Swept Away (2002)

5% of critics liked it
(78 reviews)
27% of users liked it
(8,471 ratings)

Guy Ritchie, best known for the tough-guy crime comedies Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, goes for a change of pace with this remake of Lina Wertmuller's 1974 comedy-drama, with his wife Madonna in tow. Amber Leighton (Madonna) is the wife of Dr. Anthony Leighton (Bruce Greenwood),… More Guy Ritchie, best known for the tough-guy crime comedies Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, goes for a change of pace with this remake of Lina Wertmuller's 1974 comedy-drama, with his wife Madonna in tow. Amber Leighton (Madonna) is the wife of Dr. Anthony Leighton (Bruce Greenwood), the wealthy and successful head of a pharmaceutical company. While Amber seemingly leads a charmed life, it doesn't appear to make her very happy, and she often inflicts her typically foul mood on those around her, especially the hired help. Anthony decides to surprise Amber with a cruise from Italy to Greece, with four of their friends in tow, but Amber doesn't much care for the notion. Amber feels the yacht they've hired is far beneath her standards, and she makes Giuseppe (Adriano Giannini), the first mate of the crew, the primary target of her dissatisfaction. Giuseppe, an ardent leftist, feels nothing but contempt for Amber, but for the sake of his job he can't say a word in response to her attacks. One day, Amber declines an invitation to go diving with her friends, but later changes her mind, demanding that Giuseppe take her to the underwater caves. Giuseppe warns Amber that a storm is brewing, and his prediction proves to be right on the money; soon, Amber and Giuseppe are stranded on a desert island, and suddenly they discover the tables are turned. Giuseppe, a trained fisherman and outdoorsman, knows how to survive on the island, while Amber is utterly helpless, and he forces her to cower under his commands in order to survive; before long, their mutual antagonism has begun to turn into something approaching unfettered lust. Adriano Giannini, who plays Giuseppe, is the son of Giancarlo Giannini, who played the equivalent role in Wertmuller's original film. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 29 min.
Directed By: Guy Ritchie
Written By: Lina Wertmüller
Genres: Drama, Romance, Comedy

In Theaters: Oct 11, 2002 Wide
On DVD: Feb 11, 2003
Studio: Screen Gems

Critic Reviews

Dennis Harvey, Variety
The Vera Hruba Ralston of her time, Madonna has persisted in making movies despite all evidence that this is one medium in which no one wants to see or hear her.
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader
Both husband and wife seem to be in way over their heads.
Christy Lemire, Associated Press
Every bit the cinematic shipwreck you'd imagine it to be.
Rex Reed, New York Observer
If there is one thing worse than a Guy Ritchie movie, it's a Guy Ritchie movie with Madonna in it.
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com
I wouldn't wish the stupefying dialogue of "Swept Away" on any actress, but to watch Madonna flounder through it is more punishment than I can bear.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
A better title, for all concerned, might be Swept Under the Rug.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
What a waste of potential.
Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile
Don't count on being swept away by this contrived, predictable shipwrecked romance.
Garth Franklin, Dark Horizons
[An] utter piece of flotsam.
Brian Mckay, eFilmCritic.com
More than annoyed, or angry, I just felt sad. Sad for what is quite possibly the premature death of a once-brilliant directorial career.
Almar Haflidason, BBC
This waterlogged romantic comedy really does deserve to sink without trace.
Andrea Chase, Killer Movie Reviews
Alas, the only surprise was in seeing how little a top-notch director can do with a woman who simply cannot act.
Staci Layne Wilson, Fantastica Daily
What passes for erotica is even more tepid than lukewarm urine.
Gil Jawetz, DVDTalk.com
Apparently willing to scuttle his own career, Ritchie writes and directs a film in which he does everything possible to make his own wife look ugly, rotten and despicable.
Frank Ochieng, TheWorldJournal.com
Whenever you agree that there's more credibility in spotting a flying donkey with the hiccups rather than believing in an effective Madonna-hired acting coach, then you definitely earned the license to go with your first instinct.
Bill Chambers, Film Freak Central
Ritchie may not have a novel thought in his head, but he knows how to pose Madonna.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
With her meager acting skills, overwrought mugging, shrill line delivery and quasi-Brit accent, Madonna makes Amber far more monstrous and comical than was obviously intended.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
Deserving of its critical backlash and more.
Peter Keough, Boston Phoenix
Rather than explore the roots of misogyny, as did the original, the new version may just encourage it.
Victoria Alexander, FilmsInReview.com
After seeing SWEPT AWAY, I feel sorry for Madonna.

