Bertoluci and his "Dreamers" - Victor Khomenko - Films/DVD Asylum

Films/DVD Asylum

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Bertoluci and his "Dreamers"

Victor Khomenko

I know why I never liked Bertoluci. With the possible exception of the Conformist I found all his films remind me of Hitler's and Stalin's architecture. Monumental in the bad sense of the world. Heavy. Not pleasing. Lacking elegance. Forgettable.
I never cared for his trashy "cult" works - read: Last Tango. The 1900 made the passing grade, but broke no new grounds, and was as forgettable as your last visit to your family doctor.
So why did we go to see The Dreamers today? Well, it's been a couple of months since I saw a portion of the Last Tango, and its memory had faded out quickly already. Bertoluci's name is something I still believe belongs if not in the Great Directors, then at least in the Take a Look category.
That was before today.
After The Dreamers that rating will be reduced to "No F.... Way!". At least I know that is what my wife is going to tell me next time.
Angrily, too.
But today she was mellow, and I played good husband all weekend, so she agreed to go.
Man, did she give me earfull on the way back!!!!!!
There is the scene in the movie where the characters pulls out rotten meat refuse out of trash pile and brings it to the table.
That is exactly how we felt after that film.
The director seems to have exhaused his life supply of creativity long ago, so The Dreamers is simple a "stylishly" re-packaged old stale refuse... something most of us started finding boring when we were between 20 and 30 years of age. OK, maybe between 30 and 40... for the late bloomers.
If you are expecting to find any revelations in this recycled movie, look elsewhere. OK, you will get wonderful closeups of the genetalia of both genders. You will see a lot of other stuff you have seen thousands of times before. You will be bored during the sex scenes, just like the actors apparently were.
Was the director's greatest contribution to the movie art his showing us about 45 minutes of full frontal nudity? To be fair, the young lady is gorgeous, but I suspect I could rent several issues of Teens Do NYC and get even more... if that was my intention.
The director is straining to give us some "fresh" material, but scene after scene you recall having already having seen this in many films, most of which you can't even remember by the title... only the faint memories of those insignificant "discoveries" still remaining.
How many times can you be "shocked" by seeing three beautiful naked young bodies intertwined in bed? Boring............
Perhaps this is a fitting (hopefully) finish for the director who first stepped on the international scene by making the anal sex discovery... with butter, of course.
But for Pete's sake - that was in 1972. Why try to feed us the same stale dish after 30 years, the long thirty years during which most of the world had moved onto something far newer?
What a disappointment. Even for Bertoluci.
This is really unfortunate, as the movie starts intriguing... of all subjects it was about something quite interesting to me - the movie buffs.
The three characters met as result of their love for good films. How unfortunate they all played parts in one that is not destined to remain in the annals of this marvelous art.

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Topic - Bertoluci and his "Dreamers" - Victor Khomenko 13:59:11 02/22/04 (12)

Can we used a little bit more description levels? - Ruben 22:12:13 02/22/04 (4)

There is good reason for that - the nature of this place - Victor Khomenko 05:06:59 02/23/04 (3)

I still think that there is room for moderation - Ruben 21:04:50 02/23/04 (2)

That is the nature of art - it speaks differently to different people - Victor Khomenko 06:09:16 02/24/04 (1)

I guess the link was there by accident...... nt - Ruben 10:08:36 02/24/04 (0)

Re: Bertoluci and his "Dreamers" - Dmitry 15:14:17 02/22/04 (6)

The Last Emperor deserved more than the seven Oscars it took home . . . - albee33 18:27:42 02/22/04 (3)

Nah;: The Last Emperor has no clothes - grinagog 19:36:15 02/22/04 (2)

Re: Nah;: The Last Emperor has no clothes - Victor Khomenko 19:44:16 02/22/04 (1)

Re: Nah;: The Last Emperor has no clothes - patrickU 06:43:42 02/24/04 (0)

Take a look at The Dreamers... curious what you will think. (nt) - Victor Khomenko 17:07:04 02/22/04 (0)

Only The Conformist or 1900 for me then thanks!!<nt> - grinagog 16:00:38 02/22/04 (0)

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