Director: Agnieszka Holland
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, David Thewlis and Dominique Blanc
‘A Powerful Period Piece’
Not many actors that gained fame years ago are as beloved as Leonardo DiCaprio. Following the 1990’s, DiCaprio has proven to be an icon. Whether it’s destructive lovers, departed cops or Wall Street stockbrokers, DiCaprio has played countless compelling characters. Arguably, DiCaprio’s strength as an actor has often been his commitment to craft. He is a one of a kind actor which has poured both heart and soul into every role. Through ability to portray strong characters that are compelling, DiCaprio has created a legacy that is lasting. An actor with a strong commitment toward his craft, DiCaprio has become a celebrated icon in entertainment. Throughout a lasting career, DiCaprio has produced several memorable movies which are absolutely worth talking about without a doubt.
I’m a huge fan of DiCaprio and adore all the movies he has made in his career. However, “Total Eclipse” is his most underrated work. Released in 1995, Agnieszka Holland’s film offered a powerful portrait of poets. Packed with breathtaking production, spellbinding storytelling and fantastic performances, it’s a powerful period piece. At the centre of it all is a strong performance from Leonardo DiCaprio, who embodies a poet that faces sorrow. Although “Total Eclipse” is a riveting period piece, it isn’t flawless. It’s unevenly paced, building to an ambiguous conclusion without resolution. Nevertheless, it offers engaging entertainment for fans of period pieces.
Set in the 19th Century, “Total Eclipse” tells the story of a poet that endures adversity. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Arthur Rimbaud, an enthusiastic poet with a love for writing literature. Assisted by strong mentor Paul Verlaine (David Thewlis), Rimbaud always loves writing poems which he cares about deeply. However, Paul’s life changes when he engages in a forbidden love affair which causes disaster. Faced with a competitive fight against his mentor, Arthur questions if it’s possible to become a writer. As all the odds are stacked against his favour, Paul questions whether it’s possible to become a successful writer.
Agneiszka Holland is intrigued with themes of artists. A terrific filmmaker, Holland has often made engaging movies about artists in danger. His iconic film “Europa Europa” offered a powerful portrait of artists that face trauma in the WWII era. With “Total Eclipse”, however, the filmmaker made his first poetry drama. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture the lives of poets facing adversity but he succeeded. Using strong cinematography, Holland captures poets seeking success in the 19th Century. Evoking Peter Weir’s “Dead Poets Society”, Holland effectively employs montages to illustrate poets in a society. For instance, montages elevate poetry writings scene. During this unforgettable scene, Arthur is lost in his passion of writing poetry that he loves dearly. Montages are tricky to use in movies. As Martin Scorsese’s “The Wolf of Wall Street”, montages enhance business biopics. Nevertheless, it works immensely. Using stunning visuals, Holland captures the hardships which legendary poets are experiencing.
Another admirable aspect of “Total Eclipse” that merits appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, it’s one of the most impressive films about poetry you will ever see. Emulating Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining”, Holland effectively uses costumes to capture tensions that poets are enduring. Throughout the film, Arthur’s clothes show his transformations into a poet that’s highly successful. For instance, costumes enhance the forbidden love affairs scene. During this unforgettable scene, Arthur engages in love affairs with a woman by demonstrating his love for poetry. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Jan Kaczmarek’s music is key go the success of the movie. It gives the movie an intense atmosphere capturing the heavy burden poets bear. Using captivating production, Holland captures poets facing tension.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Total Eclipse” is a period piece which is engaging. The film is beautifully written, effectively using silence to capture grief faced by poets. Evoking Milos Forman’s “Amadeus”, Holland deftly uses silence to capture poets facing obstacles which are dangerous. For instance, silence elevates the farewells scene. During this heartfelt scene, Arthur bids emotional farewells to lovers following breakups. Through silence, Holland creates a portrait of poets which audiences can relate to. Silence is a tricky technique to use in movies. As Alejandro Gonzales Innaritu’s “The Revenant” proved, silence elevates survival films. Christopher Nolan’s “Inception” proved that silence enhances science-fiction movies. That being said, it works immensely. Through a spectacular screenplay, Holland captures the lives of poets that experience a painful price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Leonardo DiCaprio delivers one of his best performances as Arthur. DiCaprio earned appreciation for playing lovers in romance dramas. With “Total Eclipse”, however, he took on his most complex role. It isn’t easy to play a celebrated poet seeking success, but he succeeds tremendously. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and emotional in his most memorable role. With breathtaking expressions, he captures the angst, grief and determination of a poet facing tensions. It’s a powerful performance from one of the best actors today.
While the movie is mainly a showcase for DiCaprio, the supporting cast is excellent and worthy of recognition. David Thewlis is dazzling, capturing the anguish of a poet that has big goals to accomplish. Romane Bohringer is remarkable, bringing charisma to a woman that falls in love with a poet that faces a dilemma. Last, Dominique Blanc is worthy of appreciation. As a feminist poet, she is unforgettable.
Although “Total Eclipse” is a riveting period piece, it isn’t a flawless film. If there’s one shortcoming go the movie, it lacks engaging pacing. Holland’s decision to incorporate subplots about drugs into the movie is bold but doesn’t entirely succeed. Due to this faulty technique, scenes focusing on the drug use of poets aren’t as engaging as Arthur’s journey to find identity. Moreover, the film suffers from an ambiguous ending. It’s an abrupt conclusion without satisfying resolution. Therefore, “Total Eclipse” is a movie about poetry that everyone wouldn’t adore.
Nevertheless, fans of Leonardo DiCaprio will definitely enjoy “Total Eclipse” and so would movie-goers seeking poetic entertainment. A powerful poetry drama, it celebrates an actor with charisma.
Nearly 30 years following the release of a groundbreaking film about a poet engaging in a doomed love affair causing despair, it’s a spectacular reminder of a commemorated actor that has created a successful career by his abilities to portray strong characters in memorable moves about which audiences deeply care.
4/5 stars
The Film Buff 