| Index | 5 reviews in total |
17 out of 23 people found the following review useful:
Bergman Comedy: the definition of an oxymoron, 26 November 2005
Author:
JoeytheBrit from www.moviemoviesite.com
Bergman's first colour film and a rare comedy is one of those films
that are definitely something of an acquired taste and which may only
appeal to those already familiar with the usually more sombre director.
The farcical story concerns the attempts by an egotistical and
pretentious biographer and amateur composer - to blackmail an
enigmatic (and never seen) cellist into performing one of his pieces in
return for writing a favourable biography. We learn of Felix the
cellist only through the conversations of a bevy of enamoured women who
live in his sumptuous manor.
There's a self-mocking tone in this film that doesn't really ring true,
and a strong impression that someone behind it all is incredibly
impressed by their own cleverness and that any inability on our part to
share or understand the joke is more of a reflection on us than it is
on them.
Bergman makes good use of colour, and the cinematography is sumptuous
throughout as are the women, who all look ravishing. Other than that,
however, there's not much to recommend this mercifully brief effort.
The lead character Cornelius (Jarl Kulle) is a dislikeable and annoying
fool, none of the characters are particularly interesting, and Bergman
provides ample ammunition for those who accuse him of having no sense
of humour
.
13 out of 21 people found the following review useful:
All These Women Did Not Save It, 21 March 2006
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Author:
Galina from Virginia, USA
I never thought that I would have to say that but I did not like the
Ingmar Bergman's film "All These Women". In spite the very pretty and
delicate pink and blue cinematography and the presence of the charming
and talented actresses, the movie was a mess of an attempt to create a
comedy. Everything that was subtle, sensual, and charming in B/W
"Smiles of a Summer Night" (1955) was missing here. First of all - the
Jarl Kulle's performance as a music critic - biographer, Cornelius.
Kulle was very effective and funny in "Smiles...", in "Women..." - he
plays an irritating, annoying, and the worst - absolutely not funny
(which is a crime for a comedy) character. If in "Smiles... the writing
was a first class and sparkled, I got the impression that in "Women.."
Bergman did not care or did not want to work on the script and was more
interested in experimenting with colors and music. The movie looks and
sounds fine - it is Bergman, after all, but that's the only redeeming
qualities that I found.
4/10
12 out of 23 people found the following review useful:
Only for the faithful, 23 September 2005
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Author:
rwilson-7 from San Francisco CA
Amazing that this film is on DVD. I saw it in 1967 (in suburban
Sacramento of all places) and have never seen a trace of it since.
It is a fairly terrible movie, but it does have its place in Bergman's
movies. Swedish reviewers at this point in his career were among his
severest critics, and this movie was his response. It should have been
deft and ironic but, as I think we're all aware by now, Bergman is not
exactly over-burdened with a sense of humor. I suppose he also thought
color as something of a joke at that time, which might explain some of
the very ugly effects.
I can't really recommend the movie but it does give some insight into
Bergman, so I rank it a little higher than the other reviewers.
P.S. And I thank Anders, the foreign exchange student from Stockholm at
my high school, for making me see this movie and who filled me in on
the info about Bergman and the critics. He too thought it a lousy
movie.
17 out of 36 people found the following review useful:
A Lemon, 31 December 2002
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Author:
ian_harris from London, England
It's taken a few goes, but I have finally discovered that I can dislike
a Bergman film. Perhaps Swedish humour shares some characteristics with
Danish humour which tends to leave me cold and perplexed.
Several years on, I still cannot get the cheesy, syncopated version of
"Yes, We Have No Bananas" out of my head.
The cast try their best but the material is beyond redemption. in fact,
this cast does not include the best Bergman people anyhow.
This film simply is not at all funny nor is it interesting once you get
10 minutes in.
It is merely irritating.
This film is a lemon.
5 out of 25 people found the following review useful:
a professional's waste of time, 24 November 2007
Author:
david from Israel
First of all I have to admit: I never liked Bergman. although being one
of the most influential directors in the 20th century, I always saw him
and his films as being far too heavy, over dramatical and it seems to
me that Bergman tells his thing in a way thats too hard and rigid.
other filmmakers do the same with a lot more fun, humor and freedom.
all in all, Bergman to me is just an over rated filmmaker.
"All these women" is a TERRIBLE film with a fantastic look. this is
thanks to the work of the great Sven Nykvist, Bergman's long time
collaborating cinematographer. I can't and will never understand how
the Swedish film industry decided to fund this film. maybe they thought
they will get something different from Bergman, something funny and
relaxing, in contrast to his bleak and melancholic works. but i'm sorry
to say, this man has no sense of humor, sorry, had no sense of humor.
on the DVD cover it says that the film "FLASHES OF JACQUES TATI AND
FELLINI". bullshit! the only thing it flashes is lack of talent! I am
really sorry if you are a Bergman fan, but this movie is no more than a
lesson in cinematography, and should only be watched as that. if I was
Nykvist, i'd say it was a professional waste of time.
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