It really isn't as good as the novel, Ernesto Sabato did a genius work by portraying Castel as a psycho lover who was too focused on the idea of Maria, his lover cheating him. He wasn't able to enjoy his relationship with her and their future together ends in a tragedy when Castel's insecurities lead him to kill her. In a way, the novel reflects the way of thinking of the 21 century man, unsure, liar, doubtful, etc. It is only fair to judge this movie by reading the novel and personally, I recommend you to read the novel. The characters take more importance, especially Castel whose feelings are the most important part of this story. It is also remarkable that the actors weren't that good at portraying this characters, Maria didn't seem to be the same melancholic person who lived with regret like she did in the novel just like Castel didn't seem to be that much insecure and they both made their romance look like something unbelievable and dumb.
3 Reviews
Bad, bad, and just plain bad
jandrianos-130 August 2006
Warning: Spoilers
This has to be one of the worst movies I have seen in a long time. The actors sleep walk through their roles, the romance that is suppose to be obsessive and all consuming is never believable. The chemistry between the actors was non existent. My cat could have done a better acting job playing all the characters. There was really no point to this movie other than to show what Peter Weller looks like without his robo cop uniform on. The romantic scenes were flat. Never once do you believe that these 2 characters are even remotely interested in each other. I thought Jane Seymour could have done so much with this role, but didn't. Her acting was beyond flat. The direction was very reigned in. If you are going to make a movie about an obsessive love, the emotions need to run the gamut, not robotic (maybe Peter Weller got his characters mixed up?)
El túnel (1988)
Oslo_Jargo23 January 2020
Warning: Spoilers
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
*Plot and ending analyzed*
The tunnel
El tunel (1988)
This is an exceptionally rare film that brings to light Argentine novelist Ernesto Sabato's El Túnel (1948). That novella deals with a painter who killed his lover.
Peter Weller is Juan Pablo Castel and he plays him rather well. At first he seems reasonable enough but soon develops an intense torment because his lover is nonchalant, laconic and placid. Jane Seymour is his object of affection Maria Iribarne, who is also fine. Her role is to be serenely free of disturbance from Juan Pablo Castel's (Peter Weller) nagging interrogations and that is the catalyst for his indignation. She shows a bit of her body, but it is not done tastelessly. Her subdued natural persona, although quiet, is willingly effective. Fernando Rey as Allende is barely even glimpsed at. He plays the blind husband of Maria Iribarne (Jane Seymour).
The direction and dialogue is what will hold the film together, since this is a psychological thriller, and although it is nothing outstanding or notable, I did enjoy the film. The film, to me, reminds me of 1980's neo-noir films with just a touch of erotica. Argentine novelist himself, Ernesto Sabato, is credited with the working of the dialogue.
For the most part, it is a standard and effective film that details the tortured soul of an insanely jealous man, who can not come to grips that his new lover may have other affairs or lovers.
I particularly liked a scene where Juan Pablo Castel (Peter Weller) wants to retract a letter in a post office, it is both hilarious and absurd because the post office worker does not want to return it because of "rules". He explodes, setting the scene for his ultimate downfall.
It is barely above average, and seems to be filmed in Buenos Aires Argentina.
The audio is horrible and I could barely hear the spoken English.
But it is of particular interest to those who like existential or psychological thrillers.
*Plot and ending analyzed*
The tunnel
El tunel (1988)
This is an exceptionally rare film that brings to light Argentine novelist Ernesto Sabato's El Túnel (1948). That novella deals with a painter who killed his lover.
Peter Weller is Juan Pablo Castel and he plays him rather well. At first he seems reasonable enough but soon develops an intense torment because his lover is nonchalant, laconic and placid. Jane Seymour is his object of affection Maria Iribarne, who is also fine. Her role is to be serenely free of disturbance from Juan Pablo Castel's (Peter Weller) nagging interrogations and that is the catalyst for his indignation. She shows a bit of her body, but it is not done tastelessly. Her subdued natural persona, although quiet, is willingly effective. Fernando Rey as Allende is barely even glimpsed at. He plays the blind husband of Maria Iribarne (Jane Seymour).
The direction and dialogue is what will hold the film together, since this is a psychological thriller, and although it is nothing outstanding or notable, I did enjoy the film. The film, to me, reminds me of 1980's neo-noir films with just a touch of erotica. Argentine novelist himself, Ernesto Sabato, is credited with the working of the dialogue.
For the most part, it is a standard and effective film that details the tortured soul of an insanely jealous man, who can not come to grips that his new lover may have other affairs or lovers.
I particularly liked a scene where Juan Pablo Castel (Peter Weller) wants to retract a letter in a post office, it is both hilarious and absurd because the post office worker does not want to return it because of "rules". He explodes, setting the scene for his ultimate downfall.
It is barely above average, and seems to be filmed in Buenos Aires Argentina.
The audio is horrible and I could barely hear the spoken English.
But it is of particular interest to those who like existential or psychological thrillers.
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