athanasiosze

This is a 100 years old, silent movie. If one hasn't watched a silent movie until now, there are better movies for a first time experience. FLESH AND THE DEVIL is a good drama/romance and as a movie itself, it's worth watching. If you want to take a glimpse into a different world though, a reality which has nothing to do with nowadays,it works even better and the whole experience is unforgettable. Greta Garbo is unbelievably captivating, as the "Devil's instrument". Amazing acting,too.

A well directed Proto-Noir Movie.

Can't say i loved it, i get that a 1926 movie will be inevitably melodramatic but in the same time, i have watched many better melodramatic, old movies, than this.

This is a fine drama movie, every actor did a great job and i am glad i watched it just for all of those charismatic actors. Although, i don't think it's very good. It should have been at least 20 minutes shorter, pace was not good at times, and there were some overlong scenes which could have been cut. This is an old movie, and old movies are a bit slow, i get it and i don't mind it, but ON THE BEACH is painfully slow at times, even borderline boring.

Still, it was interesting overall. The pros outweigh the cons. It's a powerful movie, heartbreaking and sad but in the same time, it's not a miserable experience. On the contrary, there are positive messages and it's one of those movies which make you love Humanity, not hate it. Can't say the same for the majority of movies nowadays.

I can't find a better description for this movie than this : Ingmar Bergman and Paul Schrader had a baby, and this baby turned into a drug addict. I have watched two Abel Ferrara's movies many years ago, i don't remember them well but i am sure this is his magnum opus.

Everything works here. It seems messy, chaotic and disjointed, but Ferrara knowe exactly what he's doing. I can't say i loved it from the beginning, i found it interesting, it made me curious to see where it goes and Keitel was amazing, but i didn't think this was a great movie. As it progresses, it becomes more intense, more devastating and heartbreaking and dark. The more tough to watch, the more greater it was becoming. Until the final 20-30 minutes, in which i was shocked as i was watching Keitel giving one of the greatest acting performances ever, spilling his guts on the screen.

This is not for everyone, it's almost nihilistic and sad and violent, but the ending was so glorious and amazing that it rewards the viewer. Ending was so unpredictable that left me open mouthed. To be honest, i wanted a different outcome at first, and i think many people will be disappointed. But this was a perfect ending, and i can't say something more in order to avoid spoilers.

I recommend it to every cinephile but beware, you must be prepared for something cruel in the first half and then, heart-wrenching. Still, there's redemption in the end.