NekoHomey Purely Joyful Movie!

ReaderKenka Let's be realistic.

Smartorhypo Highly Overrated But Still Good

Konterr Brilliant and touching

slightlymad22 Continuing my plan to watch every Johnny Depp movie in order, I come to Before Night Falls.The trailer doesn't really tell you what the movie is about, so here is the plot. 1964, Havana. Author and poet Reynaldo Arenas is just beginning to acknowledge his homosexual orientation. But by the 1970s, despite having fought for the Castro led revolutionary forces, he is repressed by the Cuban authorities, both for his work and his homosexuality, The police use any excuse to arrest and or imprison him. Eventually he is able to leave for America in a purge by Castro of anyone who doesn't support the regime. But in the US, Reinaldo is plagued by other demons.Javier Bardem in his first English speaking role was deservedly nominated for an oscar!! He is absolutely mesmerizing!! A case could be made for a nomination for Johnny Depp too!!Depp playing two roles, shows once again, he is a versatile and reliable actor who almost always chooses interesting projects. Here he plays not one, but tw characters (both homosexual) Lt. Victor, a moustached military officer, and Bon Bon, a flamboyant transvestite who struts through Castro's prisons and proves incredibly useful. Before Night Falls grossed $4 million at the domestic box office.

ajackaln Watching this movie is like slow death ! I mean it ! The story goes on very slowly and it shows nothing special. The story is about a gay Cuban novelist who is being arrested by the regime of Castro. Yes I get it and totally agree that such like can be tough and a person who lives that life can be a hero, yeah yeah yeah , I get it OK ? But not all real stories or lives are suitable for the silver screen. I'm a broadcasting and film making student so I know exactly what should be look at when one start writing a script or even more basic a storyline! The first thing and the basic thing that the writer should ask himself is that , would the audience watch this ? Would this movie be important for the audience to watch ? This is in fact the first question that audience would ask themselves before or after watching the movie , " What is there for me or What was there for me " ? Honestly , this movie has nothing to offer the audience. The story is painfully slow and boring. Very few interesting things happen , there's no climax in the story and even worse the audience are not given enough details about the character to sympathize with them or even connect with them.Overall , a terrible movie , I give it 1 out of 10. you think I'm being nasty ? well , here's a fact , this movie made only 4 million dollars at the box office , which we all know in Hollywood is a big JOKE! I'm not nasty now , am I ? Make good movies , you get good reviews !

lastliberal Reinaldo Arenas: Leonardo da Vinci was homosexual, so was Michelangelo, Socrates, Shakespeare, and almost every other figure that has formed what we have come to understand as beauty.It is fascinating that the socialist government in Cuba would take the same position as right-wing religious leaders in our country. I am sure that James Dobson, Pat Robertson, and others like them would not be happy to know that they are no different than Fidel Castro.This was the story of the poet Reinaldo Arenas, his mistreatment at the hands of the Cuban government, and his eventual escape to America in the Mariel boat lift; and Javier Bardem (Mar adentro, No Country for Old Men) was magnificent in the role that played almost like a documentary. The film was cinema-graphically brilliant, filmed near Cuba in the Yucatan. The soundtrack was equally impressive.Besides Bardem, it also featured Johnny Depp (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy). Depp played a dual role as Bon Bon, a transvestite and was also Lt. Victor, the head of the prison in which Arenas was incarcerated. I am continually amazed at Depp's versatility.An outstanding Latino cast in a super film.

tresdodge The true story of homosexual Cuban writer Reinaldo Arenas (Javier Bardem) the film charts his eventful and troubled life attempting to do what he loves best in a 1960's Cuba where the regime brand him a counter revolutionary and traitor. Starting from his humble beginnings in a small village, his later life in the city where he befriends other homosexuals, writers and poets which leads to imprisonment and torture to the last part of his life in New York.Javier Bardem is believable and excellent in the lead, Johnny Depp is also very competent in his dual roles and Sean Penn makes a decent cameo appearance. The cinematography is top notch, direction impeccable and score complements each scene well making them atmospheric and moving. Throughout we hear snippets of the writers poetry and musings which add to the emotionally charged nature of the film. A tender and well shot story of an important figure in Cuban literature, well worth seeing.