Kiss of the Spider Woman

Starring: William Hurt, Raul Julia, Sonia Braga, Jose Lewgoy, Milton Goncalves
Directed by: Hector Babenco
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
1985

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Two prison cellmates, a homosexual (William Hurt) and a political prisoner (Raul Julia) bond as they try to survive the monotony and the injustice of their confinement.

Review:

Tim: I didn't expect to, but I really, really enjoyed Kiss of the Spider Woman. This is not your conventional film, and it speaks volumes about the role independent movies can play in Hollywood and across the globe. This is a powerful, brilliantly acted, memorable film. It is unique, interesting, and all around, a great film. It also won 1 Academy Award and was nominated for Best Picture. This is an impressive film.

The movie is not what you would expect. The vast majority of the film takes place in a prison cell where two very different men are being held in captivity. We do get some scenes as one prisoner tells the other about a movie he once saw, there are a few scenes elsewhere in the prison, a few scenes outside of the prison, and a few dreamlike sequences. Most of the film, though, takes place in a cell. While this might seem constricted or limiting, it never feels that way. The story is so compelling and these characters are so interesting that you get caught up in what is happening on screen.

The main reason this movie works so well is due to the acting of William Hurt and Raul Julia. These two give remarkable performances, bringing these interesting, complicated characters to life. Hurt is especially amazing as the homosexual Molina, a man imprisoned for "corrupting a minor". His performance is jaw-dropping because it feels so natural. It never seems like he's acting, but he perfectly portrays this man who feels like he's a woman. The mannerisms, the movements, all the little things work in a seemingly effortless performance. Hurt gives one of the best performances I've seen because it never felt like he was acting- it felt like he was this character. I was really glad he won the Academy Award for Best Actor- it's his performance that elevates this film to a very high level. It's unfortunate that Julia is a bit overshadowed, because he gives a very strong performance as well. He couldn't be more different than his cellmate- he's a man's man, a political prisoner who stood up for his ideals and paid the price for it. While Hurt's character seeks to escape from the harsh realities of life, Julia is focused on embracing reality, using the pain and the injustice to fuel him. These men seem to be completely different, and it's their interactions, their friendship, and the deeper involvement between them that is so fascinating to watch. While they are different, they have more in common than we might expect. Their relationship is incredible, and I loved watching these two men act together. I feel like I could watch them play off each other for hours and hours. They were incredible.

This movie isn't all about the actors, though. Hector Babenco directs an exceptionally strong movie in all aspects. The film has multiple layers, and you can really dig into it if desired. You can view this film as the relationship between two men, but you can also explore themes of homosexuality and heterosexuality, betrayal, politics and political oppression, and more. This is a meaty film. I also loved the unexpected turns the story took. There were a number of moments when I thought, "Wait, what just happened?" This kept me intrigued to an even deeper extent, because I really felt like this was not a predictable movie in the slightest.

This film won 1 Academy Award, and was nominated for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Picture (the first independent movie to ever be nominated for this award). It's a groundbreaking, powerful film. I was mesmerized by the performances and compelled by the story and the direction. This is a great, great movie.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8



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