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Brazil (1985)

Director: Terry Gilliam

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4 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

Fortunately the story of an alternative future is realised with such visual imagination and sparky humour that it's only half way through that the plot's weaknesses become apparent. Like 1984, it looks forward from the '40s to a vast urban society ruled by an oppressive bureaucracy that has developed primitive valve computers. Pryce plays a worker in the all-powerful Ministry of Information, and the best moments arise when his flat's central heating system becomes a kind of spiritual battleground between guerrilla engineer De Niro and his state opposite number Hoskins. Here Gilliam fuses terror and comedy with real brilliance; elsewhere the plot's gaping holes reduce the film to a glittering novelty.

Author: DP

Time Out Film Guide


User reviews of this film

  • Soupinabox said...
    Posted on Oct 15 2009 17:03 holes in the plot? i would say that the plot is poorly paced, the middle section is lost between the hillarity of the first third, and the beauty of the ending, and filled with a clunky romance.
    but, to me, that only makes the movie more disconcerting, and certainly doesnt degrade its power, only its general quality as a film
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  • Seth said...
    Posted on Sep 12 2009 00:08 Care to elaborate on those "gaping holes"? Even claiming that there are plot holes in this film is just disgusting.
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  • Grigorio said...
    Posted on Aug 24 2008 04:51 The plot's gaping holes? What gaping holes? What part of "shifting between reality and fantasy" did the reviewer not understand? I'd hate to see what he thinks of Bergman's "Persona" or Nolan's "Memento" - no doubt that they are full of gaping holes as well. This film is as tight and masterful as those two great works.
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  • lior said...
    Posted on Apr 23 2008 10:14 rrr
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