Review: Kiss of the Spider Woman

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Official Synopsis: Valentín (Diego Luna), a political prisoner, shares a cell with Molina (Tonitiuh), convicted for public indecency. An unlikely bond forms as Molina recounts a Hollywood musical plot starring Ingrid Luna. (Jennifer Lopez)

I'll start off by saying I've never seen the 1985 version of this film, nor have I seen the stage show. So fortunately for me, I don't have anything pre-existing to compare this to. And even more fortunately for me, I LOVED every moment of it.

Sometimes a film feels like it's made for you, and this one feels like that for me. A film about a movie lover, that breaks into a technicolor musical, yet also features some very good dramatic performances. It had everything I could want. 

Diego Luna has chemistry with everyone he encounters. I've known that in a while, but I feel like between this and Andor I've spent a lot more time with him this year and it really hammers it home. I loved both his scenes in the musical numbers, and especially the scenes of him in prison with Tonitiuh, who is completely new to me. I can't wait to see what he does next. He made Molina so likeable that even when he's doing something arguably sleezy, I just rooted for him. Jennifer Lopez doesn't have to stretch her acting chops much here, she sings and dances, which she is already good at, but she's so lovely to watch. Perfect casting, really.

Director Bill Candon reminds us all that he knows how to shoot a musical, and it's something I hope some of his contemporaries are paying attention to. But even more impressive is how he handles the scenes in the prison. There's not a lot of space to work with, but he makes it so desolate and it makes the contrast to Molina's dream world seem even bigger. 

If I had to critique one thing, it's maybe that the songs themselves aren't that memorable, but the visuals and the actors are, and this IS a movie after all. It was enough for me. 

Grade: A 

Comments

  1. thevoid99October 20, 2025 at 4:14 PM

    I have seen the 1985 version (which will come out on Criterion this coming January) as I am intrigued by this. I just hope it's better than some of the shit Bill Condon has done considering that he made a film that you absolutely fucking HATED.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamOctober 20, 2025 at 4:38 PM

      This makes me forgive him for Beauty and the Beast lol

      Delete
  2. BirgitOctober 22, 2025 at 1:11 PM

    I want to see this because it looks so different from the 85 film. I loved Raul Julia in that film and thought he deserved the Oscar. I think this is right up Lopez's alley. From the trailers, it looks like she excels in the role.

    ReplyDelete
  3. ruthOctober 22, 2025 at 7:29 PM

    I've heard JLo is great in this and the role is tailor made for her. After seeing ANDOR, I'm especially intrigued to see Diego Luna doing something completely different.

    ReplyDelete

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