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Mad Love (1995) | Year: 2002 Classification: Foreign Film - Spanish/Misc Sa Directed: - Vicente Aranda - Antonia Bird Actors/Actresses: - Drew Barrymore - Chris O'Donnell gorgeous actress, dull movie Pilar de Ayala is the main saving grace of this movie, namely her huge expressive eyes and flawless naked body of which we get a couple of deliciously lingering glimpses. Otherwise this film is hard to sit through. It reminded me of another vomit-inducer, "Breaking the Waves:" after about the first 15 minutes it's painfully obvious that this poor girl's all-too-pure/passionate/devoted heart is going to be torn to pieces over a hopeless, undeserving scoundrel of a husband. Namely: she's madly, obsessively in love (and lust) with him but he can't reciprocate with the same...probably because he can't stop boinking other luscious young women left and right. In many ways a very Catholic movie: we are supposed to be deeply moved and edified by watching a hapless twit of a lamb get crucified on the altar of her sacred heart's insatiable LOOOOOOOOOOOOVE! That's it. Have fun watching Jesus bleed to death on her cross for about 2 hours. All the beautiful costumes and scenery can't save this one. Instead I'd strongly recommend one of Vincente Aranda's first movies, "Lovers," which also touches on this theme but is far more complex, original and unpredictable. It was beautifully existential; in contrast "Mad Love" is basically a one-dimensional "For Dummies" version. That little green monster.....Jealousy This beautiful period film by director Vincente Aranda is the story of Juana--daughter of Isabelle and Ferdinand--perhaps Spain's most famous rulers. When she was 17, Juana became the wife of Philip of Burgundy in an arranged marriage in 1496. Philip was also known as "Philip the Handsome," and his blatant love affairs drove Juana, or so the story says, to madness. The film is a 'frame story'--it begins and ends with Juana as a very old woman, and then the film 'goes back' to 1496 with Juana off to her first meeting with her studley betrothed. The film follows their marriage, her many pregnancies, his love affairs and growing disinterest, and Juana's jealous rages and (according to her enemies in court) her descent into madness. When Juana's older brother and sister die, she is left, unexpectedly, as the heiress to the throne of Castile, and then the competency of her right to rule is questioned. This was a beautiful film--the sets were perfect, and the costumes rich. The acting was sublime. Pilar Lopez de Ayala is perfect as the fiery, intense Princess Juana--and with de Ayala in the role, Juana slips perfectly into madness. Daniele Liotti as Prince Philip is also excellent--amoral, and a Fabio-look-alike in ermine. Director Aranda also directed "Lovers"--another Spanish film with a theme of uncontrollable passion--so this is perhaps a specialty for this director. My only criticism is that the film left me curious to know more about Juana--but that is not a bad thing. a many splendored thing Juana De Loca, or Mad Love, is one of those movies that you end up watching and become released into and willingly lost in. this is how powerfull movies all are. this movie has so much passion in it i could not help but come to BECOME TOUCHED myself, brought to passions mighty edge. this movie is very captivating its too easy to fall in love with the look of the characters alone, let alone the beautifull sets, and scenery. this is to say nothing about the Acting, because it was flawless! every character worked perfect, you forget your watching a movie. you know those movies where the actors cannot carry the part or even worse arent right for a part and cannot even act? this is not one of those movies! it was majestic, inspiring and brimming with beauty. so much passion, if i could use one word to describe it, would have to be passionate.. but then i would go on and change my mind again later,then back again driven, just as this film has the ability to move the viewer backwards and forwards towards all its parts of perfection in every detail - never to be forgotten. 5 stars PERIOD Buy Mad Love at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on Mad Love Search with the Priority Search Engine on Mad Love This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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