I just saw for the first time, Marlon Brando's film, The Wild One(1953). Contrary to other voices, for me, this film has not grown old well, it is totally outdated in all respects (except to Lee Marvin's personal quest in a small role). Not the same can be said about Last Tango in Paris (1972), with the same Marlon Brando but, under another direction and involved in a totally different story. Yes, in my opinion, Brando's greatest role is not Don Vito Corleone in Coppola's The Grandfather, neither Colonel Walter E. Kurtz in Apocalypse Now, by the same Coppola. Brando's greatest roles are Paul, in Last Tango in Paris, and Grindl, in Candy(1968), directed by Christian Marquand. Directed and written by Bernardo Bertolucci, another giant of the world's cinema(not only Italian...)(together with Fellini, Antonioni, Sergio Leone, Vittorio De Sica, Pasolini, Rossellini and Visconti), Last Tango in Paris is a real masterpiece. Out of neo-realism, where everybody was seeking answers to life's problems, Bertolucci manages to speak credibly, with images, words and music(Gato Barbieri), about the human condition itself. In my opinion, what Rossellini began with films like Rome, Open City (1945), Paisan (1946), Stromboli (1950), Europe '51 (1952), Bertolucci manages to fulfill with Last Tango in Paris. The Italian neo-realism is fully and successfully transplanted in the French Nouvelle Vague. And even more than that, is a sequel to Shakespeare's Hamlet, a continuation of the monologue "to be or not to be..." The greatest role of Maria Schneider too. Amazing!

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about this film is the review it elicited from Pauline Kael in the New Yorker. A review which leads one to ask that old question, Did we see the same film? The sex is certainly not erotic. The first encounter, a record-breaking quickie between Paul and Jeanne, is performed fully clothed and can be best described as Wham! Bam! Thank you, M'am. Why Jeanne would find this grieving, middle aged expatriate so compelling and/or attractive must be taken on faith rather than on anything we see or hear. And though Brando's improvised monologues are profane and occasionally funny, at least to the audience, is this how a young Parisian chick preparing to be wed would choose to spend her afternoons, listening to talk about pig farts and vomit? And if so, why? It's like listening to a depressed drunk in a bar. Last Tango is ultimately dreary, tedious and pretentious with artful photography and a bleating jazz score and 2 main characters who are insufficiently explored and who are not interesting apart from one another. The film remains a curiosity, a chance to see a world famous actor and talent exposed though I much prefer Brando in John Huston's Reflections in a Golden Eye. And the ending where Jeanne shoots Paul rather than simply walking away is just as pointless and unconvincing as everything that has come before. And though I put a spoiler alert on this review, I'd say it's Kael's review that spoils the film. What could possibly live up to her description?

One movie that had been on my list to watch was Last Tango in Paris. It was heavily referenced in the documentary Seduced and Abandoned where Bernado Bertolucci shares how this movie captured a side of Marlon Brando and he refused to talk to him for 7 years after that. The movie is about an American played by Marlon Brando who finds himself in Paris after the death of his wife. He seeks comfort in a French woman Jeanne (Maria Schneider). They begin a passionate affair that pushes the limits of lust and sexual ecstasy. At the time of the release this movie was given a rating of X, but seems pretty tamed in today's world. The story came from a dream that Bertolucci had about having an anonymous sexual encounter with a woman he did not know or never would know. Pretty much every man's dream, pleasurable erotic, guiltless sex. It blends the magic of the French sensuality with the aggressive American attitude. A masterful film and a classic that needs to be seen by all movie buffs.

This is not necessarily a movie that is a joy to watch or is very entertaining and yet it is a masterpiece. How so? because it is all about showing discomfort and abuse of the characters and while it is not pleasant to watch, it is hard to look away and it is made perfectly.The story is about a man going through emotionally painful time and a young woman having trouble with her fiancé. They meet and start an anonymous affair, but then feelings start to arise.Back in the 70's the movie started a lot of controversy. And while sexual scenes are not as uncommon as they used to be, the movie is not outdated in this sense. The sex is not about being erotic. It is meant to cause the viewer some discomfort and it still does, just like the famous butter scene that is pretty much a rape.The movie is mainly about Brando's character Paul. We see his inner struggle and the more is revealed about him the more we see him. He is hurt by his previous relationship and struggles with the fact that his wife killed herself and he never really knew her. He hides from those feelings in the anonymous affair. But his wish for happiness dives him into believing Jeanne actually has feelings for him and there is a future. Unfortunately her "love" seems to be just a fascination with his dominant masculinity and mystery. Once he opens himself all of it starts to vanish including her feelings and she refuses him as well as kills him. No here is the one thing which makes me take off 2 points for the movie, otherwise I would give it perfect. While it is understandable that Jeanne mistook the fascination by anonymity for love and her feelings end once she gets to know him, we never see a turning point. It seems a bit too much that she even runs away from him. There is something missing there.Acting is great. Marlon Brando is at his best, we feel his struggle and the way he brings his monologues are great. Marie Schneider is perfect for the role. She has the innocence of that young woman, new to love, not yet able to understand what Paul goes through and also very confused with her own feelings. Also liked Maria Michi as Rose's mother. Really felt for her character in the few scenes that she appeared.