Product: Last Tango in Paris (1973)
Rating: 1.0
Maybe the most overrated film of all time?
Perhaps I may be speaking blasphemy to all the serious devotees of this prententious film ( I do respect you all though), but "Last Tango in Paris" gets my vote as the most overrated film in cinema history (with "2001: A Space Odyssey" running a very close second.)Like "2001", Last Tango did break new ground cinematically and for that reason these two films do deserve at least some respect. For its time, "Tango" was in its own way a cultural milestone in terms of its frankness and explicit sexuality. And because "2001" and "Last Tango" broke down many barriers, they did allow for many superior films to follow in their respective wakes. But I do agree with the other reviewers who place "Hiroshima Mon Amour" as far more complex and revealing work. "Woman in the Dunes" is also a superior film dealing with very similar subject matter.However, like the another "X" rated pioneer "Midnight Cowboy", I just don't think "Tango" has aged well. Although "Cowboy" does hold up to better scrutiny.I find "Tango" neither illuminative, profound, original, erotic, or really compelling as a narrative. I found myself not connected in any way, or really caring at all for any of the characters. Many critics have continued to laud the film as brave. I'm sorry, I see nothing brave in photographing two hours of gravenous self pity.Stories ultimately are about the audience and not the characters, and no, I am not in denial when I say this film is not about me. "American Beauty", a far superior film (which even contains humour- something this film doesn't know exists!) on all levels speaks to many of the same issues here and in a far more compelling (and entertaining!) manner.Marlon Brando grunts and sweats under his weary life as though everything is terribly important. In doing research on the film, I discovered that most of the dialouge is (not suprising considering its painfull meandering) mostly improvised. Marlon as "Paul" is really talking about "Marlon" the actor and dredging up an endless barrage of psycho-babble. It is no wonder that Marlon has turned his back on acting after this mess. I'm afraid far too many impressionable artists have tried to emmulate what passes as "emotional truth" here and therby destroyed their God given talent as Marlon did. What we get to see here really amounts to nothing more than a filmed therepy session. When the "shocking" ending finally unspooled, I found myself cheering that my ordeal was over.That really is sad for Brando certainly is (or whatever the appropriate tense)the single most influential actor of the 20th Century.The world does need a mature examination of the politics of sexuality and the high stakes carnality plays for. Since this film earned world wide critical acclaim and cult status, it set a crude sort of benchmark for taking things to the extreme sexually on screen. This isn't always a good thing.Besides "American Beauty" other films which deal with the same themes but far more successfully are "Leaving Las Vegas" and the tragic science fiction classic "Seconds". This film unfortunately doesn't reach the humanity of those other pieces.It certainly is worth watching though, so you can form your own opinion and gain a sense of pop cultural literacy, but for purchase? I don't know. Proceed at your own risk.