Eduardo C (Hellshocked)

The summation of Tarantino's career. His one great film? I'd say so.

A not terrible opening 20 minutes, despite the sloppy, confused often contradictory and painfully obvious political subtext is marred by the horribly contrived and almost unbearably clichéd hodgepodge of chases, explosions and violence that follow it.

I wasn't expecting much and not much is exactly what I got.

There has never been a testament to pain and endurance as profound as "The Passion of Joan of Arc". It is a singular, hypnotic achievement held together by Maria Falconetti. It is oddly fitting that this was her one and only screen appearance as she delivered what is quite likely the greatest filmed performance in the history of cinema. To stare into her eyes is to be marked forever. She conveys such physical agony, such primal terror with a mere glance that it takes courage to hold her gaze for the duration of the film. It could very well have proven to be an impossible task were it not for the otherworldly calm she projects of one who has accepted their fate and forgiven those who sealed it. Flawless, eternal, sublime.

Where to begin. Heart of Darkness flawlessly transported to Vietnam winds up a messy but brilliant film which is never less than alive. Too many themes are explored here to count (ammong them the duality of people, staring into the abyss and having it stare back into you, the insignificance of humanity next to the power of nature...and many many more) as this truly has proven to be one of the greatest films ever made. Excelent performances, photography, direction, score and one of the most hauntingly beautiful openings in the history of cinema.