Bossa Nova et vice versa

"Bossa Nova" has lots of great shots of Rio de Janerio, and lots of pretty actors, and a soundtrack that combines old and new bossa nova tunes. Unfortunately that's about all it has going for it.

The film is about the romance between an American woman who teaches English to the wealthy and her corporate lawyer student who bears a striking resemblance to Marcello Mastroianni. Both of them are supposed to be in their early to mid-forties.

The age aspect is one problem I have with this film. I'm not against middle-age romance on film, but it's just so obvious that Antonio Fagundes is closer to fifty.

Another problem I have is with Amy Irving's acting skills. At times, it's obvious she's reading straight off a cue card. Good actors never let us see them working.

But the biggest complaint I have about this film is the plot, or rather the lack thereof. The film is filled with lots of confusing little subplots, some of which never resolve themselves. This, I guess, is to distract the audience from the fact that the main plot is so threadbare.

Many American critics have praised this film. This is largely, I believe, because it is not an American film and was not bankrolled by a major Hollywood studio. However, I always use the same barometer to judge a film, regardless of its origin or pedigree. I give this film the same criticism I would give to a film such as "How Stella Got Her Groove Back" or "The Horse Whisperer": It's beautiful to look at, but once you get past the scenery and the actors' looks, there's not much left. I give this film a 6 out of 10.

While other comments here have focused on the 'feminine' quotient of the picture, it should be noted that Bossa Nova goes beyond the formulaic approach ala Return to Me, and instead goes for a more Altman-like approach. The confluence of a myriad of characters of diverse backgrounds (including Alexandre Borges [the star of the epic Um Copo de Cólera] as a soccer star about to be traded to an English League team) comes together in a fashion not unlike Altman's Nashville, with some winners and some losers, including nice guys. No, as mentioned earlier, this does not show you a gritty, realistic Rio, but after the fantasy Broadway song and dance sequence, who the hell would have expected it? Ultimately, the film leaves you feeling good, albeit a bit empty, like most summer fare here in the States.

OK, so the Rio de Janeiro "Bossa Nova" shows us is not the real Rio. So the movie has no poor, no hunger, no favelas, no political unrest. Is there a law written somewhere that says films have an obligation to show all of that? No. The people who made "Bossa Nova" very self-consciously steered away from the grit to concentrate on the romantic state of mind of the characters, surrounding them with gorgeous locales and a dazzling soundtrack filled with Brazilian classics, which is exactly right for the story. Amy Irving is absolutely enchanting as the protagonist, showing the kind of irresistible innocent charm she exercised in "Crossing Delancey" and "Yentl". Granted, the film gets a bit silly at times, but if you're willing to suspend your disbelief and go with the flow, buy the coincidences and accept the magic, the final result is a decidedly seductive romantic comedy, the kind they rarely make anymore. I'm a guy and I loved this movie, and I'll bet money there isn't a woman out there who won't like it at least as much as I did. Personally, I saw this on a studio-released tape before it opened in theaters and will pay to see it again on the big screen to take in the gorgeous widescreen cinematography and the fabulous music as they were meant to be experienced.

Most Brazilians complain that Brazilian movies only show the poverty and the arid landscapes of Northeast Brazil. I particularly think that we shouldn't conceal the sad reality of so many places in Brazil, and films like "Central Station" and "City of God" are brilliant in their own right. But we can't deny that there should be more Brazilian movies out there showing all the beauty from this country, and "Bossa Nova" is one of those rare movies.

Director Bruno Barreto ("Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands") doesn't try to start a socio-political speech here. He cast his own wife Amy Irving as a charming American lady who teaches English in Rio, and falls in love with one of her students, a lawyer played by mature leading man Antonio Fagundes. Barreto's intention was to make a romantic comedy in Rio de Janeiro, dedicated to/inspired by Tom Jobim and François Truffaut. Not an art-house flick, not an Oscar movie. Just an enjoyable love story with great music and beautiful landscapes. And he succeeded. Far from being a masterpiece, "Bossa Nova" is a lovely film that should be seen by anyone who'd like to spend some pleasant 95 minutes, watching a not so popular (at least, not as it should be) side of this unique country. 7.5/10.

This film is a delightful romantic comedy and shows off the director's love for the city of Rio. A film that Brasilian Americans can be proud of instead of ashamed of like they were at the pathetic Anaconda from summer's past. I wish all NorteAmericanos could see this flick to experience the unique beauty of Rio. Yes, it's idealized and doesn't

show the bad with the good, but this is true of many many movies. Gladiator made ancient Rome glamorous, which it was not. Rio, on the other hand, is a city filled with unique beauty, as anyone who has ever been to Sugarloaf or Corcavado can attest to. For those who may be curious, my imdb handle of M2b means married-2-Brasil and you can

easily fugure out what that means. I loved this flick. See

it and see it in wide screen, not video!