Read all 20 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Spencer S

The only reason some people tolerate the explosive diarrhea that is this film is because Madonna stars in it, Guy Ritchie directs, and there's eroticism, dubbed as steamy but in reality is soft core porn. Besides the fact that this "love story" is that of a love-hate… More
The only reason some people tolerate the explosive diarrhea that is this film is because Madonna stars in it, Guy Ritchie directs, and there's eroticism, dubbed as steamy but in reality is soft core porn. Besides the fact that this "love story" is that of a love-hate affair, it also serves as a sadomasochistic relationship built on the entrapment of the poor server and the rich socialite. The original 1974 Italian version of this film used this disgusting display of man overpowering woman, making her reliant on him as his slave, all in the name of serving as a comparison to Communism and the general consensus that the American way of life isn't the only way. I can get behind the travesty of the original for the sake of art, but this film was merely made so Madonna could show off her toned arms and Guy Ritchie could...ruin his career? I'm still fuzzy on why the director of Snatch and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels took it upon himself to cast his then wife and a barely audible Italian man in a barely intelligible remake of an already shitty movie. Besides the fact that this film is in no way romantic, culturally relevant, or socially acceptable, the original source material is intercut with these strange dream sequences best described as the deleted parts of Madonna's later music videos. There's music, impressions, and some truly corny scenes between the stranded lovers. There's also no chemistry between them, Madonna's face scowling in the hot sun and Adriano Gianniani resembling a lost underwear model. Just, please, do not watch another example of our culture at its worst.
Leigh R

Again, like the original, I haven't decided whether I like the movie or not. I do think this version was a bit better though. The thing that gets me is that the plot/storyline is actually really good, but the way both crews brought the story to life kinda sucked. Interesting… More
Again, like the original, I haven't decided whether I like the movie or not. I do think this version was a bit better though. The thing that gets me is that the plot/storyline is actually really good, but the way both crews brought the story to life kinda sucked. Interesting to say the least...
Cassandra M

I was a little apprehensive of watching this DVD, obviously if the press and critics were to be believed it would be the worst film i'd ever see. That title goes to 'From Hell', the worst east end accents i've ever heard, a film I could only watch for ten minutes.… More
I was a little apprehensive of watching this DVD, obviously if the press and critics were to be believed it would be the worst film i'd ever see. That title goes to 'From Hell', the worst east end accents i've ever heard, a film I could only watch for ten minutes. I was expecting the worst and was pleasantly surprised with Swept Away. The actors are very good and very believable, the movie obviously totally different to anything Guy Ritchie has done before, but it was fascinating how he handled the change from gangster violence to the violence portrayed in this movie. At the same time it was interesting to see the relationship between the two leads devolop. As others have commented the ending was very emotional, and it would have been better if more time was given to the characters to explore their relationship. But after watching the movie from beginning to end I found no moments that made me uncomfortable or even boring, I would highly recommend this movie. If you don't want to take my word for it, watch it and judge for yourself...
Aaron N

Guy Ritchie needs to get his shit together and go back to the violent, foul gangster comedies we know and love.
Deb S

"Swept Away" is a remake of a 1974 Italian film of the same name, about a spoiled socialite named Raffaella who goes on a Mediterranean cruise and becomes stranded on a deserted island with Gennarino, a sailor she'd tormented on board. He beats her into submission,… More
"Swept Away" is a remake of a 1974 Italian film of the same name, about a spoiled socialite named Raffaella who goes on a Mediterranean cruise and becomes stranded on a deserted island with Gennarino, a sailor she'd tormented on board. He beats her into submission, their roles reverse, and they fall in desperate, passionate love, only to have reality rip them apart once they're rescued. Guy Ritchie remade this film in 2002 with his wife Madonna in the lead role playing Amber, a wealthy bitchy type who is obsessed by fitness (yea we see her tanned toned yoga-trimmed body) and uses her wealth and position to belittle others. Amber's incessant nagging is constant and tolerated by her well-to-do American businessman hubby Tony (Bruce Greenwood) and their equally shallow and self-absorbed friends as they all enjoy a scenic chartered boat cruise on the Mediterranean. Unfortunately Amber seems to have taken an instant dislike for poor seaman Giuseppe (Adriano Giannini) who puts up with the name-calling (Pee Pee, Guido, and other derogatory Italian monikers) but is fed up with Amber's infuriating antics and secretly wishes that she go somewhere and drown herself. The antagonism between the pair becomes more festered when they ultimately end up on a deserted island together. Naturally the volatile relationship undergoes a hate-love roller-coaster ride as the couple find themselves in a forced co-dependency stronghold. Because the pampered and blunt Amber got her way on the ship in the manner that she emasculated the hapless Giuseppe, the swarthy pretty boy gets a golden opportunity to turn the tables on his tormentor who won't get by without his instincts to guide her which leads to a good deal of unsettling sado-masochism as Giuseppe uses his newfound power over Amber to slap and kick her into calling him "master" and cater to his every whim! The inevitable happens and Amber and Giuseppe are smitten with each other, into what the movie would have us believe is love but is really an outrageous plot device that would be laughable if it wasn't so creepy. Madonna cuts a fine figure in a teeny weeny black bikini and watching her tenderize octopuses by thrashing them on the rocks (having discarded her rich bitch persona), gives the film a bit of renewed life. We almost get to like the pair who have become a couple by necessity rather than choice. Adriano Giannini brings some charm to Giuseppe, and it's ironic that this, his first English language role, allows him to reprise the same role played by his father in the original 1974 film, directed by Lina Wertmüller.
Wu C

Actually not as bad as everyone made it out to be. See for yourself.
Sarah P

I don't understand why this movie got ripped apart. It wasn't the best, but it had a new feel to it and was enjoyable.
Leo L

Loved the music in this film.
Ina S

I suffered through 10 minutes and then decided to stop my suffering. Madonna may be an icon, but she is not an actress. And her husband ought to be ashamed of himself - such a bad delivery after two great gangster films.