Customer Reviews

Boca [VHS]

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This action/mystery set in Brazil several years ago is a bit dated but still gripping. The writers seem to have been very troubled by the well-publicized abuses of the street children in Rio and looking for a story that would make the problem real in the minds of American film viewers. They came up with an obvious but believable plot line--an American journalist (Rae Dawn Chong) travels to Rio during Carneval determined to find out who really is behind the murder of these innocents. No one wants to tell her anything until she comes in contact with a shadowy local boss named Boca (Mouth, which is short for Mouth of Gold, because his teeth are all gold). As she continues to dig, she becomes increasingly immersed in the Carneval state of mind, with not entirely happy results. The story builds up to a stunning plot twist, followed by an apocalyptic shootout--at which point, I'm sorry to say, the writers seem to have run out of inspiration and have to introduce a character from some other movie (played by Martin Sheen) to bring the film to its conclusion without everyone in Rio getting killed. The ending really disappoints, but nevertheless this is an engaging and entertaining film, featuring Rae Dawn Chong at her best (how an actress of her ability wound up doing network TV is beyond me). She dominates every scene she is in, which is almost every one. She looks great too, and I should add that by the time the film is done we have seen just about all of her--if nudity offends you, you definitely don't want to rent this video. Again, this is a very intriguing and engrossing film, marred only by the writers' failure to come up with quite enough ideas to get to the end of it.

This is a different and interesting film that involves the viewers emotions. Chong's performance is outstanding. Her talents are often underated.Watching this film that mistake is almost impossible to make.The film has weak points,but is certainly worth watching.At times touching,brutal,erotic--it can take you for a ride.

Very stylish melodramatic movie. I wish they would put this movie on DVD already. Superb acting. There is a great love scene from the incredibly gorgeous Rae Dawn Chong. Other than Quest For Fire this is her best movie.

I lived in Venezuela for 4 years, went to high school there, so this movie had extra interest for me. It's an accurate visual, good story, well acted and editing makes the movie something special, almost surreal. Four stars only because it's not as good as Dr Zhivago, etc., which I would rate 5 stars.

I won't go into the plot much, only that it's about street kids in Brazil, drugs, exploitation and murder. I was in Caracas, Venezuela, 1965-1969, the streets were full of little kids in rags, some as young as 5yrs., selling El Mundo, the most popular newspaper. They lived in the sewers, would swipe anything not nailed down, lived off the scraps left from outdoor restaurants, whatever they could get.

I revisited Venezuela in the 1990's, and the city (Caracas) was cleaned up, the street kids not visible. There are more poor living in the hills surrounding Caracas, not less, than in the 60's; one idea about what happens to the kids is addressed in Boca.

Well worth a view if you can find it, not available in DVD, only VHS, used.

Deep dark semi film noir that really brings out the true acting ability of this somewhat overlooked actress.

I'm a fan of Rae Dawn Chong which is the reason I purchased this movie. The movie isn't all that great in that the photography is rather disjointed, flashing in and out of scenes and sometimes a little hard to follow what is happening. There are some rather, gritty scenes of poverty in Brazil. Rae Dawn Chong was great, so I was satisfied with the purchase.
The supplier was particularly co-operative in that they sent the movie weeks before Amazon gave as the shipping date, and they included a DVD copy of this 1994 VHS movie, at no extra charge.

The premise of the story is real. I ordered the film on the advice of a Brazilian co-worker from Rio; tired of all the "Brazilian" films that gloss over the reality of the streets of Rio. Although an older film, the story still rings true today. If you liked this film but found it a bit lacking; rent "City of God" AND the Brazilian television series "City of Men" (shown a couple of years ago on the Sundance Channel).

I agree with one reviewer here who says that the characters of Boca himself, the brutal gangster, and his feral Brazilian mistress - they are the jewels in this film. One of the most memorably erotic movies I have ever seen. I wish, like another reviewer, that it would come out as a DVD. I'd snap it up in a second.

I certainly agree that Rae Dawn Chong is outstanding and I also agree concerning Martin Sheen (Am I in the right film?) However, the person who totally stole the film (in my opinion) is Tarcisio Meira. (He of the gold teeth) The chilling, casual way he murders those in his way convinced me. His was truly a shocking performance. I've seen very little about him. Does anyone have any information about him?