Tempest (1982)

Tempest (1982)

Synopsis:
A successful middle-aged architect (John Cassavetes) breaks up with his actress wife (Gena Rowlands) and travels to Greece with his 13-year-old daughter Miranda (Molly Ringwald). When Rowlands and her gangster boyfriend (Vittorio Gassman) come after Miranda, Cassavettes flees to a remote Greek island with his daughter and his free-spirited new girlfriend, Aretha (Susan Sarandon).

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

  • Coming-of-Age
  • Deserted Island
  • Greece
  • Mid-Life Crisis
  • Paul Mazursky Films
  • Paul Stewart Films
  • Shakespeare
  • Susan Sarandon Films

Response to Peary’s Review:
As Peary points out, Paul Mazursky’s unusual adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Tempest (or, more accurately, its prequel) has “sophisticated dialogue”, “terrific ensemble” acting, and “some genuinely poignant two- and three-character scenes”. While Cassavetes’ character is irredeemably annoying, Sarandon is as winsome as always, and Ringwald is highly believable as young Miranda. Unfortunately, the story — which shifts back-and-forth both chronologically and geographically — is hard to follow, and there are far too many “long, self-conscious stretches”. It’s an interesting experiment, but ultimately not an entirely successful one.

Redeeming Qualities:

  • Susan Sarandon, eminently watchable as always
  • Molly Ringwald in a self-possessed film debut
  • Gorgeous scenery of Greece

Must See?
No. This is an interesting modern interpretation of Shakespeare, but not essential viewing.

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One thought on “Tempest (1982)

  1. Not “hard to follow”, but hard to swallow.

    This is a bore. A very nice, exotic location for one of the dullest films around.

    Rich architect has a mid-life crisis. Boo-hoo.

    What happens then: a great big fat nothing. 142 minutes of a GBFN.

    Good cast literally at sea.

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