Amazon.com: This biographical account of the tempestuous, taboo-shattering love affair between two 19th century French poets--Paul Verlaine (David Thewlis) and Arthur Rimbaud (Leonardo DiCaprio)--didn't do much at the box office when it was released in 1995. But after the success of Titanic, it became somewhat infamous when Playgirl magazine announced its intention to publish nude pictures of DiCaprio taken from the film. (Nobody much seemed to care that Thewlis, who also starred in Mike Leigh's Naked, also appears nude in Total Eclipse.) The truth is, the nudity in question only lasts for a few frames, but it's certainly in character for the young wild-man Rimbaud.
Directed by Agnieszka Holland (Europa, Europa, The Secret Garden), Total Eclipse begins in 1870 when the newly married Verlaine is 24 and Rimbaud is 17. The volatile combination of their reckless passions, idiosyncratic talents, and obnoxious egos is a recipe for disaster--and l'amour fou--culminating in a two-year prison term for Verlaine who was convicted of sodomy. DiCaprio's work in this film (as well as This Boy's Life, What's Eating Gilbert Grape?, and The Basketball Diaries) proves he is a serious actor who's interested in risky, challenging work--not just the matinee idol he became in the wake of Titanic. --Jim Emerson
Promises so much, but delivers so little Holland is noted director who had a stream of medium-budget Hollywood arthouse films after the success of her breakthrough period piece, EUROPA EUROPA. Her fine directing is undermined by Leo DiCaprio's inept acting. Getting Leo to play Rimbaud is like asking Burt Reynolds to play Shakespeare; this is just way out of Leo's league, and it's painful to watch him struggle with the dialogue. He doesn't even really look the part. Apparently this was filmed before his breakthrough into mainstream stardom; I read that once TITANIC came out, DiCaprio's agents tried to have copies of TOTAL ECLIPSE pulled off the shelf!
TOTAL ABYSS ? Having recently viewed this picture and having read some of the customer reviews, I think it wise to limit my remarks to personal reactions, past and present.With all of World History before them, just why are DiCaprio and Thewlis signing on to portray a duet like Arthur Rimbaud and Paul Verlaine in the first place? After doing some terrific work in "The Basketball Diaries" and "Gilbert Grape", why the need of a 20 year old budding star venturing into dangerous waters such as these? Why should Verlaine (Thewlis),only ten years older than Rimbaud(Leo), be cast as someone resembling a geriatric? Why no semblance of a French accent for Leo? Why no real mention of the collective works of these men--themes, theories,the non-sexual frustrations of any author? In short, the film is not a complete waste of time. Nor is it as topical ,meaningful, or well acted as it might have been.
A Masterpiece!
When I saw this movie, like many of the movies I've reviewed so far, it was by sheer accident.
I was left stunned at the end.
As the movie unfolds, it becomes ever more so intense and gripping, as both a love story and a tragedy at the same time. The ending is truly gripping.
Leo, as usual, is phenomenal, and this was pre-Titanic.
pleased I was very happy when I recieved my CD........ It came very fast and it was in great condition.... very pleased. will order again
Total Eclipse One of the best works by DiCaprio and of course Thewlis who seems to get less attention for some reason. Inspired me to read more about Rimbaud and Verlaine. I don't know how anybody who watched this movie along with What's eating Gilbert Grape can still call him just a pretty face.
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