Interesteg What makes it different from others?

CheerupSilver Very Cool!!!

MamaGravity good back-story, and good acting

Tyreece Hulme One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

Parker Lewis I must admit when I saw Havana it came across as a bit boring, but it was good to see Robert "Sneakers" Redford. But upon reflection, Havana is a lush, beautiful movie that really captures the atmosphere and scenery of Cuba pre-Castro (who died over the weekend coincidentally). Anyway, Havana was filmed in the Dominican Republic, and kudos to the production team for faithfully recreating Havana pre-Castro.Maybe Havana will be looked upon more favorably following the passage of time, and who knows, it can be a Netflix series if some imagination and drive can be brought to the table.

harkins-joe I was an extra in the film when it was shot, mostly in and around Santo Domingo, capital of the Dominican Republic. That location was chosen for many reasons. Most obviously, with no special effects needed, it is easy to shoot it so it looks Havana on the eve of the revolution. It was also home to the last surviving P51 Mustangs, a gift of the USA to the Dominican Air Force, that were used in a scene. Shooting began on Thanksgiving morning because the 4-day weekend was when a sizable body of blue-eyed Gringos could be assembled from the expatriates working in such places as the Carol Morgan School (almost all American faculty), the US Consulate (largest in the world at the time) and others, such as myself, a NY born journalist with the island's weekly English-language newspaper. There were also a substantial number of child molesters, con men and other criminal fugitives living there openly due to the lack of an extradition treaty (since corrected).At 5am on T-Day some 50/60 of us extras assembled in a stiffing plastic tent set up next to a huge, open span, tin-roofed warehouse in the Haina District. For two hours we were costumed in period clothing, haircuts and coifs. They actually used Brylcream, just as I once did. Inside the warehouse was an amazing reconstruction of a fictional overnight ferry that supposedly ran from Key West to Havana.All the while, as we were being prepared, we were distracted by the powerful smell of turkey roasting next to the tent in a row of ovens made of 55-gallon drums.At 7:30am or so we were assembled inside the "ferry-boat"and greeted by Pollack. He explained we were about to help make an "homage to Casablanca." He then ticked off the similarity in plot points made so often by others since then. Shooting started. I, and a woman from the consulate, were dancing next to Redford and another extra, when Lena Olin cuts into Redford's arms. When lunch break was called, we were marched back into the tents, past the roasting ovens. As we entered the tent, each of us was handed a brown paper bag that contained a sandwich on stale bread, obviously days old, made with mystery meat, plus a bag of locally-made cardboard-flavored, limp (literally) imitations of Doritos and an orange (some got an apple.) The turkey was for the crew and the main cast. There was not even a slice for us extras.After working as an extra off and on over the next month or so (100 pesos a day then worth US$10 - that rate being another attraction of the location), I had formed an opinion of what I was seeing. I also was an extra in scenes shot in the cultural palace on Avenida Maximo Gomez and at the old yacht club. It become obvious to me, that to all involved, from Pollack on down, this was just a paycheck movie, made because it could be financed. I saw no signs of passion or purpose. I wrote a prerelease freelance review that was published in a then popular US film magazine. I referred to Havana as a "A Dominican Turkey." To his dying day, and most notably in a NY Times interview, Pollack denied that he ever said he was remaking Casablanca. He claimed he had no idea why that silly rumor started. I sent him a letter through the NYT with my reminder of those first-day events. He never replied.But, aside from the fact that my review was prescient, it also is a perfect example of the saying, "Revenge is a dish that tastes best cold."

erniemunger Still boyish Redford plays Jack Weil, a professional gambler who falls in love with a Swedish-American-Mexican (?) expat when turning up in Batista-era Cuba to deal the hand of his life. Tough luck, as the lady (Lina Olin as Roberta Duran, who delivers a worthy effort) is married to a local revolutionary. When Roberta and her husband Arturo are arrested by the regime, Jack's life takes a turn. Sounds like a good plot with all the ingredients that make for a great historic romance? Sure, but Pollack's handling of the matter is far from brilliant. For one, the set looks quirky at all times and no attempts at Film Noir lighting would change that. It actually starts with the art deco typeset in the opener, which is rather reminiscent of late seventies' Florida decadence than of pre-revolutionary Cuba. Too slick all the way, as are the character depictions. Unlike similar movies where the characters' inner turmoil is echoed by the chaos that surrounds them (most famously, "Gone with the Wind"), "Havana" never comes to grips with the setting it has chosen. From there on (and maybe even as a direct result thereof), the rest is mainly static, phoney and unconvincing, as is, most notably, the depiction of army manouevres. SPOILER: At some point, two cranky airplanes drop their bombs on an empty corn field, even prompting the character of Lina to wonder aloud who they're shooting at... Unwittingly hilarious. Partly reminiscent of "Under the Volcano" (Mexican revolution, decadence, impossible love affair...), though that was at least partly redeemed by a grand finale. And yes, it is clearly a (sad) remake of "Casablanca". And no, despite the heavy-handed hint in the dialogues, Olin is not Garbo.

GregFromOakland I just saw this one again on DVD and was surprised at how good it was. The acting, story and environment made it very easy to follow what was going on. I fail to see big holes in the plot: the characters are very well developed. What is created is a very sweet romantic thriller in a historical setting - the viewer knows that the revolution will take place so that part is anti-climatic. The film didn't attempt to make the revolutionaries into the good guys - Batista's forces did come across as corrupt and arrogant though. One mistake: Redford's character convinces the security chief he works for the CIA which is implausible since he's supposedly on assignment in Cuba and doesn't speak Spanish.