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The Lost City (2005)
Rate:
6
Viewed:
5/24
5/24:
It's inevitable: Andy Garcia must direct a movie about his native country Cuba.
The problem? Nobody cares. Hence, it grossed $4.4 million against a budget of $9.6. You know, every time the story takes
place in Cuba, it always has to be about the revolution. The Godfather Part II
covered the subject pretty well that there's no need for another. Then, Robert Redford must have his own:
Havana. It became one of the biggest bombs ever during the 90's. Not the one to be daunted,
The Lost City appeared, and *drum roll* history repeated.
To be fair, it's a nice-looking picture with plenty of Cuban music and fashion which was actually shot on location in
Dominican Republic; that's because it would've been 100% impossible to do so in Cuba. Another treat is the collection
of familiar Latino stars from way back such as Tomas Milian, Elizabeth Peña, Tony Plana, Juan Fernández, and Steven Bauer.
Strangely, almost everybody in the cast isn't Cuban, and it's a very English-speaking picture given the official language
of Cuba is Spanish. Anyway, the acting is fine, but I question the ornamental presences of Bill Murray, although I
understand he's there as the sarcastic voice of reason, and Dustin Hoffman.
In spite of the thin story that's not initially ambitious, the second half is better than the first, but Andy Garcia
has a hard time letting the film go, hence the prolonged ending of him on the stairs. He also makes Cuba irrelevant in the
eyes of common people as they're never featured; it's all about the elite, wealthy people who felt forced to give up
everything and leave the country for good.
By the way, the on-screen depiction of Che Guevara is accurate; he was actually a mass murderer and an idiot windbag whom
nobody including Fidel Castro could stand. That's why he was sent to Bolivia in the form of good riddance. As for the
revolution, it was simply a corrupt leader being replaced by an even more corrupt leader. When Andy Garcia's character
made an insulting remark at a party with Castro standing atop the balcony, he would've never gotten away with it. The
most likely outcome is he'll be imprisoned, tortured, and summarily executed by a firing squad. As for his "girlfriend"
showing no interest in leaving the country, it's no big deal to me because she happened to be his...late brother's wife!
All in all, The Lost City is a fair directorial achievement for Andy Garcia, but it runs too long by trying to touch
everything as possible.