WHAT DO YOU THINK? - Havana (1990) Discussion

[–] malogato666 20 years ago

Found it fun and slight all at once. Redford has this hard-on for Castro that makes little sense to me, but I like the look of the film more than anything. Redford can be a great director when he wants to be. This is not his best work, but as I love the subject (Cuba) I was happy to see it. A nice portrait of the time and some interesting things going on but it is a forgetable film.

But that's just me.

reply

[–] bonbk 18 years ago

I think Redford can be a great director too, but Sidney Pollack directed Havana. Since you wrote your post almost 2 years ago, you may know that already.

I think his hard on for Castro is due to knowing that if Castro comes to power, that the gambling, decadent, mob run, way of life will be over.

reply

[–] michael-davey-1 20 years ago

I like the movie for several reasons. First the whole mess in Havana in 58 etc is interesting to me and this movie give just a glimps of what it might have been like.

More importantly it is interesting because of the change in Redford's character. The movie is all about the effect of the girl on him. It's not who she is as much as what she is to him. In the begining he did not think himself capable or needfull of real love. He found out that she brought that out in him, he actually did things that were best for her and even when it cost him everything, including her. He was changed forever by this experience. The last 1/2 hour was powerful.

One of my favorites.

reply

[–] pshelton-1 20 years ago

Definitely one of my fav Redford films. I love the music, the 50's cars---especially Redford's silver caddy, Meyer Lansky and the mob's gambling casinos, the alcoholic CIA fag. Revolution!! I bought the DVD after I first saw it on cable 2 years ago.

Olin: Were you waiting for me?

Redford: All my life...

reply

[–] 20 years ago

[deleted]

[–] johnzacks 12 years ago

you said it

reply

[–] SlowRain 18 years ago

I love this movie, but I think many people look unfavorably on it because of the similarities to Casablanca. I thought the acting, especially Redford, the music, and the cinematography were perfect. They don't make enough movies like this.

The only second chance you get is to make the same mistake twice. - David Mamet

reply

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Kurios 18 years ago

But the love story was wha tthe movie was about...there are historical discrepancies that i don't think ruin the love story..like the bliond Batista....but alot of it was good...and the story and the acting of the main guys...especially Julia, Redford, and the guy whoplayed the head of the secret police (was that Milian?) the power of the movie was not in its historical accuracies...the history was just the flavor of the movie...the story and the acting was why i go to movies.

reply

[–] arm61 17 years ago

Just as George Clooney stated in an interview with Charlie Rose in December 2006, all modern Hollywood films owe a great debt to "Casablanca." That was true of his "Good German" movie (a strong "We'll always have pre-WW II Berlin" sentiment evinced throughout the movie), Leo DiCaprio's "Blood Diamond" (didn't think he would give up that huge diamond so easily at the end, did you?), and this movie, "Havana." Just listening to Raul Julia's character (a very impressive man, with impeccable blood lines, naturally) express his skepticism in regard to Redford's supposed apoliticalism (with Julia's radiant wife, the Lena Olin character, beaming at her passionate husband) makes one almost see and hear Victor Lazlo doubting Rick Blaine's avowed egocentricism while Ilsa Lund watches the two most important men in her life converse.

reply

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] SlowRain 17 years ago

I just want to add to my comments above:

I had never really noticed it before, but I'm a fan of both Havana and of Graham Greene's writing. It recently occurred to me that there are some similarities between the two: exotic location, political upheaval, complex male-female relationship, moral ambiguity, world weariness. I think Havana, which I saw first, naturally led me to Graham Greene's writing, and is one of the reasons that I'm a Greene fan to this day (John le Carré is the other reason I'm a Greene fan).

The only second chance you get is to make the same mistake twice. - David Mamet

reply

[–] canbonbon 17 years ago

What do I think?

Jack: You want to change the world bobby? ... Change mine !!!

Masterpiece, that's what I think. Sometimes it is good to just see the movie without the extra noise/distraction of what is right, what is wrong. Just enjoy it. I now have some issues to deal with, I saw Out of Africa first and then saw Havana with Olin in it. I am 15 years younger than her but.....

--Bon Bon

reply

[–] vpilutis 12 years ago

Like it but didn't love it and I'm a Redford fan we see too little of this fine gent these last couple of years.
Didn't care at all for The Last Castle.

Anyway they could have cut a 1/2 hr and not missed that much

See some stars here
http://www.vbphoto.biz/

reply