Customer Reviews

Bossa Nova

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I am a 42-year old divorcee and divorced for over fourteen years now. I am also a seasoned Marketing Executive who thought she had seen it all. However, this movie made me believe in romance and companionship again. It was one of the most enchanting movies I have seen in a long time. It was also a pleasure to see more "mature" actors(obviously over 30) finding someone and enjoying life. I love all types of films, old, new, drama, action, subtitled, documentaries, you name it.I purchase& rent lots of videos weekly. I am an African-American female, who has always had an interest in Latin, Afro-Cuban & Brazilian music. Brazilian music, (Jobim)in particular, is very relaxing and tranquil. I had seen a film preview of the Amy Irving film and purchased the CD soundtrack. I played it in the car, at work, at home, even let it lull me to sleep at night. Then I found the video for rental. The mature actor with the beautiful gray hair, who feel in love with Amy, was absolutely wonderful. He was so inviting and believable. One of the most tender moments in the film was the time he spent with his father, when he selected and cut the fabric for Amy's blouse. Many Americans shy away from subtitled films, and have no patience with them. But, Americans need to take the time to watch more international film work. I have a much greater appreciation for other cultures, outside the US, because of the time spent watching foreign films. In fact, the English words are just a small part of it. I find I am more observant and watch the actors much more intently. Facial expressions and mannerisms mean so much more, because the abbreviated words don't say enough. There are not enough words to say how much this film has impacted my life. Who has not thought about running off to Rio, and floating in the warm, salty sea at dawn.........Thank you Amy!

"Bossa Nova" is the perfect marriage between American and Brazilian culture!
As a Brazilian and a Carioca ( a native of Rio ) , I was very pleased to see my hometown in this film portrayed in all its natural beauty and charm - and with the marvellous, sensual and relaxing music of Tom Jobim in the background!
The movie itself is light and funny; the photography is splendid and the characters are so typical of Brazilian culture and reality ! - (the ignorant soccer player celebrity , the elegant, worldly Ipanema woman..., the middle class romantic/naive internet girl...., the charming , successful lawyer... - and the English teacher!
(As an English teacher myself living in this city , I can assure you I run into such people in my classes and social outings quite often ! )

One of the most romantic scenes is the one in the classroom where Fagundes imagines himself dancing a Broadway show with his English teacher , Amy.
And at the very last one, when the romantic couple goes swimming in Ipanema Beach, the background music ( a Bossa Nova "classic" )- "It could only happen to you" sung both in English and Portuguese is the perfect combination of the two cultures and the romance between the main characters. It makes one feel free, happy and romantic - just like Bossa Nova itself!

If you like off beat comedies with an international flavor, you'll love this movie. I saw it three times in one week and it kept me laughing.

Mary Ann is an American widow teaching English in Rio de Janeiro. She rediscovers love with Pedro Paulo, a Brazilian lawyer. Although their love story is at the center of this film, the other characters that are intertwined in the plot make BOSSA NOVA worthy of its namesake. Like the musical genre, the movie has many layers: at the forefront, it is very sweet and simple and underneath, there is a variety of sounds and rhythms that lends it its complexity. And when its all over, it just leaves you with a wonderful free feeling. I especially enjoyed the comedy between Acacio, the soccer star and his sidekick/manager Gordo. Just hearing them trying to speak words in English, the good ones and the bad ones, with their thick Brazilian accent is worth the 20 bucks. Yet as a lover of real bossa nova, I gotta say the soundtrack is pretty weak with only modern covers of great bossa nova classics. But all in all, this is a great film and you should buy a copy of it now because you'll definately be watching it more than once.

This was a film that was in Theaters for about two minutes and then found its way to VHS/DVD. Finally. It is truly an under-rated romantic comedy that I have found (because I seem to make everyone I know watch this) to appeal to many different people of many different ages. It isn't the most original film in the world but it is well-made. Aspects of the story are like a screw-ball comedy from the thirties and other times it is a little melancholy with the right touch of longing and it addresses that oh so universal theme of trying to find that 'someone'.
It is just a simple story of two lonely people trying to meet and each time there are distractions of other people trying to meet as well and facing dreary sides of potential love.
The soundtrack matches many of the moments of film perfectly; right down to the lyrics being sung in particular scene where two of the characters meet at the most inopportune moment.
It is obvious to see why the director dedicated the film to Antonio Carlos "Tom" Jobim and Francois Truffaut. The inspirations from both artists are apparent and it seems like this is a Valentine to both the men and to the director's wife (the lead character) Amy Irving.
This is a film that isn't going to bring out any new surprises or insights into the human psyche. It is a small little snap-shot of a lovely moment.
"Bossa Nova" is like the genre of music. Swingy, breezy, casual, sensual and delightful.

