Waltzing with Brando

Seem like I waited years for this to come out! I've always been a big Brando fan like a lot of people and Billy Zane resembled him almost eerily Well. Once you start watching the movie though you find out that there's really no interesting script other than them trying to complete the Island that he wanted to live on. Billy Zane's betrayal of Brando was pretty boring, and bland as well but he's never been the greatest of actors. I don't know it could have been great but they seemed like they phoned it in like most crap in Hollywood these days!

I wanted to like this film soooo much, because there are just way tooo many terrible films these days, so it looked promising when I saw the trailer, but unfortunately it wasn't even as close to as good as I wanted it to be and expected it to be,

I HATED, absolutely hated the narrative talking into the camera, and Billy Zane looked like Brando, but un fortunately he didn't spend a lot of time working on the iconic voice, so it was just too distractingly bad.

And it quickly descended into a bore fest without any real purpose. It was in serious need of a better edit. Less than 15 minutes into the film I lost interest.

Did I mention one's awful voice? He could have spend 2-3 days perfecting the voice, which isn't even that hard to do.

And a lot of the acting just wasn't good. The writing and directing needed a serious make-over.

I didn't last even 40 minutes before I happily turned it off and watched some paint dry for better entertainment.

Yes again, another movie let down in the sea of duds. Someone explain the point of this movie, please, and why it was made The trailer was so misleading.

SKIP IT!

Greetings again from the darkness. Marlon Brando was a true Hollywood legend. Renowned for his performances in such movies as A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (1951), ON THE WATERFRONT (1954), and of course, THE GODFATHER (1972). He was nominated for eight Oscars, winning three. Despite his on-screen fame, Brando was an enigma in life. Sexual escapades, a commitment to causes, a neighbor and friend to Jack Nicholson, and his own French Polynesian island contributed to the mystique. It's that private island which writer-director Bill Fishman (nearly a 40-year career of music videos) focuses on here.

The film is adapted from the 2011 book, "Waltzing with Brando: Planning a Paradise in Tahiti", written by Bernard Judge, who is not just a big part of the story, it is in fact, his story being told. We first meet Bernard Judge (played by Jon Heder, NAPOLEON DYNAMITE, 2004) as a California-based architect with an interest in ecologically friendly and sustainable construction. It's this interest that draws the attention of Marlon Brando (Billy Zane, TITANIC 1997; TOMBSTONE 1993, the underrated DEAD CALM 1989), who wants to develop something special on his remote island, Tetioroa. The two men hit it off and Bernard, with input from Brando, develops a comprehensive master plan and design.

Now if all that sounds a bit serious, you should know that director Fishman takes a light-handed, comedic approach to most of it. Zane's Brando is both charming and manipulative, while Heder's acting as Bernard is more suited to the man who finally takes to the relaxed Tahiti lifestyle, rather than the starched-shirt architect we first meet. Zane is made to look very much like Brando, yet he doesn't limit his performance to posing and side-eyes. He even gets to deliver his Brando in "cuts" from THE GODFATHER, LAST TANGO IN PARIS, APOCALYPSE NOW, and SUPERMAN.

We learn developing a private island is not easy, even for Hollywood royalty. It's also not cheap, and Brando, despite feeling tired of acting, continued taking jobs to pay for his dream ... his restructuring of his "Gangster Movie" (THE GODFATHER) ended up costing him millions of dollars. The supporting cast includes Rob Corddry as Brando's Business Partner, Richard Dreyfuss as the Money Manager, Alaina Huffman as Bernard's wife, Camille Razat as a special friend. There are also appearances from Tia Carrere, David Guerira (as Francis Ford Coppola), and Heiae Touniou. Thanks to CGI, we see clips of Brando with Dick Cavett and Johnny Carson, and in keeping with the light-handed approach, there is a significant amount of speaking to the camera (breaking the 4th wall).

Billy Zane makes an excellent Brando (with a unique doorstop), while Jon Heder seems a bit miscast (or trying too hard). The story emphasizes Brando's relaxed island style, purposefully avoiding the dark side. For Bernard Judge, these four or five years were life-altering, and we even see him looking back in 2010 during an interview for the book. Bernard passed away in 2021, so he didn't get to see the film. It's not a movie you can't refuse, but for movie fans, it's certainly fun to see Billy Zane as the icon.

Only in theaters on September 19, 2025.

Blame two men for light true-tale drama "Waltzing With Brando" being such an utter disaster: lead actor Jon Heder and writer / director Bill Fishman - who both poop the bed SO badly. In the late '60s LA architect Heder is hired by Rob Corddry to plan a hotel in Tahiti where he meets the legendary Marlon Brando (Billy Zane) who hires him for his own project. Zane's good & Tahiti's beautiful, but EVERYTHING else with this turd STINKS. All performances bar Zane (and Richard Dreyfuss in minor support) are DIRE (especially Heder, but also the likes of Tia Carrere in minor support) - not helped by Fishman's pitiful dialogue. It's the epitome of a decent idea being utterly destroyed... dreadful.

Waltzing with Brando (2024) is a beautifully crafted film that feels less like watching a story and more like drifting into a living, breathing paradise. Every frame is lush, every scene infused with heart and intention. It captures the spirit of ambition, environmental reverence, and human connection without ever feeling forced or overly sentimental.

The performances are sincere and layered, offering a respectful glimpse into the humanity behind one of cinema's most iconic figures - not through sensationalism, but through authenticity and grace. The pacing is elegant, inviting you to feel present rather than rushed, and the cinematography immerses you in island beauty so vivid you can almost feel the breeze and taste the salt in the air.

This isn't just a movie - it's an escape. A meditation. A reminder that meaningful dreams are worth pursuing, and that paradise isn't only a place - sometimes it's a vision, a feeling, a way of being. A must-see for dreamers, artists, and anyone who believes in building a life aligned with purpose and wonder.