imdb-5712 — 14 years ago(November 12, 2011 01:36 AM)

This film is an example of a truly adult story. There is not a scene or element that is not laden with complex emotional scenes and actions. To understand and appreciate this film requires an adult's understanding of people and a wide range of experiences.
It has been a long time since I saw this film, but I remember how much I liked it. I liked it mostly because the acting is so good, and also because the story is engaging. When I saw it, I happened to be in a hotel room and just flicked it on, and I was immediately drawn into it. I had never contemplated a relationship like the one between Verlaine and Rimbaud, but it was well composed and completely believable.
I was glad but not surprised to learn that this film is historical, but I had never heard of Verlaine or Rimbaud when I saw this. The real life story of Rimbaud is remarkable.
This film is also a great example of how lots of great artists seem to have extremely unruly and tragic personal lives. When I contemplate that, it makes me feel better for not being a genius!
I am a fan of DiCaprio's acting, and this film is the main reason.
I bothered to read some of the older threads, and here are a few quick comments:
o This film was obviously made for an American audience. Speaking in American English makes the actors sound as they would if the viewers were French speakers listening to French dialog. English with a French accent would have been fake and trite.
o DiCaprio was 22 when he made this film. It was shockingly gutsy for him to play this part, as it was for the rest of the cast. His performance is extremely believable. While he may have developed as a better actor over the years, his talent in this film is manifest.
o Since so much of the story concerns the sexual relationship between the two poets, it would not be possible to convey the meaning of the film without the sex scenes.