MovieChat Forums > Tetro (2009) Discussion > Torturous

Torturous

posted 15 years ago by egoaltered
18 replies | jump to latest

I'm shocked that this movie is getting good reviews on imdb.com. I tried to like it, I really did, but it was just so painfully bad. Does Vincent Gallo play the same character in every movie he's in? Did anyone else find this movie way too long to the point where you didn't care what happened in the end? Was anyone else as annoyed as I was with the theatrical dance/operatic scenes?
On the plus side, I liked the film score, but it felt as if it was created for a different movie. The film itself couldn't live up to the drama or whimsy it suggested.

[–] mizwright 15 years ago

I don't think it was bad...it was good, not great. What was great was Alden, who played Bennie, and the cinematography, which borrowed from Orson Welles and some of the European directors (can't name any now). It was an interesting story, but just felt too long. But I think that's Coppola. He demands that you watch and pay attention. Like Apocalypse Now, it was very long (or felt long), and you had to really watch every scene to get the essence of the film. He knows how to cast the right actors. I wasn't knocked out by Gallo.

[–] octhrice 15 years ago

I actually thought the kid who played Bennie was pretty awful. He looks good but he can't really act. I agree that it felt long. I think the problem is the script. It's a great story, just not executed well in the writing.

The whole point with the dance sequences were to parallel the fact that this is mellowdrama on the scale of opera. I love Vincent Gallo, so I can't really say anything about if his performance was bad, I don't think it was. I actually think his performance was right on. However, Maribel Verdu steals the film.

It's shot incredibly well, one of the most beautiful and unique American films I can remember recently. He was obviously borrowing from Antonioni (one of my 5 favorite directors).

But yes, I understand what you're saying. I wanted to love this movie too, but it went on too long. At the end I remember thinking "oh now we have to go to the funeral? ugh."

But I still give it a 7 out of 10.

[–] sdsungod 15 years ago

Hey, I just want to say that I was trying to figure out if I should spend my valuable time watching this movie or some other movie, and I wanted to say "Thank You" for your reasonable, well thought out, and well written criticisms.

It is clear you gave the movie a chance, and you considered the good and the bad, and your comments suggest to me that it would be a waste of my time. I like that you gave good reasons for your opinions instead of what I see all too often on these boards where children say "Worst movie EVER!!" with no thought or rationale behind the hyperbole. Those comments are useless but yours were very informative. Thank you.

Sorry, Francis Ford, but I heard your movie is boring, so I won't be seeing it.

Maybe when it comes out on DVD so I can watch it across a two-day span.

"Enough of that technical talk, Foo!"

[–] mshore26 15 years ago

The movie is actually not boring at all. Some people have no ability to sit and watch a true filmmaker at work. Let them watch Transformers.

[–] Neece1974 15 years ago

Exactly.
Too much CGI doesn't interest me at all.

I have my own opinions...shock...horror

[–] vinnie_queenan 15 years ago

I'm dying to see this film... It looks to be slow but a concentrated view on a very unique looking character's relationship with a more conventional brother...
The score is amazing. Am listening to it on the website. Maybe that's getting me carried away with it, but still i can't wait for this.
I don't think there's anyone else out there who i'd want more to be doing a black/white film...

[–] EternalIndemnity 15 years ago

I absolutely loved the film, but if you think you won't my only advice is - don't see it on DVD. If there is one thing that is outstanding in this film it's the cinematography and that would not come out as it should on a smaller screen. So see it or not, but on the big screen.

[–] aliza_tvito 15 years ago

I did watch it on a big screen. Wish I watched it on DVD. The nice cinematography isn't enough for making the truly piece of art. This was the same olde and banal output seen for a million times, - just in an arthouse disguise (which only emphases the desperate mediocrity of a whole).

Hope I didn't offend you.

Thanks God, I'm an Atheist! - Luis Bunuel

[–] orion87956 15 years ago

why did you even write this? "sorry, Francis Ford, but i heard your movie is boring, so i won't be seeing it."
i'm getting sick of idiots like you.

[–] cinesimonj 12 years ago

This is a fantastic film. I hope you'll reconsider.
Coppola's best, in my opinion.
I've found that with films like these, you have to be in the right mood. It may well be boring if you're in a restless mood. But if you're chilled, and ready for some brain food, this film is for you/.
Great story, great characters, fantastic imagery, and the OP is so wrong with regard to Gallo - he is definitely not a character he had played before.
This is old school film. You need to be willing to immerse yourself into the world the characters live in. It's not hard to do, but you actually need to. This isn't a film where you can enjoy it on a shallow level. If you can do that, you'll love it. Id you can't, then don't bother watching it.

[–] itchyfriend9 15 years ago

Yes, yes, and yes. You summarized my thoughts exactly.

[–] aliza_tvito 15 years ago

By MHO, indeed it was terrible. It was a prolonged banal, outdated piece, with a same old flat dialogues and wooden performances (Ehrenreich), served within a thin pretentious "arthouse" wrap. If this movie wasn't shot in B/W so artsy, it would have been the 110% soap opera. The movie is carefully crafted, but it doesn't help. By the way, the ballet installations were brilliant, I'm curious who has staged it.

Thanks God, I'm an Atheist! - Luis Bunuel

[–] thedmo 15 years ago

Bummer.

Awesome flick.

[–] mendoski 15 years ago

I agree - way too long, felt like five hours. not good. could not care about either of the brothers, and was amazed the movie took us both to patagonia and new york. it just turned into a soap opera.
my friend and i do agree though - at least the score was decent.

[–] pietromas 15 years ago

I agree. I thought it was unwatchable. I actually walked out of the theater halfway through, something I almost never do.

[–] thelovelymargotlane 15 years ago

I think this was 2/3 good and 1/3 torturous. While the parts of it were good - primarily Maribel Verdú who I thought added considerably to the emotional veracity of the film; most of the last third made me groan. I think no one wanted to confront Coppola and let him know,"look you start out with a realistic film and then it all falls apart into appalling melodrama". The script needed two more rewrites before they started shooting. If you are going to ask someone to kill you, would you hand them an axe?