Product: Last Tango in Paris (1973)
Rating: 3.0
Erotic?..I don't think so, but this is still a classic nonetheless
I had great expectations about this film but it ultimately left me cold. The two lovers know nothing of each other, not even their names... Their affair is purely physical, and the barren apartment becomes, as Bertolucci intended, a world of debauchery on which is explored a catalog of behavior that seems more childish than kinky...Jeanne is a child-woman... She asks what she should call Paul, and they proceed to give themselves names brought only out of grunts, growls and screeches... Paul's cruelty is not justified and perhaps this is what attracts the modish girl... Some scenes emotionally are so provocative that you experience a wide range of feelings... Paul never asks Jeanne a direct question, but is constantly framing her for his next experiment, besides he assaults her, humiliates her and pushes her over the edge... There is one great moment for the heroine when she refuses Paul's power play and is equally unimpressed by his new declarations of love... She insists: 'It's over!' Brando delivers a stunning performance and Maria Schneider is quite convincing in what must have been a very demanding role.This isn't a flawless film but it is very good and offers more than just the average "t&a;" the genre has come to be known for. The film's subplots slow's the action to a crawl and the film as a whole has a self-conscious, faintly pretentious tone which I find myself drifting off at times. Like I said the film does offer quite a few impressive moments, but you have to wade through a lot to get to them. Is it worth it? Difficult to say. Although I don't regret having watched the film, I flatly state that I would not bother to watch it again. My recommendation: see it before you buy it, because one viewing may be quite enough.