Product: Last Tango in Paris (1973)
Rating: 1.0
an infuriatingly tedious film that drags on... and on... and on...
As of 2006, "Last Tango In Paris" should be left to the dustbin of history. Even if you're a total Brando fanatic, you shouldn't have to subject yourself to this torturously slow film, which has no discernable point outside of its supposed shock value elements, which are only shocking because they're so tastelessly crass and boring, making the film utterly dated. Brando's character in the film feels miserable throughout, and I think I felt at least twice as miserable while watching. Even more annoying though are the laughably unconvincing scenes between Maria Schneider and Jean-Pierre Léaud, the latter of whom turns in an utter ham act. After sludging through the first hour of this film, which drags on listlessly and at a snail's pace, you find that you just don't give a damn anymore what happens. Although I can't exactly give Brando a thumbs up for taking on this role, I place the blame for this atrocity squarely on Bernardo Bertolucci, who directed and co-wrote the screenplay--having seen a bit of Bertolucci's other work as well, it seems that this guy should have his filmmaking license revoked. About the best that can be said is that the picture quality of the film really is stunning, but even that ends up not being an advantage because it just makes the whole thing seem even more annoyingly 'arty' and pretentious. "Last Tango In Paris" is a life-draining movie-watching experience that can't be recommended, period.