The Night and the Moment

This is a very strange film indeed. If you can get yourself into the right head space and see it as "strange art" it can be kind of interesting (although the lifestyle of the idle rich in this film is somewhat nauseating, maybe that is good because after this movie I couldn't wait to go outdoors and get some exercise and do something USEFUL with my life -- unlike the characters in this script).

Seeing Dafoe in the style (clothes and speech patterns) of the country and era in which this film is set takes some getting used to, to say the least. Listening to Willem with a British accent is kind of creepy somehow. Flash back to how wonderfully creepy he was as the vampire in that vampire flick he did with John Malkovich. But this is not a vampire flick and I think he was supposed to be sexy in this one. He was much sexier in LIGHT SLEEPER. And if you have a thing for Dafoe, (speaking to the girls here), there is an awesome and tasteful pan of Willems nude backside that is art itself in that flick.

If you watch this movie already expecting it to be a "bad B movie" you might enjoy it. Maybe? The sheer oddness of it? The soft porn is not steamy. Makes one want to go celibate if anything.

At least it has a few good actors and a few subplots that are unique and different.

This movie is far beyond the ken of the average viewer as it is a dialog driven vehicle full of clever nuances and duplicitous intention. Lena Olin is undoubtedly one of the most talented and charismatic, not to mention sensually pulsating actresses to light up the silver screen. Whether she is playing the utterly delightful Sabina (Unbearable lightness...) or the chillingly vicious Mona (Romeo is bleeding), she is a master of the arts. Willem Defoe, while not one of my favorite leading men was surprisingly good in this out of character role, one that he pulled off quite well. Miranda Richardson, as always, was picture perfect in her part, and all of the other cast members were very good. An excellent movie for couples, this wickedly delightful love story is much more thoughtful than the average period piece sexual romp and that might disappoint some. But sex, settings, and Willem Defoe's muscles notwithstanding, the relationships, the characters and the quick witted dialog earn it a 10 from me.

Far beyond the average humdrum period piece this gem takes you to a new level of intellectual intercourse, as the dialogue fairly sparkles with intermittent tidbits of witty naughtiness and downright raunchiness clothed in the wrappings of aristocratic decor. Lena Olin is a unique jewel of an actress whose enticing beauty perfectly compliments her enrapturingly charismatic charm. Her laughter sprinkles beguiling sunshine and works well to disuade the underhanded intents of her singleminded pursuer played to the hilt by Willem Dafoe, who adds a genuinely humorous side to his usually menacing acting skills. The superb dialogue alone makes this a classic.

This film has quite a bit of dialogue, and although I'm not typically big on films with dialogue, this one gets a huge pass. The lines were well said, the women were beautiful, and Willem Dafoe did an excellent job playing this role, even though it's not the type of character he'd typically play. A friend of mine who's not into genre's like this at all said he was tuned into the last 20 minutes of this film when the plot twist hit. The end of this movie was the best part. Highly recommend.

this movie screamed at me from the shelf at hollywood video. as soon as i read the back cover, i knew i was a goner. my passion for willem dafoe as an actor resembles his character's passion for passion. what an incredible ensemble cast of superb talent! dafoe, lena olin and miranda richardson must all have been in dire need of funds to sign up for such a terrible farce of a film. part costume drama part soft core porn (under the pretense of a foreign film) the image of his glutes bumping up and down will forever haunt and torment me. the 360 of willem and lena olin's embrace is worthy of being compared to orson welles.