Havana (1990)

24% of critics liked it
(25 reviews)
51% of users liked it
(3,521 ratings)

In the time just preceding Castro's takeover of Cuba, an American gambler in Havana gets involved with a revolutionary's wife. Overlong but otherwise well produced!

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By: Sydney Pollack
Written By: Judith Rascoe, David Rayfiel
Genres: Documentary, Drama, Romance, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1990 Wide
On DVD: Nov 17, 1998
Studio: MCA Universal Home Video

Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Elaborate visual mounting and iconographic placement of the romantic leads are the movie's preoccupation, with the overthrow of Batista merely providing local color.
Variety Staff, Variety
Director Sydney Pollack and star Robert Redford have lost their normally dependable quality touch as they slog through a notably uncompelling $45 million-plus tale of a gringo caught up in the Cuban revolution.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
The glittering decadence of this culture on the verge of collapse is in fact the film's most fascinating aspect, and Mr. Pollack has re-created it extravagantly.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Some fundamental things still do apply as time goes go by.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
At best, Pollack achieves a counterfeit sense of this atmosphere. But he insists on continuing the card game anyway, an over-extended misdeal of a movie that refuses to fold.
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
The lesson: Get into practice before remaking a classic. And until then, here's not looking at you, kids.
, Empire Magazine
The central pair's shattering, once-in-a-lifetime passion cries out for more urgency and emotional power.
, Film4
Handsomely produced, with a typically mesmerizing performance by Redford, alas this fails to exploit its intriguing political background and ends up being more of a routine and ineffective romance.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Unfortunately, against that impressive backdrop, Pollack mounts a film that is lifeless and slow-moving, offering neither a compelling love story nor a tense tale of a city in turmoil.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
Another top-notch effort from Pollack.
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Mediocre Redford drama set in Cuba of semi-old, directed OK by Pollack.
, Time Out
The whole thing lacks conviction.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
An old-fashioned and bittersweet tale about romance.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
It drips with class and craftsmanship, but the magic is not there

Read all 14 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

Now that the flixster summary mentions it, the story in this movie is a lot like a Casablanca copycat. Anyway, I thought it was way too slow and dull, I didn't care a bit about the main character, he was so boring. The most interesting parts are skipped over, for example when… More
Now that the flixster summary mentions it, the story in this movie is a lot like a Casablanca copycat. Anyway, I thought it was way too slow and dull, I didn't care a bit about the main character, he was so boring. The most interesting parts are skipped over, for example when Raul Julia's intriguing character is killed off quickly. And it just gets worse from there, changing from a thriller to a romance to a political drama and back again. It doesn't know where it's going.
Cassie H

A wonderful well acted movie. It was sad at the end though whenever Jack & Bobby had to say goodbye.

Cast

            Robert Redford as Jack Weil

            Lena Olin as Bobby Duran

            Alan Arkin as Joe Volpi

            Tomas Milian as Menocal

            Raul Julia as Arturo Duran

            Daniel Davis as Marion Chigwell

            Mark Rydell as Meyer Lansky

            Tony Plana as Julio Ramos

            Betsy Brantley as Diane

            Lise Cutter as Patty

            Richard Farnsworth as Professor

            Vasek Simek as Willy

            Fred Asparagus as Baby Hernandez

            Richard Portnow as Mike MacClaney

            Dion Anderson as Roy Forbes

            Carmine Caridi as Capt. Potts

            James Medina as Corporal

            Enrique Chao Barros as Inspector

            Anthony Bayarri as Modest Casino Cuban

            Giovanna Bonnelly as Monica

            Miguel Bucarelly as Gomez

            Carmen de Franco as Monica's Grandmother

            Alex Ganster as Young Cuban

            Felix German as Tomas

            David Gibson McLean as Sailor

            Adriano González as Rebel Captain

            Pepito Guerra as Floridita Manager

            Tera Hendrickson as Featured

            Joe Lala as Cuban Businessman

            Salvadore Levy as Menocal's Lieutenant

            Bonita Marco as Stripper #1

            Carlos Miranda as Inspector #1

            René Monclova as Sim #1

            Victor Rivers as Young Cuban #1

            David Rodriguez as Bufano

            Raul Rosado as Roadblock Sergeant

            Karen Russell as Dancer

            Miguel Ángel Suárez as Sim #2

            Segundo Tarrau as Ricardo

            Daniel Vasquez as Kid at Finca

            Sharon Velez as Stripper #2

            Mildred I. Ventura as Woman at Burning Building

            Alfredo Vorshim as Modest Casino Tuxedo

            Darlene Wynn as Stripper

            Bernie Pollack as Hotel Man

            Owen Roizman as Santos

            Franklin Rodríguez as Jose

            Hugh Kelly as Carlos
See full cast

Havana (1990)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

Cassie H

Cast

Trailers & Clips