MovieChat Forums > Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985) Discussion > Anyone else in love with this film?

Anyone else in love with this film?

posted 16 years ago by projectcyclops
11 replies | jump to latest

I got the free dvd of Kiss of the Spider Woman in the Sunday Times a few months back, and it took me a while to get round to watching it. I'm so glad I did as it's now one of my absolutely favourite films. The performances were nothing short of incredible with William Hurt standing out by creating such a 'real' character with which I can't help but sympathize with hugely, and at the same time Raul Julia manages to take a character who could so easily have been a two-dimensional stereotype of the rebellious political prisoner, and turns him into an entirely believable and nuanced personality. The direction, the use of filters to separate the worlds of the film and the film-within-a-film work so well. Several moments in the film cannot help but move me to tears as well, which is a rare thing for me...

I hate being asked what my favourite film is, but if pushed I could do worse than site this gem. Anyone else feel the same way? I just wish there were more films as carefully and artfully constructed as Spider Woman.

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Captain Murphy: Way to go Sparks, you broke the monitor and you're dead. Happy?

[–] Emunah 16 years ago

Its a magnificent film. Well written, well acted, well directed, the music was well composed, the shots were mesmerizing, and I nearly cried at the poetic ending. Hurt and Julia were both just brilliant, but it was Lenny Schrader's script that blew me away, so well written, he was always overshadowed his jerk off younger brother.

I loved the movie within a movie, I loved the fantasy island with the spider woman story, it was just such a great Independent film from a time when they actually meant something, when they were about something. These days, the most popular indie films are about pregnant teens, moronic dysfunctional families, and cliched love stories. What happened to our tastes?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFtYpLV4EPo

[–] projectcyclops 16 years ago

Thanks for your reply, I agree 100% that the script was superb and gave the actors something wonderful to work with.

Indeed, exiting the cinema after watching 'Juno' with someone (who loved it) I pretty much choked on my own scorn and rage, although I've calmed down a bit now I still get angry at that Oscar win... So few decent independent films these days.

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Captain Murphy: Way to go Sparks, you broke the monitor and you're dead. Happy?

[–] LittleAriel 16 years ago

Hi, I'm with you :). Just love it ALL about this film, and - on a side note - now I also fancy William Hurt after watching this film :P(dear Raul Julia I did for years, after watching The Addams Family at childhood, may he RIP).

Anyway, anyone really appreciating the film should read the book, which gives a longer narrative, naturally. I borrowed it and now I wanna buy it, as I got so attached to it.

Oh heartbreak and despair got nothing but boring
So I grabbed you baby like a wild pitch

[–] projectcyclops 16 years ago

I just got it out the library, it's very good but extremely unusual. I certainly know more about Freud than I used to. It's really interesting hearing the other films Luis tells Valentin and the inner thoughts they have woven into the dialogue is a pretty good technique. Makes me want to read more of Mr. Puig's work.

Thanks for the reply Ariel!

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Captain Murphy: Way to go Sparks, you broke the monitor and you're dead. Happy?

[–] fanaticita 15 years ago

There are very few films I consider perfect in every way, and KOTSW is one of them. The acting, the cinematography, editing, music score, the overlapping fantasy stories, etc. all added to the lure of this magnificent film, which did not disappoint me years ago, and when I saw it again a few days ago. William Hurt, Raul Julia, Sonia Braga were brilliant. The film and actors deserved the awards they received.

[–] apple_annie 15 years ago

I agree. Kiss of the Spider Woman is one of the best films ever.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] genplant29 14 years ago

Yes: I love this film, too. It's one of those movies that the story, the depicted relationship, and the performances totally stick with you, not soon leaving your thoughts. I thought the relationship between the two lead characters was impeccably and beautifully developed and unfurled. Poignant and heartbreaking terrific film.

[–] peybak 14 years ago

When I started watching this movie, I wasn't really sure if I was liking it that much. I thought the movie within the movie wasn't interesting but the acting between Julia and Hurt was what got me through watching the whole thing. That being said the last ten minutes of this movie are simply fanatastic. I don't think I've seen such a finish, ever.

[–] coral-scala 13 years ago

I hadn't seen the fim since its original release, and watching it again, I'm amazed to think that it has somehow improved with age!

[–] photog-12 13 years ago

just reread the script, so brilliantly written. Beauty horror camp passion and the background of class war and just plain war its brilliant. One of my favorite movies of all time and although I did like Juno I loved this.