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Havana (1990)

Robert Redford , Lena Olin , Sydney Pollack  |  R |  DVD
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)

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Product Details

  • Actors: Robert Redford, Lena Olin, Alan Arkin, Raul Julia
  • Directors: Sydney Pollack
  • Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Letterboxed, NTSC, Widescreen
  • Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
  • Subtitles: English, Spanish
  • Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated: R (Restricted)
  • Studio: Universal Studios
  • DVD Release Date: June 1, 2010
  • Run Time: 145 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: 0783229429
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,605 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
  • Learn more about "Havana" on IMDb

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

When Havana was released in 1990, a lot of reviewers unfavorably compared it to Casablanca, and those comparisons (in addition to audience indifference) turned the film into a box-office disaster. It deserved a better fate, because, while this is certainly no masterpiece, it's an intelligent and lavishly produced film about a chapter of history--the final days of Cuba under the collapsing Batista regime--that remains largely unfamiliar to the American mainstream. It's a compelling political backdrop for the story of a high-stakes gambler (Robert Redford) who comes to Cuba seeking the big score in poker games, following his expectation that high rollers will bet wildly as the Cuban government crashes around their heads. In Havana, Redford meets the wife (Lena Olin) of a Communist revolutionary (Raul Julia) with ties to Fidel Castro, and their attraction becomes powerfully mutual after her husband is presumed killed by Cuban police. What follows, as Cuba falls and Redford's character is forced into a crisis of conscience, is a mini-epic love story with tragic overtones, handled with great skill (albeit lagging pace) by long-time Redford collaborator Sydney Pollack. True, it's not nearly as memorable as Casablanca, but this is a worthwhile film, especially if you're interested in the political upheavals in pre-Castro Cuba. --Jeff Shannon

Product Description

Robert Redford, Lena Olin, Raul Julia. A high-rolling gambler trying for a big score in 1958 Havana falls for the beautiful, enigmatic wife of a revolutionary. 1990/color/140 min/R/widescreen.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
34 of 38 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Cuba Libre. May 11, 2004
Format:DVD
In a highball glass, pour 1.5 - 2 oz rum over ice cubes, add the juice of 1/2 lime and fill up with coke.

That's the recipe for the drink political correctness has renamed "Rum and Coke," but which most of us also still know by its original name, Cuba Libre. And the cocktail invented just over 100 years ago to celebrate Cuba's freedom from Spain perfectly epitomizes the state of the island republic's society towards the late 1950s' end of the Batista regime: A sweet, tangy, intoxicating Caribbean foundation, mixed with the classical American exports; from Coke, cars and cigarettes to expatriates and their money ... except, alas, for the greatest thing the U.S. might have brought to Cuba, assistance in establishing democracy. Instead, during Batista's 30-year dictatorship, Cuba - and particularly Havana - became the Latin Las Vegas, a place where the action was on, the stakes were high, flesh was cheap, gambling was legal (and largely controlled by American mobster Meyer Lansky) and the party never ended.

Until, beset by the revolutionary movement led by a certain Fidel Castro, Batista fled the country in the early morning hours of January 1, 1959. And suddenly the party was over.

The last days of Batista's regime are the backdrop for 1990's "Havana," which sees high-stakes poker ace Jack Weil (Robert Redford) in Cuba for the game of his life. He has played "every elks' club and moose hole in America" and remembers every hand of every game, he tells Lansky's right-hand man Joe Volpi (Alan Arkin). Now he wants a shot at the big one - playing with guys who don't even think how much they're playing for.
... Read more ›
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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Very, very good.... November 6, 2006
Format:DVD
Funny how time changes things. When this movie was first released, I found it boring and impenetrable -- and, yes, a direct rip-off of 'Casablanca'. At the time, I compared it to 'Out of Africa', which I had considered the ultimate Pollack/Redford collaboration, and I wondered what had gone wrong with 'Havana'.

