Review of Total Eclipse (1995) by Zac T — 25 Dec 2008

This movie is lazily plotted and indifferently shot - I don't know exactly what it was, but something kept me from really entering the world of 1870's Europe that it tried to portray; perhaps the fact that the low-quality mid-90's film stock already looks so dated.

The most interesting thing about it is easily watching DiCaprio and Thewlis navigate their roles. DiCaprio was a smart choice in that he has the rare ability, as a male, to be attractive in a feminine way. He does very well with all of the more challenging moments in the script, but it's in his deliveries of the lines that are just meant to string the story along that he falters a bit. He matured quite a bit in the two years between this and 'Titanic'. That said, I think the real attraction is Thewlis' Verlaine.