IMDb RATING
6.1/10
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Watch Robert Redford: The Con With Conviction & the End of a Legendary Screen Persona
In 1950s Cuba, a professional gambler falls for a woman heavily involved in the revolution movement.In 1950s Cuba, a professional gambler falls for a woman heavily involved in the revolution movement.In 1950s Cuba, a professional gambler falls for a woman heavily involved in the revolution movement.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 3 nominations total
Featured reviews
Many will claim that Sydney Pollack and Robert Redford were on auto-pilot while making this film. Based on their previous collaborative efforts, the well-received Three Days of the Condor, The Way We Were, The Electric Horseman, and Out of Africa, which swept the Academy Awards, people wanted to see their movies. They could make any movie they wanted. They made Havana, and NOBODY wanted to see it.
Maybe Pollack, brilliant in his own right, set his watch according to Redford's schedule at this time, and history shows that, subsequent to Havana, and its box office failure Sydney Pollack basically quit directing. His influence in film is still served, and may be better served as a producer, witness Sliding Doors, Sense and Sensibility, Fabulous Baker Boys, and Searching For Bobby Fischer, all of which he helped bring to the screen.
But, back to the matter at hand-Redford as a gambler, Lena Olin, his distraction (and what a distraction)--the film feels good, looks good, and gives us some perspective on Cuba in the waning hours of Batista.
Olin (pre-Romeo is Bleeding, post Unbearable Lightness of Being) is properly introduced to American audiences, and is not inappropriate as leading lady to one of Hollywood's leading stars, Redford, who, even on auto-pilot, delivers a strong, engaging performance.
I understand this film was heavily maligned at release, and failed dismally at the box office, but I enjoyed it. It is a beautiful film to watch with attractive leads - and that alone stands it well ahead of many of the alternatives out there today.
Maybe Pollack, brilliant in his own right, set his watch according to Redford's schedule at this time, and history shows that, subsequent to Havana, and its box office failure Sydney Pollack basically quit directing. His influence in film is still served, and may be better served as a producer, witness Sliding Doors, Sense and Sensibility, Fabulous Baker Boys, and Searching For Bobby Fischer, all of which he helped bring to the screen.
But, back to the matter at hand-Redford as a gambler, Lena Olin, his distraction (and what a distraction)--the film feels good, looks good, and gives us some perspective on Cuba in the waning hours of Batista.
Olin (pre-Romeo is Bleeding, post Unbearable Lightness of Being) is properly introduced to American audiences, and is not inappropriate as leading lady to one of Hollywood's leading stars, Redford, who, even on auto-pilot, delivers a strong, engaging performance.
I understand this film was heavily maligned at release, and failed dismally at the box office, but I enjoyed it. It is a beautiful film to watch with attractive leads - and that alone stands it well ahead of many of the alternatives out there today.
I did not see this movie when it first came out 21 years ago, but saw it recently on a cable television station.Having been in my 30s when Cuba had its revolution, I was truly amazed at how accurately the film portrayed the regime of Batista. It was corrupt and brutally treated the citizens of that island country. I appreciated the acting of Redford --- actually underplaying the role. The gambling casinos in Cuba were actually run by the Mafia and made billions for them and for Batista. The photography was excellent When it was obvious that the Castro forces were winning the war, the Batista followers fled to South Florida. I truly wish I had seen this picture when it first came out.
The island of Cuba is a long way from Morocco, but in Sydney Pollack's film of the same name the city of Havana isn't too far removed from 'Casablanca'. The two films share a similar exotic locale, the same shady intrigue, and an all too familiar bittersweet romance. All that's missing are Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet, but what's surprising about Pollack's film is how well it stands up under the comparison. Robert Redford portrays a tough and charismatic (if slightly disreputable) gambler who drifts into the decadent Cuban capital during the last, desperate days of the Battista regime, and it's a pleasure to watch him playing, for once, a character without a built-in halo. The foreign intrigue, played against a background of political unrest, is perfectly suited to the swinging tropical setting, but the romance between Redford and beautiful revolutionary Lena Olin isn't as convincing. Don't blame the talented cast; the script lets them down too often during the last half of the film, undermining an otherwise attractive and entertaining bit of high-grade, escapist fluff.
It's 15 years later, but seeing this film for the first time, I was surprised by its intensity, beauty, realism and acting. This is two thumbs up from my corner.
I totally believed both Olin and Redford. Yes, they're both very good looking people, but more than that, they both convey intelligence and real emotion. Their performances were relatively restrained and in my opinion that's a good thing.
As a person interested in politics and history, I found the film interesting and balanced especially considering that this was a studio product. This film made me want to learn more about Batista, Castro and Cuba's move for independence.
I totally believed both Olin and Redford. Yes, they're both very good looking people, but more than that, they both convey intelligence and real emotion. Their performances were relatively restrained and in my opinion that's a good thing.
As a person interested in politics and history, I found the film interesting and balanced especially considering that this was a studio product. This film made me want to learn more about Batista, Castro and Cuba's move for independence.
I just saw this one again on DVD and was surprised at how good it was. The acting, story and environment made it very easy to follow what was going on. I fail to see big holes in the plot: the characters are very well developed. What is created is a very sweet romantic thriller in a historical setting - the viewer knows that the revolution will take place so that part is anti-climatic.
The film didn't attempt to make the revolutionaries into the good guys - Batista's forces did come across as corrupt and arrogant though.
One mistake: Redford's character convinces the security chief he works for the CIA which is implausible since he's supposedly on assignment in Cuba and doesn't speak Spanish.
The film didn't attempt to make the revolutionaries into the good guys - Batista's forces did come across as corrupt and arrogant though.
One mistake: Redford's character convinces the security chief he works for the CIA which is implausible since he's supposedly on assignment in Cuba and doesn't speak Spanish.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaActor Raul Julia appeared in a significant supporting role in the film without any credit or billing at all in the film. Julia chose to be uncredited because producers for contractual reasons could not accommodate Julia's request for him to be billed second alongside Robert Redford, as the top two above-the-title star-teaming credits had already been signed over to top first-billed Redford and second-billed actress Lena Olin, with the third billed credit already having been contracted to actor Alan Arkin. According to the "LA Times," Raul Julia's agent Jeff Hunter said: "Our usual above-the-title credit wasn't available. So, we decided not to take any credit at all." Director Sydney Pollack said told the same paper: "The only billing left for Julia was to be stacked with the rest of the names . . . his agent felt that would be a step backward" and there is a dilemma when there is "an actor on the ascendancy, like [Raul] Julia, and you ask the actor to do a role that's somewhat smaller [than their emerging star status]." Julia had found rising-star status since his performance in the Academy Award winning film Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985).
- GoofsAlthough the film is set in 1958, the garage scene uses a 1961 re-recorded version of Rum And Coca Cola by The Andrews Sisters. This version was recorded for Dot Records, two years after the movie's setting.
- How long is Havana?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $40,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $9,243,140
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $2,175,360
- Dec 16, 1990
- Gross worldwide
- $9,645,440
- Runtime2 hours 24 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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