The Lost City
I saw this film as a preview and I must say that I was underimpressed.
Andy Garcia spent the last sixteen years trying to make this film. And, it is not hard to see why he had so much trouble getting this film made.
The film takes place in Havana and starts off before Castro's revolution. Batista is still in power but most people are not happy with him and would welcome change. Garcia plays Fico who is a nightclub owner. Fico has a close relationship with his father, mother and two brothers. But, both of Fico's brothers are fed up with the status quo and want to join the revolution. His brother Luis winds up in jail but Fico manages to get him out. Luis and his comrades surround Batista's palace and kill several guards. Luis tries to hide but Batista's men find him and kill him. Before you know it Fico and Luis's widow Aurora fall in love!! Fico's other brother Ricardo goes into the mountains to work with Castro and Che Guevera. Batista leaves the country, Castro takes over and the people are happy. But, every revolution has its price and after a while Fico is forced to close his nightclub. He winds up leaving Aurora, who is committed to the revolution, and goes to New York. Throw into this mix an eggcream loving Meyer Lansky (played by Dustin Hoffman) who makes a pre-revolution offer to become Fico's business partner and a nameless writer (played by Bill Murray) who befriends Fico and cracks jokes in the most inappropriate places and what do you have? You have a holy mess!!!
The film is forty five minutes to one hour too long. I read that director Garcia did not want to cut one minute of this film. That was a big mistake because the movie dragged on and on. Murray's character should have been entirely cut from the film and Hoffman's Lansky should have been more than just a caricature. And, having Fico fall in love with his widowed sister-in-law seemed a bit contrived. The screenplay by G. Cabrera Infante is best described as muddled. I would have at least expected a smoldering performance by Garcia since this film represents his point of view on Cuba but he came across quite muted. As expected, Che was portrayed as a cold hearted killer. But, many besides Garcia hold that point of view so I can't say anything against that. The best thing about the film is the music. It is sensational as are the magnificent dance number. Maybe Garcia should direct music videos!!
If you want to see a great film on oppression in Cuba rent Julian Schnabel's terrific Before Night Falls which has an outstanding performance by Javier Bardem. Steven Soderbergh is set to direct Guerrilla (being released in 2007) which will star Benicio del Toro as Che. I don't know how Che will be portrayed in that film but I hope that is neither saint nor sinner. Bardem is rumored to be playing Castro but that has not been confirmed. I read that originally both de Toro and Bardem were going to be in The Lost City. They were wise to avoid any involvement with this film as would you.
Andy Garcia spent the last sixteen years trying to make this film. And, it is not hard to see why he had so much trouble getting this film made.
The film takes place in Havana and starts off before Castro's revolution. Batista is still in power but most people are not happy with him and would welcome change. Garcia plays Fico who is a nightclub owner. Fico has a close relationship with his father, mother and two brothers. But, both of Fico's brothers are fed up with the status quo and want to join the revolution. His brother Luis winds up in jail but Fico manages to get him out. Luis and his comrades surround Batista's palace and kill several guards. Luis tries to hide but Batista's men find him and kill him. Before you know it Fico and Luis's widow Aurora fall in love!! Fico's other brother Ricardo goes into the mountains to work with Castro and Che Guevera. Batista leaves the country, Castro takes over and the people are happy. But, every revolution has its price and after a while Fico is forced to close his nightclub. He winds up leaving Aurora, who is committed to the revolution, and goes to New York. Throw into this mix an eggcream loving Meyer Lansky (played by Dustin Hoffman) who makes a pre-revolution offer to become Fico's business partner and a nameless writer (played by Bill Murray) who befriends Fico and cracks jokes in the most inappropriate places and what do you have? You have a holy mess!!!
The film is forty five minutes to one hour too long. I read that director Garcia did not want to cut one minute of this film. That was a big mistake because the movie dragged on and on. Murray's character should have been entirely cut from the film and Hoffman's Lansky should have been more than just a caricature. And, having Fico fall in love with his widowed sister-in-law seemed a bit contrived. The screenplay by G. Cabrera Infante is best described as muddled. I would have at least expected a smoldering performance by Garcia since this film represents his point of view on Cuba but he came across quite muted. As expected, Che was portrayed as a cold hearted killer. But, many besides Garcia hold that point of view so I can't say anything against that. The best thing about the film is the music. It is sensational as are the magnificent dance number. Maybe Garcia should direct music videos!!
If you want to see a great film on oppression in Cuba rent Julian Schnabel's terrific Before Night Falls which has an outstanding performance by Javier Bardem. Steven Soderbergh is set to direct Guerrilla (being released in 2007) which will star Benicio del Toro as Che. I don't know how Che will be portrayed in that film but I hope that is neither saint nor sinner. Bardem is rumored to be playing Castro but that has not been confirmed. I read that originally both de Toro and Bardem were going to be in The Lost City. They were wise to avoid any involvement with this film as would you.
posted by Film Fanatic | 8:43 AM
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