Product: Last Tango in Paris (1973)
Rating: 5.0
Erotic, intelligent, and mesmerizing...
Fascinating drama of middle-aged man's attempt to bury painful memories of his wife's suicide by indulging in a purely sexual relationship with a young woman. Marlon Brando portrays this man with an intensity that has rarely been matched by any other actor in any film. His performance is a powerhouse of human emotion as he enacts the deeds of a self-loathing individual who cannot communicate with anyone in a decent manner. He overpowers, scares, and at times humiliates them. His reasons for this may seem self-serving, but underneath you realize that they are just the result of a person who doesn't know how to express the way he feels. Brutish as he is, there is an undeniable vulnerabiltiy to the character. There is the sense that he is trying to say something, but has no idea what it is. His sexual and emotional abuse of the girl is the closest to relating his fears, desires, and longing for someone to love that he can come to. It is a realization that is eventually reached when, at the end of the film, he tries to open up, only to discover that it is too late. Director Bernardo Bertolucci did a magnificent job of displaying humanity at its most uncompromising, humorous, and shocking. The dialogue between the characters is nothing short of brilliant. Through their words we are allowed to glimpse to the very core of their beings; what we find there is up to us to decide, since Bertolucci makes no judgments on them. Repulsion and attraction are equally infused into them. At times, they aren't even sure why they do some of the things they do. It is for this reason that it is so easy for people to relate to them: they are by no means perfect, and don't pretend that they are. Despite its X-rating, "Last Tango in Paris" is anything but exploitational. This is a stark contrast to the explicit nature of the film. And this is also its genius. What many later motion pictures failed to realize was that "Last Tango" was graphic for a reason. The actions of the characters defined their needs, their insecurities; it showed us parts of their souls, rather than just parts of their bodies. Erotic, intelligent, and mesmerizing, "Last Tango in Paris" is a sterling example of what makes a film great.