Review of Before Night Falls (2000) by Sandra S — 23 Aug 2009
Before Night Falls - Julian Schnabel's sophomore filmic effort - bears more in common with its successor, the appraised Le scaphandre et le papillon (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly) than Schnabel's debut Basquiat.
It's a slow movie following the life of Cuban poet Reinaldo Arenas, the most noted thing about the movie being Javier Bardem's astonishing work in the lead the year Russell Crowe undeservedly took the Oscar home.
What is of no lesser importance is the way Schnabel highlights the colors of nature in a very painterly way to bring nature itself out as a character in the film. He uses scenic images of wilderness as metaphor for Reinaldo's inner world (a motif much echoed years later in The Diving Bell).
This movie introduced me to Carter Burwell's music, which continues to elate me, and here the score takes turns in looming and pouring, with Latin rhythms of the era sprinkled here and there to keep you fully invested in the moment the film is portraying.
This is such a carnal film that you can smell the sweat and taste the salt. Coated with Reinaldo's poetry, this film is an achingly beautiful masterpiece.
This review of Before Night Falls (2000) was written by Sandra S on 23 Aug 2009.
Before Night Falls has generally received positive reviews.
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