Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985)

The film tells a rare story in which surface appearances give way to deeper truths about freedom versus slavery. Ebert singles out the wonderful performances, particularly William Hurt's theatrical yet natural portrayal of Molina and Raul Julia's gradual revelation of poetry as Valentin.

The critic finds Babenco’s adaptation compelling for its exploration of human dignity, compassion, and unlikely bonds in a prison cell, praising the committed performances especially William Hurt’s Oscar-winning turn and Raul Julia’s grounded portrayal. The new 4K restoration is singled out for its sharp, detailed image and strong audio.

Babenco's film is a brilliant achievement staged with perfect control and fierce originality, one of the best in a long while. Maslin singles out William Hurt's crafty, carefully nurtured, and finally stirring performance as Molina, which won him the best actor award at Cannes.

The profoundly moving adaptation succeeds on a deep emotional level and as spellbinding entertainment. Benson singles out William Hurt's rapturous, generous, and acute characterization of Molina, which won him Best Actor at Cannes.

The critic praises the lead performances of William Hurt and Raúl Julia as the cellmates and Babenco's subtle direction of their evolving relationship. The film's structure blending flashbacks, fantasy sequences and prison scenes is highlighted as effective.

The review highlights the compelling dynamic between the two cellmates, with William Hurt's Molina and Raul Julia's Valentin delivering strong performances that meet in the middle despite their differences. Babenco employs a slicker, more choreographed style than in Pixote, with fine lensing in Sao Paulo.

The critic finds the film an ambitious but slack adaptation that sentimentalizes the source novel into a redemption drama. She praises William Hurt's performance as Molina for its tenderness and liveliness while criticizing the direction for lacking visual style, humor, and the novel's subversive edge on fantasy and escapism.

The critic calls the 1985 film an underrated gem that blends reality and fantasy in a Brazilian prison setting, praising its dreamlike atmosphere and the transformative power of storytelling. It highlights strong performances by William Hurt, Raúl Juliá, and Sônia Braga while drawing parallels to Twin Peaks for its surreal style.