Purely Joyful Movie!

I saw this movie before reading any reviews, and I thought it was very funny. I was very surprised to see the overwhelmingly negative reviews this film received from critics.

There is just so much movie here. For some it may be too much. But in the same secretly sarcastic way most telemarketers say the phrase, the title of this one is particularly apt.

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

This is in the top drawer of movies ever made to date. It is flawless, a work of art in which the whole canvas is filled with colour and richness, and the true meaning of the movie gradually unfolds through a harrowing course to a powerful, moving finale. Acting and direction are all superb, and in my opinion the placing of "the spider woman" as the central icon of the movie is sheer genius, made complete by the casting of Sonia Braga, a unique beauty. The final scene with the death of William Hurt's character, the unfolding of the last petal, reaches out and grabs our heart, not unlike the final words of "Chinatown" when Nicholson's sidekick takes him aside with "Forget it Boss, its Chinatown".

In reading the novel " Kiss of the Spider Woman " written by Manuel Puig I realized very little was omitted from the movie of the same name. Director Hector Babenco has done a remarkable job in transferring the written word to the screen. The story is about two prisoners sharing a secluded cell in some obscure, brutal Brazilian prison. The first individual is Valentin Arregui (Raul Julia) a political prisoner, incarcerated because he belongs to an anti-government group bent on overthrowing the oppressive political regime. The second man is Luis Molina (William Hurt) a homosexual window dresser convicted on a morals charge for having sex with a teenage boy. Together they pass the time saying as little as possible. Luis recounts movies he has seen and relates them to Valentin who criticizes his interpretations. What Val does not know is that Luis is being pressured to reveal details of Val's organization. Further, Luis's decides to string the warden (Jose Lewgoy) along with requests for special gifts from his mother. The film is a great visual masterpiece and some of the finest acting ever presented. The drama is high lighted by Hurt's oral descriptions of the characters which come to light as he relates his recollections. The change of background colors is instrumental for the visual addition to the movie characters and when the audience meets the Spider Woman, (Sonia Braga) we realize a Classic is being enacted. Indeed, this movie is a great tribute to the cast and is sure to become a milestone for fans of Hurt and Julia. Highly recommended to anyone interested in seeing an exceptional film. ****

While many like Hector Babenco's brilliant, raw 'Pixote' better, I find his deeply emotional portrait of two lost souls surviving together in a South American prison cell even more riveting. The two towering performances – William Hurt's feminine gay storyteller, and Raul Julia's angry but frail (emotionally and physically) leftist are by far the best work either has done on film.The intricacies of their slowly evolving relationship are complex, powerfully moving, and sometimes disturbing, And while probably 60% of the film takes place in one room, the film never feels like a play. It's always cinematic. A special film that holds up to repeated viewings.

In a South American prison, swishy gay window-dresser William Hurt (as Luis Molina) tries to seduce straight cell-mate Raul Julia (as Valentin Arregui), a political prisoner. At first, Mr. Julia is reluctant. However, by acting out the sexy heroine's role in an old Nazi movie, Mr. Hurt slowly wins his man. But wait... Hurt is offered a change to get out of jail, for which he must consider betraying Julia... This is an hypnotic, fascinating, heartbreaking, and extremely well-spun version of Manuel Puig's original story; by Hurt, Julia, and director Hector Babenco. The ending is open to interpretations beyond the obvious; in my mind, Hurt goes back to escape the confines of life with Julia as the woman of his dreams...********* Kiss of the Spider Woman (5/13/85) Hector Babenco ~ William Hurt, Raul Julia, Sonia Braga, Jose Lewgoy