After several re-viewings, I have to admit it - I was wrong about 'Havana'. I now look upon 'Out of Africa' as slow and dull except for Meryl Streep's amazing, jaw-dropping performance, and Redford was horribly miscast in a role that should have required a British accent (and a British actor). As far as 'Havana' is concerned...this is an absorbing and compelling film about the last days of pre-Castro Cuba. The sets are marvellous and seem very realistic, and Robert Redford's performance as the loner poker shark Jack Weil may very well be the best of his career (he should have at least received a Best Actor nomination). Alan Arkin and Raul Julia also deliver solidly in supporting roles. As noted by several other reviewers, Lena Olin is the weak spot -- imagine what a strong female presence, like a Meryl Streep or a Diane Keaton or even a Charlotte Rampling, could have done with this characterization. The lack of real chemistry between Redford and Olin is very, very obvious and does drag down the overall quality of the film a bit. However, the story is compelling throughout -- especially to those interested in political history of the last fifty years -- and the ending ties up things quite nicely. 'Havana' may not be a timeless, great movie, but it is VERY well-done and deserves a reevaluation. It holds up today as one of the better films of the 1990's. Time has been good to it.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Better than I expected December 3, 2004
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is really a beautiful movie on several levels. The sets and atmosphere really do seem to capture the feel of pre-revolution Havana. Redford is quite good in the lead, although I was less impressed Lena Olin as a leading lady. She seemed a bit stiff in many scenes and I wasn't as convinced that a hard core gambler and pleasure seeker like Redford's character would be so quick to fall for her. I thought that Raul Julia was great in a relatively small part.
The movie really was more about atmospherics for me than anything to do with the love story. I enjoyed the depiction of Havana and the decadence of it's nightlife as well as the growing threat of violence as the rebels approach. The night of the government's fall is very similar to the scene from Godfather II including people smashing parking meters, etc.
All in all I would recommend this for those interested in Cuba during that period.
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars a beautiful love story January 24, 2006
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The Act takes place during the final days of Cuba under the collapsing Batista regime.
A high-stakes card gambler (Robert Redford) comes very often to Cuba seeking big score poker games. On this final trip he meets the wife of a rich Physician allied to Castro. Redford is immediately attracted to her and it becomes mutual after the husband is arrested and presumed killed by the Cuban police. The Love affair will direct the rest of the movie until the Batista regime finally falls in the hand of Castro's revolution.
A beautiful love story combined with with good history scenes of that period in Havana.
The DVD quality is good. If you watch and like this movie than I would highly recommend to you; "The Bridges of Madison County" and "Saigon"
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting
An interesting view of the demise of a country being falsely led into communism. This version vs Cuba was considered a more romantically interesting version, although... Read more
Published 1 month ago by John Thompson
3.0 out of 5 stars IT'S OKAY
The premise to this movie about a high-stake gambler travelling to fascist Batista Cuba to play poker with high-rollers in American gangster controlled casinos during a communist... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Harry Georgatos
5.0 out of 5 stars A Time Capsule
Perfect in virtually every way: in capturing the feel and flavor of pre-Castro Havana; in its performances (Redford and Olin are magnificent, but the short appearance by Mark... Read more
Published 5 months ago by bibliophhile
5.0 out of 5 stars movie review
Great movie hard to imagine Cuba was once that open to us. Imagine if it was that friendly to us now.
Published 13 months ago by William F Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Dave Grusin
This is just one more work of art by the Great Dave Grusin; I never tire from listening to his music...I can't say anymore than that.
Published 18 months ago by Donald Lombardi
4.0 out of 5 stars Pollack and Redford classic
The initial reviews of this film were good, but not spectacular. Disregard any negative ones. This is an impressive film. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Robert Haro
5.0 out of 5 stars Love this movie!
Great movie! One of the more underrated movies by the reviewers at the time of release. Robert Redford and Lena Olin turn out great performances as two people falling in love... Read more
Published on May 30, 2011 by Bigguy43055
5.0 out of 5 stars Havana
So many reviewers did not like this movie,
As is usually the case they are w a y off the mark on this one!
This bit of work is elegant and opulent in its presentation. Read more
Published on October 18, 2009 by prospero
5.0 out of 5 stars Hotter Than A Cuban Cigar
This is my 2nd selection/purchase from Amazon and it is another winner! Excellent product, price and quality. Read more
Published on October 15, 2009 by Norma Bailey
5.0 out of 5 stars Havana Movie Soundtrack
I really liked the music. Particularly when Robert Redford enters a club and there's a male singer (whose voice sounds alot like Jon Lucien). Read more
Published on June 2, 2009 by Music
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