Stream it now Holy Smoke 1999

 

hehe Wonderful contribution I just feel lonely now. doiop.com/luciasweet

Religious leaders are both charismatic and dangerous in this very in depth look into cults and their effect on the individual. A movie/documentary. Many truths to this film. Harvey Keitel is always so natural and comfortable in his own skin. Kate Winslet is very convincing. Portions of this movie are a little creepy. Some sexual content, which is always cool.

Odd, awkward, funny, scattershot, sensual. Not for everyone.

I only watched this movie because Kate Winslet was in it, and her acting was phenominal - but the storyline itself was neither here nor there....

While I will give the film some props for the fact that the movie was well shot and well acted, but at times, I just couldn't figure out what the fu*k was going on throughout the movie. It went from India to wierd group orgies. Wierd

Loved this movie-- one of my all-time faves. Winslet and Keitel are perfectly matched for these roles. Campion is revolutionary.

oh its ok but too pissing movie....

Well I did get to see Kate Winslet nude which is a big plus. And suprisingly Keitel shows a little flesh ;). Thats all I have to say about it as I found to be pretty bland and uninteresting.

Girl joins cult. Family doesn't like it. Call in Harvey, acting very much like Mr.Wolf, to deprogram.

Watch 39 minutes of TV time. Get bored with it. Turn off.

That was my experience. What could have been interesting was not.

Best in Show: Kate Winslet
One for the future: Kate Winslet
Stand-out scene: Keitel donning a dress
Brainer or no-brainer: Brainer
Stands up to one viewing or repeated?: Repeated
DVD commentary any good?: n/a

TV
I adored Jane Campion's Sweetie when I caught it on TV a few years ago and have subsequently actively sought out her work. While this carries the same distinct obtuseness that polarises opinion on her films, she remains one of the most important female writer/directors plying her craft today. Once again this is a story with a strong female character at its heart. In this instance Sydney-born Ruth Barron is travelling in India when she falls under the influence of a Guru figure. Alarmed that she has joined a religious cult, her mother joins her and persuades her to return home to Australia by claiming that her father is terminally ill. With the Barrons enlisting the services of American exit counsellor P. J. Waters, Ruth is forced to undergo a three-day one-on-one intensive exit programme at an outback shack. However, the one-on-one attention becomes more than psychological when Waters falls for his young charge. Brave performances from Winslet and Keitel in which they physically and psychologically subsume themselves in their characters render this a movie with real impact, the sun-drenched locations adding a welcome extra dimension to its charm. We need more intelligent, thought-provoking films like this.