Softwing Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

ScoobyWell Great visuals, story delivers no surprises

ChanFamous I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

Motompa Go in cold, and you're likely to emerge with your blood boiling. This has to be seen to be believed.

SnoopyStyle Luis Molina (William Hurt) and Valentin Arregui (Raul Julia) are cell mates in a Latin American prison. Homosexual Luis is in prison for corrupting minors. Valentin is a political prisoner. Luis is obsessed with a Nazi movie about occupied France for the dashing Nazi lead Werner.The prison setting is Spartan. This seems more like a two-men play. Hurt and Julia are brilliant. I would have liked a tighter shorter movie almost entirely in the prison cell. The lack of cinematic style can be excused inside the cell. It doesn't look quite as good outside. I don't particularly like the film within the film. The two leads provide compelling insightful performances. The two of them in the cell provide the best scenes in the movie.

Irishchatter I have just fallen in love with William Hurt and Raul Julia after watching this. William Hurt just played a flamboyant gay guy very well and with Raul Julia playing as a tough guy! I found that their friendship and love was very unique together. I actually was really sad and upset that Luis Molina got accidentally shot by the place then left for dead.It was even more sadder to think that they both separated and never saw each other again. I was really hoping they could reunite. You might think it's sick for me to like a pedophile character but it's still, this movie was terrific! I hadn't read the book but I just think again, the movie was excellent.I'm glad that this won an Oscar, not many movies that have Oscars aren't normally that great! This deserves it!

Critick One of my all time favorite films. One of the major complaints people have is that its "not like the book." Its a screenplay, and it was filmed in 1984. There's a reason its called an adaptation. I agree there are some problems. But take it for what it is. An amazingly well acted and compelling piece of cinema gold! The added bonus of having Raul Julia in one of the titular roles was a great bonus! He was a little old for the role in my opinion. But he did great none-the-less. I didn't really like William Hurt so much because I felt he didn't know how to portray a closeted homosexual man in a culture of heavy masculinity. Hell, he may as well have decided to go full on "queen bitch." It would have been more convincing if their roles were switched.

moonspinner55 Complex, exceptionally well-performed character study from director Hector Babenco focusing on the relationship between a gay movie-lover and a political prisoner serving time as inmates in a South American jail. Allegorical talk-fest won William Hurt an Oscar as the flamboyant Luis Molina, though Raul Julia is just as fine in his role as the dedicated rabble-rouser whose party is plotting to bring down the Fascist government. The art direction and cinematography are fabulous, however this tale--infused with character-oriented drama--palls just before the final act; it becomes too literal, confusing our feelings towards Molina. Screenwriter Leonard Schrader, adapting the book by Manuel Puig, adds intricate layers of romantic/exotic fantasy atop the harsh realities of the central situation, which is exciting for any literate audience, yet his determination to bring the story down to earth via a violent sweep leads to some dissatisfaction. Still quite good; later the basis for a Broadway musical. **1/2 from ****