The characters do become embroiled in the second half, however, and the story is then more engrossing. Movie Info Plagued with grief over the murder of her daughter, Valerie Somers (Barbara Hershey) suspects that her husband John (Geoffrey Rush) is cheating on her. and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango. It evokes memories of the humid heat in which cicadas flourish and become noisy, and the rich sticky smells of plants in that climate. Most successful Australian films are quintessentially Australian. A valuable, sensitive and brilliant Australian thriller. Valerie feels threatened by another patient, Patrick, who is having an affair with a married man, forcing her to confront her marital issues. Valerie had car trouble and hailed Nik. Afterwards, Nik relaxes and talks with Leon and Paula. (It's ironic that with todays special effects dominating the movies that you can see everything except the way we actually live presented on the screen). Leon, who found dancing with his wife difficult, now looks into Sonja's eyes and dances, just as she wanted. ", or "Wow! We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your account. | Top Critics (32) In this starkly realistic examination of love and infidelity among the thirtysomething crowd from down under we learn that you may desire to cheat on your spouse, but it's better if you don't. All the characters are bundles of flaws and unclear needs, and they blindly collide with one another, setting off sparks of calamity and, occasionally, a glow of recognition. What is Lantana, you ask? The film earned $11,124,261 internationally (including $6,125,907 in Australia) for a total of $15,747,450. The relationships of four couples unravel after the discovery of a young woman's body in Lantana bush in suburban Sydney. | The unfolding characterizations are one dimensional - something which seems to bother none of the actors except Geoffrey Rush who seems to be wondering why he agreed to do this movie. The Lantana motif also represents the complexity of love itself, its possibilities, its permutations and its dense emotional threads. Like novels and short stories, films can recount a fictional narrative using characters, events and settings. In my humble opinion this film, "Lantana", misused the talents of some very fine actors and actresses by impaling them with a thinly disguised soap opera that had characters as thin as tissue paper. A corollary paradox is that honesty is only possible between strangers. Nik is upset at the relationship because he is friends with her estranged husband, Pete, who wants to return home. To study Lantana for Year 11 English it is advisable to view the movie in full at least twice so you can look carefully at: Besides your focus on what actually happens in the film it is a good idea to notice the look and feel of the film in its style. By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy | Rating: 3/4 Your AMC Ticket Confirmation# can be found in your order confirmation email. Don't have an account? Out of nowhere emerged this absolute gem of a film. Australian cinema, but not as we know it. Michael vs. Freddy vs. Jason: Who Is the Ultimate Horror Baddie? I knew little about it before watching it and, from the initial scene, I thought it was going to be a murder mystery, but it turned out to be an excellent psychological drama that involved the interactions of the lives of these characters.Geoffrey Rush had the perfect face to realize his character's disconnections. **** (out of four). In Lantana, it's merely a device to launch us into more rewarding explorations. In fact the film takes a view of life in a modern city that is rigorously bleak without being entirely hopeless. They part, and Leon and his wife, Sonja, attend Latin dance classes that the recently separated Jane is also taking. This film shows Australia, not as a sunny soap opera land, but life as it happens. Sign up here. In the morning, Sonja says that he will be lucky if she returns home that night. Your email address will not be published. "Lantana" is one of those rare films which which transcends entertainment with meaningful messages, however subliminal, while avoiding the dumbing-down, flocking, hype, titillation, and other excesses of the usual Tinseltown product and relying solely on good story telling. It is based on the play Speaking In Tongues by Andrew Bovell, which premiered at Sydney's Griffin Theatre Company. Cinemark Andrew Bovell said that “It is like a stone dropped into a still pond, the ripples circling out and affecting all that they touch”.

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