MovieChat Forums > Holy Smoke (1999) Discussion > God! This film was really bad...Wasn't i...

God! This film was really bad...Wasn't it?


This film was completely pointless and cheap.Just because Kate Winslet is brave enough to take off her clothes and get naked director Jane Campion didn't have to show her full frontal nudity.That scene was stupid.And she's peeing herself.What was the point of that?Stupid, pointless, cheap and weird film.Anyone agree?

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I agree TOTALLY! I was so upset I decided to rent this atrocity, only because Kate is extremely gorgeous and Kitel is a great actor. The nudtity scene compromised my anger somewhat though, but I do agree with you.

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I think that u have to look beyond the nudity- i think this film was one of her best- her character was great- and its one of Kate's favourite characters cos she's soo rebellious...

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I'm not against nudity in films as long as they're necessary.But in this film it wasn't.It was just about putting a extreme scene in the film in order to shock the audience.She was rebellious without taking her clothes off too.I agree this was one of the best performances of Kate Winslet.But the film was rubbish.Anyway to each his own...

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I disagree. The film has a lot to say -- I think some viewers just aren't getting it. And that's fine, whatever. I think the point of Ruth (Winslet) getting naked and peeing in front of PJ (Keitel) is to both seduce and throw him off...to get him to believe that she's totally confused and lost it. And she succeeds, but then as the film goes on she realizes that she has surprised herself for actually caring about him.

This is not a stupid, pointless, cheap film. Weird, yes, but that's a good thing. I found HOLY SMOKE to be unpredictable and refreshing. And what's wrong with nudity?

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there is nothing wrong with nudity as long as they are needed.

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"I think the point of Ruth (Winslet) getting naked and peeing in front of PJ (Keitel) is to both seduce and throw him off."

Yeah thats always a turn on




Visit America, Before America visits you - US Tourism Board

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By peeing she was showing him she was submissive to him. She had finnaly let down her barriers and said (in a non verbal way) ok you're in charge.

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Yknow a classier way of doing that is to just strip naked and toss her clothes at him ...

Visit America, Before America visits you - US Tourism Board

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"I think the point of Ruth (Winslet) getting naked and peeing in front of PJ (Keitel) is to both seduce and throw him off...to get him to believe that she's totally confused and lost it."

teeteringwreck nailed it. What she did is the same kind of tactic that school kids pull on their math teachers, to divert the lesson into something else and thus defeat and punish the teacher for having the audacity to teach something they don't want. (However, they are merely defeating themselves because they have to spend the time there anyway. Might as well learn something, even if they may not use it in later life.)

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I don't think it was 'really bad', I just found it incredibly depressing.

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Pure *beep*

It had the opportunity to be really great (especially with such a wonderful cast) but just fell way too short of the mark.

I felt that there was too much added in trying to be "shocking" (it wasn't), and not enough story/plot.

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Yeah, it has its wierd bits, but when you take the entire movie into consideration, its really very well executed. The acting is wonderful from Kate (as ALWAYS) and I guess Harvey Keitel is alright (lmfao..don't really give a rat's @$$ about him LOL I think he's ugly and looks old! :P) Anyway, if you can get meaning from it and look beyond the naked peeing scene, then you'll realize that it really is a very in-depth character study, filled with human error and discovery. Now, I admit that I'm probably pretty biased because I am a huge Kate Winslet fan, but I still think its a pretty cool indie film. The Australian accent is hot, though none of the male characters in the movie are even remotely good-looking! lol. Anyway, any other diehard Winslet fans like me are well aware of the fact that Kate gets naked in pretty much every single one of her movies. Its just something you get used to with her. Its pretty bad when an actor or actress can get an audience so used to seeing them naked that it isn't the least bit shocking or cringe-inducing after a while. Ah, the many wonders of Kate Winslet. She truly is a gem.

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Harvey is one of the finest actors of this generation, to say you couldent care less about his performance because and I quote "I think he's ugly and looks old! :P" shows your ignorance towards cinema and film-making in general. please post in some other worthless forum somewhere. btw anyone here thats been in a genuine relationship where two people share 100 percent with each other will understand this movie and THAT particular scene, everyone else I wish you luck in the future and hope you find someone that you can genuinely be yourself with.
over and out


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i thought the nudity was very powerful. remember, she's saying she can't feel her "god" anymore and she's gone completely crazy because of it. it's a chaotic scene, she's naked, there's a fire raging, she's totally vulnerable. it also shows the cruelty of keitel's character in that here she is at her most vulnerable and he is still going to take advantage of her.

