LITTLE TO `LOVE' IN THIS MUDDLE.Byline: David Hunter David Hunter (July 21 1802 – February 2 1886) was a Union general in the American Civil War. He achieved fame by his unauthorized 1862 order (immediately rescinded) emancipating slaves in three Southern states and as the president of the military commission trying the Hollywood Reporter Director Betty Kaplan's take on Chilean novelist Isabel Allende's ``Of Love and Shadows'' joins ``The House of the Spirits'' (based on Allende's first novel) and ``The Perez Family'' as recent Hollywood attempts to incorporate south-of-the-border storytelling with commercial elements. The story takes place in 1978, five years after Gen. August Pinochet led a coup that overthrew Chile's socialist-communist coalition government headed by Salvador Allende Salvador Isabelino Allende Gossens[1] (July 26, 1908 – September 11, 1973) was President of Chile from November 1970 until his death during the coup d'état of September 11, 1973. Allende's career in Chilean government spanned nearly forty years. Gossens. Antonio Banderas and Jennifer Connelly play lovers-in-peril amid political intrigue. Connelly plays Irene, a daughter of wealthy parents who accept the troubled country's ``permanent state of emergency.'' While one wise character proclaims that ``countries exist because of great forgettings and great rememberings,'' the story is driven by Irene's eye-opening encounters with the brutal regime. Working at a fashion magazine, she takes an immediate interest in quiet, secretive Francisco (Banderas), a psychologist turned photographer who also is working covertly to expose the crimes of the government. Engaged from birth to her cousin Gustavo (Camilo Gallardo), a captain in the army, Irene hops on Francisco's motorbike, and the pair investigate the story of a local ``saint,'' an encounter that almost results in another military-instigated atrocity. When the subject of their journey humiliates an army man who subsequently disappears, they set out to discover what happened. In the process, we're introduced to his people and her people and numerous unsavory types. There are trips to the morgue morgue (morg) a place where dead bodies may be kept for identification or until claimed for burial. morgue n. , furtive fur·tive adj. 1. Characterized by stealth; surreptitious. 2. Expressive of hidden motives or purposes; shifty. See Synonyms at secret. tapings, the hiding of red-hot diaries and a climactic escape from the country on horseback on the back of a horse; mounted or riding on a horse or horses; in the saddle. See also: Horseback when Irene and Francisco are targeted for elimination. There's plenty going on, but Kaplan fails to make much of it convincing. Banderas fares slightly better than Connelly, who seems miscast mis·cast tr.v. mis·cast, mis·cast·ing, mis·casts 1. To cast in an unsuitable role. 2. To cast (a role, play, or film) inappropriately. , but their hysterically overblown o·ver·blown v. Past participle of overblow. adj. 1. a. Done to excess; overdone: overblown decorations. b. love scene on the run is soft-porn kitsch that fails to bring the characters or story into focus. THE FACTS The film: ``Of Love and Shadows'' (R; strong sexuality, violence). The stars: Antonio Banderas, Jennifer Connelly, Stefania Sandrelli Stefania Sandrelli (born June 5, 1946) is an Italian actress, famous for her many roles in the commedia all'Italiana, starting from 1960s. She was born in Viareggio, Tuscany. She was married to Italian singer-songwriter Gino Paoli. , Diego Wallraff, Camilo Gallardo, Patricio Contreras. Behind the scenes: Directed by Betty Kaplan, written by Donald Freed, based on the novel by Isabel Allende. Running time: One hour, 44 minutes. Playing: Laemmle's Music Hall Our rating: Two Stars. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Antonio Banderas tries to expose crimes of a governm ent in ``Of Love and Shadows.'' |
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