Last Tango in Paris (Widescreen Edition)

Both stars offer intense performances, and director Bertolucci invests the film with numerous poetic and symbolic flourishes. The cinematography is elegant; the score is quite interesting. But when everything is said and done, LAST TANGO IN PARIS is extremely thin stuff that relies on sexual shock to generate tension--and what was once shocking is now passe. At the time TANGO was made, it was unthinkable that a major Hollywood star would appear in such a film... Yet by today's standards, the nudity involved is quite mild, the sex scenes are surprisingly discreet, and the script is oddly niave. It all seems very tame.

Moreover, the film's subplots slow the action to a crawl and the film as a whole has a self-concious, faintly pretentious tone. Brando and Schneider, both separately and together, offer quite a few impressive moments, but you have to wade through a lot to get to them. Is it worth it? Difficult to say. Although I don't regret having watched the film, I flatly state that I would not bother to watch it again. My recommendation: rent it before you buy it, because one viewing may be quite enough.


Maybe the most overrated film of all time?   April 19, 2001
J. Remington (Adams, Oregon USA)
31 out of 47 found this review helpful

Perhaps I may be speaking blasphemy to all the serious devotees of this prententious film ( I do respect you all though), but "Last Tango in Paris" gets my vote as the most overrated film in cinema history (with "2001: A Space Odyssey" running a very close second.)

Like "2001", Last Tango did break new ground cinematically and for that reason these two films do deserve at least some respect. For its time, "Tango" was in its own way a cultural milestone in terms of its frankness and explicit sexuality. And because "2001" and "Last Tango" broke down many barriers, they did allow for many superior films to follow in their respective wakes. But I do agree with the other reviewers who place "Hiroshima Mon Amour" as far more complex and revealing work. "Woman in the Dunes" is also a superior film dealing with very similar subject matter.

However, like the another "X" rated pioneer "Midnight Cowboy", I just don't think "Tango" has aged well. Although "Cowboy" does hold up to better scrutiny.

I find "Tango" neither illuminative, profound, original, erotic, or really compelling as a narrative. I found myself not connected in any way, or really caring at all for any of the characters. Many critics have continued to laud the film as brave. I'm sorry, I see nothing brave in photographing two hours of gravenous self pity.

Stories ultimately are about the audience and not the characters, and no, I am not in denial when I say this film is not about me. "American Beauty", a far superior film (which even contains humour- something this film doesn't know exists!) on all levels speaks to many of the same issues here and in a far more compelling (and entertaining!) manner.

Marlon Brando grunts and sweats under his weary life as though everything is terribly important. In doing research on the film, I discovered that most of the dialouge is (not suprising considering its painfull meandering) mostly improvised. Marlon as "Paul" is really talking about "Marlon" the actor and dredging up an endless barrage of psycho-babble. It is no wonder that Marlon has turned his back on acting after this mess. I'm afraid far too many impressionable artists have tried to emmulate what passes as "emotional truth" here and therby destroyed their God given talent as Marlon did. What we get to see here really amounts to nothing more than a filmed therepy session. When the "shocking" ending finally unspooled, I found myself cheering that my ordeal was over.

That really is sad for Brando certainly is (or whatever the appropriate tense)the single most influential actor of the 20th Century.

The world does need a mature examination of the politics of sexuality and the high stakes carnality plays for. Since this film earned world wide critical acclaim and cult status, it set a crude sort of benchmark for taking things to the extreme sexually on screen. This isn't always a good thing.

Besides "American Beauty" other films which deal with the same themes but far more successfully are "Leaving Las Vegas" and the tragic science fiction classic "Seconds". This film unfortunately doesn't reach the humanity of those other pieces.

It certainly is worth watching though, so you can form your own opinion and gain a sense of pop cultural literacy, but for purchase? I don't know. Proceed at your own risk.


Brando's Best   December 14, 2001
Christopher Davis (Clayton NC)
22 out of 25 found this review helpful

If there is anyone out there that wonders why Marlon Brando has
been called the greatest film actor of all time, one need only to
see this film to get their answer. Although it is somewhat dated and certainly not for everyone, Last Tango in Paris is a true
masterpiece of filmmaking.
Tame by today's standards, it is easy to see why 1972 audiences were shocked by its brutal frankness and full frontal nudity. It is a film about isolation, betrayal and confronting
one's own insecurities.
I found the beginning most difficult to believe- middle aged man begins an affair with a beautiful young woman after having met
her only moments before in an empty apartment. And then they
continue to meet for sex even though he insists that they reveal
nothing about themselves beyond the physical act of sex!
Once past this impossible beginning, we begin to learn more about
the characters- he is a lonely widower, she is engaged to a young
film student. She eventually accepts the fact that their relationship is nothing more than sexual.
Maria Schneider is very good in her role as the French girl and she seems completely comfortable with the graphic nude scenes she is in. But it is Brando who commands our complete attention. He dominates every scene and while Schneider spends a great deal of time being naked, he does not yet it is still his character that facinates us.
The film gets bogged down in some areas and many viewers may become bored with the scenes that involve some of the supporting characters. But, and trust me on this, DO NOT miss the scene in
which Brando visits the body of his dead wife. It is not a long scene but it alone is worth the price one will pay for seeing this film- be it in cash and/or time. It is a scene that all students of film and acting should be required to see. Once you have seen it I am sure you will agree- acting does not get any better than this.


Misogynist drivel   January 23, 2002
Tom Munro (Melbourne, Victoria Australia)
21 out of 45 found this review helpful

The plot of the film is simple. The Marlon Brando Character is depressed over the death of his wife. He gives a performance of grief at the grave side. He goes to rent and apartment and meets the Maria Schneider character. He rapes the Maria Schneider character, but that okay, cause you know that women really like that sort of stuff.

Maria and Marlon agree to meet, just for sex, no names at the apartment. Is this maybe Loehengrin and not a Bertolucci film?

Of course this makes tremendous sense. Marlon is middle aged and not to attractive. Maria is 20 something and drop dead gorgeous. Marlon also comes across as a self pitying dope who cannot string two words together. In another scene he violently sodomizes Schiender. The plot of this film could only exist as a fantasy of a middle aged man.

The climax of the film (an expression one hesitates to use for a range of reasons) is when the Brando character falls in love and wants to continue the relationship. Schnieder rejects him rather forcefully end of film.

The film has sparse dialogue, Marlon looks dreadful overacts continually and one wonders how anyone took it seriously. Probably because it came out prior to the women’s movement. It is hard to think of a contemporary director who would produce such a unrealistic portrayal of a female character.