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I started this movie with high hopes for plot, acting, motive, deeper moral meaning, ect., and was met only with an obscure nude scene featuring Kate Winslet begging an odd American in sunglasses to have sex with her while a burning sari illuminated the scene from above...

Later this man was featured in a "RUNNING DEHYDRATED THROUGH THE DESERT" montage in which he was wearing a red party dress and a single work boot on his right foot... this was shortly after he punched his client/love interest (Winslet) in the face for no apparent reason and tried to hide her in the trunk of his car while riding "in search of her" with her sister in-law...(who, incidently, wants very much to give him MORE sexual favors becuase she'd rather have sex with Brad Pitt... you do the math).

This review is a more coherent version of what you will ascertain from actually viewing this movie... I'm happy that I borrowed this from the library instead of paying money to see it - but I would never, ever recommend that any other human watch this film... not even if they can get it from the library for free. It is a waste of 2 hours, and you can probably find the Kate Winslet nude scene online anyways... but she pees on herself then (in some unknown and obscure way) seduces him and makes it all weird and creepy, so that's a waste of time too.

Go rent "Plan 9 From Outer Space" instead... it will be much more worth your time... I think it even has a higher production value and more plot structure; imagine that :)



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This movie was *beep* disgusting, disturbing and made me sick. YUCK YUCK YUCK. every moment was agony.

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One of the worst movies i've ever seen in my life.

He shows her somes tapes of cults that have nothing to do with her and suddenly, she's having sex with him. Yuck! Ugh!

And the inane, self-indugent, non-sensical speeches about life was laughable and a good reason why i'm always weary of small indie flicks like this.

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I really didnt like Kates tits by the way

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You killed him!
Well,I didn't mean to.
Didn't mean to? You put your sword right through his head!

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I just saw this. Oh my God. I'm speechless.

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whata loada crap!!!! kate winslet is really cute and has acted her part well..BUT FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!!! was the movie pointless and boring or what?????????

the story s got no point.. one minute he is an expert,professional.. the next minute he is a usual horny bastard who cant control himself...what a waste of time!!!!! the movie started off pretty well and had potential to be good one..but they lost it in the middle..

Don’t judge me based on your ignorance

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personally i like this director and harvey's character in this movie and in the piano are really a like...both lust for women they shouldnt be with...the characters start out strong and independent and usually end up being more or less submissive to the women they love....and serious i know he's old but i dont know many grandpas or men his age that have been in romantic roles with some of hollywoods prettier actresses...not to mention is in great shape for his age....and this movie did remind me of secretary...both have a S&M element to it and are strangely erotic....but all in all it wasnt a bad film and yes the pee thing was a bit weird but i think its what got him to love her and the fact that he is a total sub and she really enjoyed punishing him helped...

and i was really sad about the end...i wish they stayed together cause they really did have a love however sick or strange it may have been....and i think the nudity was needed because when he saw her nude and all confused he knew he shouldnt kiss her but he wouldnt stop his desire because she has always so dom that when her sub side came out it was almost as hot to him as when she was cruel to him...strange yes but if your into S&M this movie is pretty easy to follow or really if you understand S&M at all besides theres whips involved...

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personally i like this director and harvey's character in this movie and in the piano are really a like...both lust for women they shouldnt be with...the characters start out strong and independent and usually end up being more or less submissive to the women they love....


borntotalk, I caught that also.

I agree that Keitel looks good! That scene in The Piano where he's wiping off the keyboard??? Love it!

-The Divine Ms Slim

"I make him an offer he no refuse"

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I'm a huge Kate fan, and a friend of mine gave me this as a birthday gift to add to my Kate collection.

All I have to say is WTF? This movie is weird and just... blech.

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lovely knocks Miss Kate.....shame about the film, i cant put my finger on what i didnt like about this film but it just wasnt me, witch in itself is strange because i like most deep films, yes this film was deep but i just didnt get it

"one ring to bind them all"

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