Lost City [HD DVD]

Lost City [HD DVD] Review

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Many reviewers here seem to want to debate the historical, political or moral accuracy, truth or correctness of The Lost City.

Give it a rest, and appreciate this movie for what it really is.

Hey, revolution happens. It always has causes and effects.

The Lost City is art. High art at that.

It appears to me that Garcia did as good a job as humanly possible in balancing his persepctive from the pre-Revolutionary upper and upper middle class with those of the bureaucatic and military ruling class, the working classes, and the revolutionary forces. This was not a documentary. It would have been impossible to tell everyone's truth.

Garcia succeeded mightily in crafting a love letter to a place, a time, a history, a culture, and a future, that means much to many, and in doing so helping to illuminate and preserve that culture and awareness for us all.

Garcia's characters in the movie on the political right, center and left display the full spectrum of human conditions, motivations, and emotions, both good and evil, and frequently flawed.

Critics of the movie on either its political or artistic merits are revealing more about themselves, their own agendas, or their appreciation for something other than Hollywood action blockbusters, than about the shortcomings of Garcia or this film.

The Lost City is a story worth telling told well, a beautiful film, full of talented actors and performances, with lush visuals and music. The setting here is Havana, but it could have taken place anywhere, and this would have been a well made and moving film. It is therefore timeless and qualifies as classic art. No complaints. The End.

Lost City [HD DVD] Feature

Lost City [HD DVD] Overview

For his first feature film as a director, Andy Garcia has crafted an ambitious and vivid love story set amid the Cuban revolution. El Tropico, an elegant nightclub, overflows with exuberant music and sinuous dance; the owner, Fico (Garcia, Ocean's Eleven, The Untouchables), and his family live a life of privilege in Havana, but Fico and his father hope to steer the brutal reign of Batista towards democratic reforms. Fico's two brothers are not so patient and get caught up in the guerilla forces that seek to overthrow Batista by force; one dies after a failed coup attempt, the other joins Fidel Castro's revolutionary army. Meanwhile, Fico and his widowed sister-in-law Aurora (Ines Sastre) fall in love, their romance unfolding in the still-thriving Havana nightlife, while during the day Castro's new regime turns as repressive as Batista's. Gorgeous cinematography captures the spectacle of the musical numbers in El Tropico, which are never less than stunning, and the depiction of the political chaos is effective and dynamic. Unfortunately, at the heart of the movie is stasis; Fico, though morally indignant, never takes any action, and his courtship with Aurora is beautifully filmed but lacks palpable heat. Clumsy dialogue and odd digressions with mobster Meyer Lansky (Dustin Hoffman, Rain Man) and a seemingly metaphorical character known only as the Writer (Bill Murray, Lost in Translation) make a long movie feel even longer. But the music is undeniable; if your feet don't itch to dance after watching The Lost City, you have no soul. --Bret Fetzer

Lost City [HD DVD] Specifications

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Dec 21, 2009 12:05:05

excellent - Xraytech - DC Area
This is a great movie, showing Cuba before the comunist came and how they changed this beautiful island country. As always, Andy Garcia was Great, he was perfect for the part. over all, it was well cast and a movie to see over and over again!!!!

Slick and beautiful to look at - but nothing of substance - Mr. Stephen Kennedy - Doha, Qatar
This vanity project of Andy Garcia obviously was borne out of the one thing that signally fails to come across on screen - passion. The story revolves around his character, a night club owner in 1958 Cuba. Through his eyes and through the relationships he has with both his family and the woman he loves, we see the events unfold of the revolution and its aftermath.
It's a potentially compelling story, and has been evoked with some stunning set design and memorably vivid recreation of pre-revolution Cuba, but ultimately this story of a family being torn apart by political and ideological differences just lacks momentum and, oddly - drama - to work. Garcia, who not only stars but co-wrote and directs, seems to want to be the new Godfather - its easy to spot the mannerisms and acting tics, but while he has the beginnings of the flab of a Brando, he lacks the intensity. There is an interesting subtext to the movie where we see him strive to remain an observer to events, as symbolised by his constantly picking up his Super 8 to capture events important to him - but ultimately he puts down the camera and the events involve him too deeply for him to remain an observer. Less interesting by far is the appearance of Bill Murray, who appears as The Comedian - a true observer, who comments wryly on proceedings while not being part of them. It's a device which alas does not add any depth to the narrative but merely drags it out in a way that takes one out of the story rather than illumining it.
Another problem with the movie is that for a film which purports to get under the skin of the revolution and its effects, it signally fails to show any reason for the discontent. We see a wealthy and happy family in a pristine Havana, and then a brother goes off to join the revolution - why he does is never really explored. The scenes of violence we do see rather symbolise what is wrong with the movie - we see grenades being thrown, gunshots, explosions - and when the smoke clears, the locations filled with marble and beautiful furnishings remain unscathed.
One factor which might raise the movie by a star to watchable for you, is if you are a fan of Cuban music - authentic and atmospheric music permeates the movie, and the movie seems more like a labor of love for the music, rather than the country, at times.
Being of Cuban descent, Garcia clearly had the energy to craft something special - it's just a shame that his energy failed to weave its way into the resulting film. What we ultimately have is a movie of loud gunshots and Cuban music in beautiful locations, alternated with mumbled conversations of seemingly great portent, which ultimately lead to - very little of interest.