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SCOOP
APARTMENT ZERO
By Martin Donovan, starring Colin Firth and Hart Bochner (Argentina, col.
1h50).
Buenos Aires at the end of the military ruling. A young man of means,
movie fan and unbalanced, becomes the toy of his roommate, a mysterious
American rascal. This long perverse game of sadomasochist seduction in an
antique building full of wacko dropouts is along the line of Servant by Losey, mainly because of the actors. Colin Firth, so "dull" in Valmont, is
of a staggering (or astonishing) peculiarity (or peversity) and Hart
Bochner displays a "Richard Gere type" sensual magnetism. Both of them add
finesse to the clumsy staging to make us swallow an unbelievable
conspiracy. But just to witness the emergence of Martin Donovan's talent
makes it fully worth seeing.
This is the (uncommented) translation of the French text:
APARTMENT ZERO
by Martin Donovan, with Colin Firth and Hart Bochner (Argentina, color, 1h
50).
Buenos Aires at the end of the military regime. A manchild with a love for
cinema yet unsettled becomes the toy of his tenant, a mysterious American
bugger. This long, perverted game of sado-maso seduction in an antique
apartment house inhabited by erratic mavericks reminds of Losey's "The
Servant", especially thanks to the actors. Colin Firth, so unimposing in
"Valmont", amazes here with bizarreness, and Hart Bochner has a sensual
magnetism worthy of Richard Gere. Both sprinkle the clumsy direction with
finesse to make an incredible machination enjoyable. But to assist the
emergence of the new talent of Martin Donovan is well worth the detour. |
