Kiss of the Spider Woman

Musicals seem to be having a moment. And not a good one. WICKED (2024) was a slog. Then we had the mediocre BETTER MAN and the skin-crawling JOKER 2. The new KISS OF THE SPIDER-WOMAN is a adaptation of the Broadway musical, itself an adaptation of the gritty Manuel Puig novel. A film about how to survive mentally during oppression and fascism would be welcome now. But this is another "Give me an Oscar, dammit!" plea from JLo. She'll probably get it, since you can assault people at the Academy Awards and still get lauded.

You might think JLo would make a decent Ingrid Luna/Spider-Woman. Her character here is pastiche, which frankly has been the singer-dancer's entire career. But Lopez is so much more a celebrity than an actress that you never forget it's her.

Valentín (Diego Luna) is good as the political prisoner Valentín, who shares a cell with Molina (Tonatiuh), who is a little one note as a window dresser convicted of public indecency.

This film really needed to lean in to the horrors of what was going on in the world outside the prison. That's what we need now. Not another middling musical.

Any fans of the Broadway show should note that many of the songs from the musical have been cut (wonder why?), and the only songs there are take place in the fantasy sequences.

... such are the eyes through which we see the world nowadays. Nonetheless, a story of two people catching each other in their own webs and becoming more than just cellmates. Superbly acted and directed, if not a little dated.

We've come a long way since this was written and released, we see the world through different eyes, have different perspectives on what is acceptable and what is not. This film would not be made today, like so many films of the past that had themes that were challenging, but subsequently turn out to be considerably different from what society will tolerate some years later. You decide, read between the lines.

I just got out of the premier here in the Sundance Film Festival, the movie was one of the best that I've ever seen. I have seen all JLo´s movies and thsi one is incredible, her talent, her acting and musical skills are other level. Also Luna was incredible even if he is not a singer and dancer, he gave his best in this movie. Tonatiuh was incredible is the first time that I am seeing him in action and WOW!

The film is a mix between Chicago musical and other kind of amazing musicals, the soundtracks and the dances were incredible, the whole theater was screaming for JLo and Luna scene.

But at the end of the day I think that is the first time that Jennifer Lopez will get her oscar nomination and probably she is going to win the Golden Globes. SHE WAS MORE THAN AMAZING!

What a fantastic adaptation, great justice to the novel, the musical and the original film! Stellar costumes, direction and editing! Golden age of Hollywood level! Insane dancing from the cast and surprising vocal performance from Lopez (the best I've heard her sound). Diego Luna shines in a new light and. Tonatiuh Elizarraraz is a revelation! So thrilling to watch yet makes you think deeper for important questions in life. I would love to see this revived on Broadway! Can't wait for Condon's next projects! The room was packed and it received a standing ovation at the Sundance Film Festival! So grateful to be there, I hope it gets a wide proper release cause this can be a box office smash hit!

I got lucky at Sundance and caught the second viewing of this gem. I recall the original film with Raul Julia and William Hurt and loved it. This is a whole new approach and it works throughout. I was worried that Jennifer Lopez would steal the show but if anything lead actors Diego Luna and Tonatiuh made it for me. Don't misunderstand, Lopez was wonderful but the the two inmates were incredible in prison as well as in the fantasy film musical. Their chemistry was perfect and their comedic timing of great dialogue made it a joy.

Don't waste any time getting out to see this film as soon as it opens.