I have read several reviews on this movie and frankly I think some of these people should get over themselves! This was a charming, funny and thoroughly watchable movie that takes you away from your everyday life and immerses you in the wonder that is love and Rio de Janeiro. Many people have issues with the fact that this movie shows a fairytale Rio without favelas and crime - how many movies do you see of Paris without dog poo and rudeness or London without drizzle or New York without crime - many! This is a romantic comedy and serves Rio and its actors beautifully. As someone who loves Rio in all its aspects, I was happy to see a positive side of Brazilian life rather than a gritty, depressing 'real life' scenario. Yes, favelas a real but there are millions of people in Rio who don't live in them! We see enough of the sad side of Brazilian life, every so often it is good to show the positives. Relax, take off your reality meter and wallow in the gorgeousness that is Rio, Antonio Fagundes and this sweet and funny story.

If you've been to Rio, the visuals of this film will bring it all back for you; if you're familiar with Brasilian television programs, you'll recognize the storytelling style; and if you've lived in Brasil, expect to feel saudades -- for the people, the culture, the fabric of life and living. A small video treasure.

Maybe it's not the "real" Rio, but it's certainly the one tourists with American dollars are interested in, and so that works for me! I thought this was a good film. It reminded me of the Stanley Donen film, "Charade" with Antonio Fagundes a Brazilian Cary Grant, and while Amy is no Audrey, their chemistry was superb. The young soccer star's character was hilarious. Cinematography is vibrant, like that in the movie "Frida". The music is out-of-this-world. The whole thing is like a delicious meal with yellow corn tortillas, red tomatoes green chilies on a blue stoneware plate: visually and physically satisfying. Closed captioning doesn't get in the way for a change; in fact, there are passages where CC and subtitling work together well, because the languages interchange frequently. Students of Portuguese like me who are not used to hearing the spoken language will learn a lot from this movie.

A major annoyance: during the audio commentary by husband and wife Amy Irving and Bruno Barreto, the movie's audio track goes out of sync with the video track. This irritated me a lot, and this quality glitch loses it a star. The main movie track was fine.

Look for young Max Spielberg and his brother Gabriel Barreto for a cameo. In the meantime, I'm going to see if Amazon.com has this soundtrack!

This is a hilarious romantic comedy that makes you feel good. With more twists and turns, unlikely partnerships, zany but loveable characters and beautiful scenery this is a movie that delights the senses. Set amidst the the backdrop of Sugarloaf mountain the characters parade along the beautiful beaches of Rio, in outdoor cafes or office buildings with spectacular vistas. Several other people, including the editors of Amazon have given you a pretty good idea of the multiple plots but suffice to say it has a novela or soap opera like flavor. The scenarios are unlikely but who cares? You will be having so much fun laughing at the crazy goings on, the romantic interludes and the beautiful cinematography that you won't have time to nit pick. Amy Irving, former wife of Steven Speilberg and current "wife"(not officially married but they have child) of the director of Bossa Nova, Bruno Barreto, turns in a good performance as the widowed English teacher. Her suttle charm is perfect for the role as a reluctant romantic. The collection of actors and actresses pull off an exceptional performance for a very memorable movie. Various scenes are worth playing over and over, especially some of those where Amy Irving or her students use a ball to be thrown back and forth in a visceral display as they shout profanities at one another in preparation for on the soccer pitch confrontations. The Brazilian soccer player who is headed for England to play overseas is a riot with his egocentric behavior. The wild romances are as follows: a winner of the girl from Ipenema contest(not!) and an American artist who lives in a loft in New York(not!) have an internet relationship and eventually meet, a lovely law intern being romanced by her bosses brother until she meets the Brazilian soccer star who was hot for the English teacher, the ex wife travel agent of the lawyer and her Chinese Tai Chee boyfriend and the sophisticated divorced lawyer and the English teacher. Got that? You get the point. There are other characters of note most notably the bodyguard of the soccer star who is the massive Gordo. It is a romantic farce at it's best. The music soundtrack is perfect as the soft bossa nova creates a nice counterpoint to the crazy happenings. Recommended for a light hearted look at life in beautiful Rio.

I admit i picked this up only because i love the genre of music and hoped to hear some good covers of great music. The music did not disappoint nor did the beautiful scenery but as an added bonus i loved the whole thing! Each of the characters is familiar somehow, knowable, lovable in their own way and completely human! It is classified as a romantic comedy and i guess it is-plenty of great laughs!-and lots of sweet romance. But it is also deeper, deals with disappointment, death and loss. We are not guarenteed "happily ever after". The best love is here and now.

An excellent movie that makes you think about your days in Rio if you went to this beautiful place in the past . This is a movie that have a great balance between romance and comedy , great views from Rio and it have some of the best actors from Brazil . If you like the brazilian cinema and the beauty of Rio de Janeiro this is a movie that you must have.