Tempest (1982)

The story has dual timelines which eventually meet at the present day. This was a new experience for me when first seeing this movie.

Some of the many memorable scenes are:

John Cassavetes looking up at the baloons falling during the New Years Day party and making the decision to get the hell out of there.

The Greek captain of the ship taking them to their island calling out the names of the dozens of Greek islands.

Raoul Julia dancing around with an octopus on his head.

Also Raoul admitting that he wants to sleep with Cassavetes daughter saying 'She wants the Bonnie Johnnie inside of her'. Cassavetes fights him and probably considers killing him but stops.

Cassavetes' wife happens to be floating near the island as an entouragee of a Greek tycoon ala Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis. Cassavetes conjures a storm with his reading glasses saying "Come on, show me the magic."

To me this is the pinnacle of Cassavetes journey to find himself, fancies himself a god, and makes the magic happen only to regret his actions but assist in rescuing the party.

This movie is definitely on my list of the best movies ever.


A long lost gem!   February 2, 2007
Marten Sanden (Lund, Sweden)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

Finally this Mazursky classic will be available on DVD! If you have seen it, you'll know why you should be excited. If you missed when it came out in the early eighties you should definitely give it a chance. A truly magical film, very loosely based on the Shakespeare play, with stellar performances by John Cassavetes, Gena Rowlands, Molly Ringwald, Raul Julia and many others. Great actors, great script, beautiful cinematography - Great movie!


Almost-Masterpiece   August 21, 2001
Patrick B. Marren (Crystal Lake, IL USA)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

First, for those of you who asked in your reviews, the tango in the movie is "Tango del Fuego," written by Lieber & Stoller (who also wrote half of Elvis Presley's hit songs, oddly enough). The song at the end is Dinah Washington singing "Manhattan." This movie is haunting, a bit disjointed, perhaps, but it gets into your head. Cassavetes keeps it slightly off-track, but that's good. The scenery is fantastic. And Raul Julia is just beautiful in the role of a cave-dwelling goat-herding lecher in two-tone shoes. The Great Greek-American Mid-Life-Crisis Movie.


VERY REFRESHING MOVIE.   December 21, 2003
Boris Zubry (Princeton, NJ United States)
13 out of 15 found this review helpful

This is a very refreshing movie which does not happen too often. When I watched it I had a feeling that every actor (and they all were great) was free tp act on his or her own and the director just gave the general directions. One could see every actor, every talent at its best. Little things, little touches made it work. Good movie, great production, excellent actors and the perfect music. It is very reccomended.


Cassavettes & Co. "Show Us The Magic!"   May 28, 2007
Richard Coeur de Lion (BOSTON, MA United States)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

A brilliant adaptation of Shakespeare's play. The ensemble cast of regulars from the glory days Cassavettes' independent films are well represented - included the ageless Gena Rowlands. Casting Raul Julia as Calibanos was inspired. He creates a hilarious and utterly humane character that is as over-sexed and under-loved as it gets. However, part of director Paul Mazursky's "magic" is to blend the "independents" with Hollywood. Susan Sarandon and Molly Ringwald round out this pitch perfect ensemble cast. This version of "The Tempest" is among the best adaptations of Shakespeare on DVD today. Contrast it with Peter Greenaway's "Prospero's Books" to see how versatile this play really is.