i.e., Freud is obvious stuff and small potatoes.

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