Well, well, well, what can anyone really say about this one. X-rated in '72, this movie would hardly rate an R these days. Scenes of animal passions and faceless evils are now just commonplace to a generation brainwashed by Ernie and Bert. Today, 26 years, later people look at this film and make butter jokes and it's sad, it is truly sad.
"Last Tango in Paris" is a beautifully disgusting story of love and lust. It is the last of the great "Art Films." Today's Hollywood, for the most part, is filled with non-event, crap, mind candy. There's a kid in one of my classes who keeps referring to "Falling Down" and "Taxi Driver" in the same sentence and if he does it again, I'll have to kill him. I am sad to say that it appears that there is no place for erotic films anymore. The majority of society has conceded to either sitcom stars flashing their tits on the big screen or a full close up of Long Dong So-n-So slipping it to a woman who could really use a shower.
"Last Tango in Paris" deals with two strangers in a Paris apartment. Their names are unknown to each other. Paul (Marlon Brando) is an American whose wife has committed suicide and wants to hide his feelings in anonymous sex. The object of his affection (if you can call it that) is Jeanne (Maria Schneider). Jeanne is to be married to a vapid twit of a movie director. Her relationship with Paul is a direct rebellion to her fiancee and overbearing, middle-class mother.
The film is beautifully shot by Vittorio Storaro and scored by Gato Barbieri. The movie contains scenes that are breathtaking beautiful and disturbing as well. I won't get into this movie too much except to say that you really should see it, uncut. Hopefully, younger viewers can turn their minds back to a time when sex was mysterious and beautiful; dangerous and daring; not just easy and plastic.
Two final comments, don't put butter on your popcorn when you watch this film and be ready to see a tango that is rivaled only by Keitel and Foster's dance in "Taxi Driver".
Baron's Six Shooter
6 slugs outta six
by Baron Cameron (2000)
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