proud_luddite
In the mid-nineteenth century, in a community in a New Zealand forest, a mute pianist from Scotland (Holly Hunter) and her young daughter (Anna Paquin) live with a settler (Sam Neill) as per an arranged marriage. A nearby neighbour (Harvey Keitel) has his sights on the pianist.Director Jane Campion (also the screenwriter) has created a movie experience that is sensual from beginning to end. She gets to the heart of nature in every scene even making the viewer experience rare feelings. The opening scene of an arrival at a beach is beautiful and provocative; the sight of the giant waves is stunning but also a dangerous and uncontrollable part of nature that acts as a preview of what's to happen with the characters of the story. The sex scenes are also very unique in that they express a passion and warmth that is rare in films of its era as well as those that have followed; particularly in moments where a facial expression shows genuine pleasure from the sense of being touched.Campion gets great work from her actors. Keitel and Neill show a sensuous side that might only be encouraged by a director with a feminine perspective. Paquin gives one of the best child performances in cinema. And Hunter's performance is truly amazing. Her facial and body language say so much. In a shocking, climactic scene, her quiet breakdown rips the heart out. Her character is someone who might seem demanding and annoying at first but it is clear later on that Ada is one of those souls who seems more attuned to the spirit world than to the mundane details of the physical world.The story may have flaws (as others have pointed out) but it is how it is expressed that makes it stand out. Here, Campion is greatly aided by cinematorgrapher Stuart Dryburgh and the music by Michael Nyman. A treasure for the senses.OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT: Directing by Jane Campion
Ignazio Arizmendi
Sometimes is hard to express with words the power and influence a film can have over you years after you watched it for the first time. In counted and rare occasions a masterpiece the size of The Piano is born: the original soundtrack composed by Michael Nyman transport you to a different Universe, Holly Hunter's brilliant performance of Ada and Anna Paquin's mature performance of her daughter, which led both of them to win an Oscar for their respective roles in the film, the cinematography and visual beauty literally immerses you in the muddy and dirty environment in New Zeland in the mid-19th century and the brilliant script which narrates one of the saddest and most wonderful stories ever told. Every single detail about the film is genius and Ada's magic will live forever.I still remember the first time I watched The Piano, I was still a kid in the 90s and it was aired on television. I was so absolutely hypnotized by the whole story and specially by the character of Ada, that I had to record it on a VHS video tape because I had to go to bed early to go to school the next morning, so I couldn't finish watching it that night. The next day I couldn't stop thinking about the film and how it would end while I was in class, so when I got back home, I ran directly to see the recording from the VHS tape. I lost count of how many times I have watched this classic masterpiece since then, thanks Jane Campion for this timeless piece of art from the bottom of my heart.
cnycitylady
The Piano is considered a most romantic movie. And in a way it is, but not really in the classic use of the word "romantic."The characters are far from two dimensional, with ups and downs, highs and lows; both good and bad. No one is just one thing and it is a very fresh, raw take on humanity. The script colors their characters beautifully, and the story has many different aspects. But the one that stands out most, as it should, is Holly Hunter's journey from saddened, numbed woman to vibrant lover of life.The men that desire her are scoundrels and undeserving of her, and yet both are good men in their own ways. Patient, kind, understanding. It's interesting to see how and why both of these men want this woman who has abandoned all hope of ever loving anyone other than her daughter ever again. Hunter's character is an enigma. She can love fiercely on one end of the spectrum but she cannot hate. She also doesn't realize that she has a say in her life until she falls for one of the men who desire her. This movie is odd to say the least. Each time you view it you will think differently of all of the characters. You will never be quite sure who the villain is or who the hero is. But you can be sure that it is a gripping original take on love and starting over. 7.8/10
pablofreaky
I watched this movie 22 years after it's release in 1993, and can really see why so many people raved about this movie. Holly Hunter, who won a best actress Oscar for her performance in this film, shows her incredible acting skills with only her facial expressions and movement (except for the two voice overs at the beginning and end of the film, which were great too, of course). Her character has been mute since she was six years old, and this just gives the whole love story between the forcefully wedded woman and the poor Harvey Keitel character, a nice cherry on top. This film has so many powerful scenes and every scene adds to the story and gives us something new to learn about a certain character. Holly Hunter's Character, Ada McGrath has a daughter too, played by Anna Paquin, who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress as a 10 year old, which was probably the best child performance I've ever seen (with Jacob Tremblay for Room) and the scene *SPOILER ALERT* where Sam Nell's character cuts off Ada's Finger to stop her from playing the piano, after she finds out she's been sleeping with Harvey Keitel's character is truly one of my favorite scenes of all time. The pain Ada must be experiencing is extreme, but still no spoken reaction from her yet you can see how broken and physically/mentally hurt she is and the way Hunter portrayed that scene was when I realised that Holly Hunter is one of the best actresses of our time, truly magnificent. The ending is beautiful, yet disturbing, yet very powerful. I watched it over and over again!In the end, The Piano is a must-see movie for anyone who enjoys the art of motion pictures.
AD
