After watching this as my second Jane Campion film - the first being Bright Star - I can confidently conclude that her greatest strength as a writer/director lies in her ability to juxtapose difficult themes and subjects with lush scenery and breathtaking cinematography. The Piano conveys a literally voiceless woman who must remain strong amid her pained circumstances. It is a bit strange, yet intelligently elaborate, and intensifies at it progresses. Holly Hunter and Harvey Keitel both surprised me, as this film really shows off both of their remarkable depths in acting potential. Finally, it would be impossible to praise this film without mentioning the beautiful soundtrack, with captures the poetic state of the film, adding in a tinge of bittersweet darkness.

A very extraordinary film that I enjoyed a lot. There are maybe some issues with plot and characters that don't affect much, but this film is basically a visual masterpiece. The beach scenes, the love scenes, scenes in the bush etc - I'd be running and not walking to the cinema if I ever saw a chance to see this on film on a big screen.

Watched as part of my female directors project - letterboxd.com/brad25m/list/discovering-films-by-female-directors/

I DON'T KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT THIS MOVIE.

It is beautiful and the performances and writing are good. But ... it's hard for me to root for a couple like the one shown in the film, not because either of them are particularly annoying people, but because the inception of their relationship just ... it makes me squirm. So I didn't get any real satisfaction out of the ''happy'' ending. Who knows, maybe that's how I'm supposed to feel, but it really took a lot of the enjoyment out of it for me. Still, it's a fascinating film, and worth at least one watch, in my opinion.

The central argument seems un-noted in this otherwise luxuriant fairy tale for adults. I can't tell if the film's specifically about the strained relationships between Western and Eastern value systems, or the impermanence of marriage in a more modern world, or both. But by Jove this film impresses. Romantic color grading and surreal cinematography abounds!

Joe Bob sez check it out!

Film No.5 of Cinebro's June Challenge

slight spoilers

Holly Hunter plays a great mute (it can't be that hard) in The Piano and Anna Paquin gives a very strong performance at only 11 years old! Her Scottish accent was a bit ropey and slightly cringe inducing. The story is really whack, I don't know how to explain it. There was no reasoning or explanation for Keitel and Hunter to spontaneously fall in love which was basically the whole setup of the film. It didn't feel like a bad film, it's nearly two hours long and it held my attention throughout. There is just something missing and I'm not too sure what that is.

Enjoyable with fantastic music. The actors are superb, especially Anna Paquin, child acting at its best. However, I did find it rather tame and at times slow.

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This review reportedly contains spoilers. I can handle the truth.

Just as weird and disturbing as I first saw it, The Piano is that one movie that has you feeling like you're 12 and you just walked in on your parents fucking.....

A very extraordinary film that I enjoyed a lot. There are maybe some issues with plot and characters that don't affect much, but this film is basically a visual masterpiece. The beach scenes, the love scenes, scenes in the bush etc - I'd be running and not walking to the cinema if I ever saw a chance to see this on film on a big screen.

Watched as part of my female directors project - letterboxd.com/brad25m/list/discovering-films-by-female-directors/

A gorgeous film, with amazing performances and a fantastic director. But I truly loathe this film. It is like a two hour long rape and I am forced to watch it. I feel like I have to take a boiling hot shower and rub myself raw with steel wool after watching it.

Stale, slow and uninteresting.