Review of Last Tango in Paris (1972) by Alec M — 01 Jun 2009

Often reduced to an erotic movie for reasons unknown to me, I would go so far as to say Last Tango is anything but erotic. Bertolucci crafts a bleak and profoundly unnerving picture, accentuated by Vittorio Storaro's dimly lit and uniquely characterized camerawork.

This is a movie about detached sex between an irreparable middle-aged man and a confused, eccentric young woman. The man is played by Marlon Brando, and I couldn't even begin to express my admiration for his work here.

He conveys this character with such insight and honesty that, as an audience, we find ourselves studying him rather than passively watching him. Brando's performance is my personal favorite of all time, a piece of acting that hurls agonizing truth at us in ways that no other actor has ever touched on.

Maria Schneider achieves a great thing by holding her own opposite the greatest screen performer in history. Her bizarre and sexually perplexed character is unforgettable. Bertolucci shapes a queasy, dark movie with his out-of-the box composition, unforgiving imagery and examination of impersonal sex.