I just watched this movie for the third time, and for the first time on DVD. I then read the reviews on this website. The reviews all contained good points but I was surprised at two things:
1) Very few reviews were from the United States. It appears that Europeans and Australians are far more aware of this film than we are here in America, which is our loss;
2) (Spoiler?) Nobody mentioned or questioned why hit man John Hurt did NOT kill Laura Del Sol. In real life, there would have been no hesitation by the professional killer : she would have been eliminated quickly.....and, of course, the story - had it been real - would have ended quite differently from the film.
Outside of that last point, I thought the film contained real characters exhibiting many of their strengths and weaknesses. Unlike most gangster films of the past 35 years, this one had little action and concentrated more on the principal characters. It would be too talky for most young audiences of today.
Other highlights:
Nice Spanish scenery and flamenco soundtrack. Good opening instrumental by Eric Clapton.
Interesting to see Roth in one of his earliest roles, although it's been a familiar one for him: an annoying punk.
An ending that wasn't predictable.
One disappointment:
Why wasn't this DVD presented on widescreen? Why was this formatted-to-TV? The transfer isn't bad but with the great scenery, why couldn't we see it all? There is no excuse for that.
Summary: a good, solid film but more for mature adults who don't mind a slower pace and can appreciate a lot of subtle things.
1) Very few reviews were from the United States. It appears that Europeans and Australians are far more aware of this film than we are here in America, which is our loss;
2) (Spoiler?) Nobody mentioned or questioned why hit man John Hurt did NOT kill Laura Del Sol. In real life, there would have been no hesitation by the professional killer : she would have been eliminated quickly.....and, of course, the story - had it been real - would have ended quite differently from the film.
Outside of that last point, I thought the film contained real characters exhibiting many of their strengths and weaknesses. Unlike most gangster films of the past 35 years, this one had little action and concentrated more on the principal characters. It would be too talky for most young audiences of today.
Other highlights:
Nice Spanish scenery and flamenco soundtrack. Good opening instrumental by Eric Clapton.
Interesting to see Roth in one of his earliest roles, although it's been a familiar one for him: an annoying punk.
An ending that wasn't predictable.
One disappointment:
Why wasn't this DVD presented on widescreen? Why was this formatted-to-TV? The transfer isn't bad but with the great scenery, why couldn't we see it all? There is no excuse for that.
Summary: a good, solid film but more for mature adults who don't mind a slower pace and can appreciate a lot of subtle things.