a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

It is very hard to tell what "Kiss of the Spider Woman" is all about with only one explanation. It is a film of differences and controversies. It is a story of two opposite characters sharing the same prison cell during the military regime in Brazil. One of them is Luis, (William Hurt) a transgender woman, jailed for having sex with an underage boy. The other one is Valentin (Raul Julia), jailed for his activities on behalf of a revolutionary group. Their unlikely friendship is defined through the realities of Valentin and the fantasy world that is created by Luis using the scenes and plots from a Nazi Propaganda film. Luis is telling the story of the film to escape the reality and creates an alternative world both for Valentin and himself. Kiss of the Spider Woman is a controversial film with detailed conversations that are the strongest points of the film. Its beauty is hidden in the depths and intensities of the characters, their sentences and conversations. In almost every scene there is a clash of thoughts and controversies, but even so, both Valentin and Luis manage to form a highly unusual friendship. Luis is telling the story of a film about Nazis, but, in my opinion, that film is the combination of everything he has seen and his inner thoughts. It is amazing how this same film is perceived from totally opposite angles. Luis enjoys the love and passion of the main character, where Valentin hates the story because Nazis are against his own beliefs. Characters, also in the made-up film, are different than each other by all means. This is very important for the message of the film. Because after all, the inner thoughts of these men are not that different even though their lives are. Kiss of the Spider Woman is a film within a film. This is the most common expression used for defining this film. Because when there is a real story going on, in the same time Luis is also telling a different story. In my opinion that story carries the real message of the film; because, as I have mentioned above, it is the inner thoughts of Luis and how he pictures fantasy. That fantasy is his own reality. This is visualized in the best possible way. In some scenes we get to see Valentin yelling at Luis and calling him names. This is reality. He really does that, but on the other hand, in one scene when guard gives him two plates with food, he sees that one plate has more food than the other and insists Luis to take it. With a simple gesture like this, we get to see the transformation of Valentin against his own reality.Those two characters end the film in a very different place than they have started. There is not even one sentence or one conversation that is there just to fill in an empty spot. In every word, every sentence and gesture there is a deep character analysis of the director Hector Babenco. This highly characterized conversations got him a nomination for Best Director Award. In a character oriented film like this, it would be such a shame for William Hurt not to get the Best Actor in a Leading Role Award. For the year 1985, I can say that he is playing a highly unusual character with a complicated life and soul. You feel these complications from the beginning until the very end of the film. Other than the films that are told by Luis, Kiss of the Spider Woman takes place mostly in a prison cell except for the last 15 minutes. So, imagine how conversations are fulling their missions and keep audience within the range of interest. When Luis is telling the story of the film, audience get to listen and wonder what will happen next. Even in this point, Kiss of the Spider Woman is unique. During the film, he keeps telling different stories of different films. Actually, Kiss of the Spider Woman gets its name from one of those stories. That woman turns out to be the lover of Valentin who has nothing to do with his reality and belief. Valentin portrays her as rich and beautiful. His whispering her name in his sleep is a splendid example of what Valentin actually wants and what he actually does. His complicated inner self is explained also in the scene where he refuses to eat avocado for self-discipline. In this point of view the director shows us that, basically, both of the characters are actually the mirror of each other. It is such an extraordinary talent to be able to share the message of being actually the very same person by using only controversial points and oppositions of the characters. Luis is the inner self of Valentin, whereas Valentin is the reality of Luis.Kiss of the Spider Woman is an amazing film from the points I have tried to explain above. We are trying very hard to be the person we are not, and we are the person that we want to be, mostly in our thoughts, a reality that is reflected very well in the film. This highly characterized film is nominated for Best Picture as well as Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium. The message of the film is like a universal truth. The unlikely friendship of the characters is the essential for making this film truly amazing.

The first indie movie to be Oscar nominated for the Best Movie.A gay and a political prisoner are in a prison. Gay narrates the story of an imaginary movie to the other, in spite his bad interest. He narrates the stories of two different movies mixed with his own life story. The story narration soon becomes a medicine for their loneliness, sadness and pain.To create a beautiful movie within the limitations of space, and budget is almost impossible. Only a creative director can make it possible.William Hurt has given one his best character of his career. As the movie was running out of budget, he refused to receive the pay. He received the Academy Award for the best Actor for his role.

I have just fallen in love with William Hurt and Raul Julia after watching this. William Hurt just played a flamboyant gay guy very well and with Raul Julia playing as a tough guy! I found that their friendship and love was very unique together. I actually was really sad and upset that Luis Molina got accidentally shot by the place then left for dead.It was even more sadder to think that they both separated and never saw each other again. I was really hoping they could reunite. You might think it's sick for me to like a pedophile character but it's still, this movie was terrific! I hadn't read the book but I just think again, the movie was excellent.I'm glad that this won an Oscar, not many movies that have Oscars aren't normally that great! This deserves it!

In a Brazilian prison cell, there is two different people shares an cell. A homosexual man named Luis Molina (Oscar-Winner:William Hurt) is in prison for having sex with a minor and Valentin Arregui (The late Raul Julia) is a political prisoner for the revolutionary group. Which Valentin is been tortured by the prison guards for searching any answering for his political views. Luis keeps his spirit alive by telling old tacky Hollywood movies by past the day, although it entertains Valentin somewhat. As the two prisoners get to know each other, the more Valentin opens up to Luis. But Luis is hoping to get his prison time reduce, if he tells the prison warden (José Lewgoy) some of Valentin's secrets. While Luis is slowly falling in love with Valentin.Directed by Hector Babenco (At Play in the Fields of the Lord, Ironweed) made an intriguing drama that mixes romance, fantasy and comedy quite well. Hurt won an Oscar for his superb three-dimensional performance. The late Julia is also terrific. While Sonia Braga is amusing in three different roles, which two of the roles are in Luis' tales. This is unique movie that is surprisingly fast-paced and quite moving at times. The movie was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Adapated Screenplay by the late Leonard Schrader (Blue Collar, Naked Tango, The Yakuza) and Best Director.The DVD is the two-disc set. Disc One has an good anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1) transfer and an fine digitally remastered:Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound (Also in the original Mono sound). Disc One also includes an trivia track in English and Spanish. Disc Two includes an fascinating documentary with the cast & the crew that runs 108 minutes. Disc Two also includes three featurettes, photo galleries and more. "Kiss of the Spider Woman" was an daring movie back in the 1980's, it is certainly much less controversial feature today. Still, the movie has its charms, thanks to Hurt's lovely performance and the late Julia's strong role. Based on a novel by the late Miguel Puig. (****/*****).