Holy Smoke!

Pros: The scenes involving Kate Winslet and Harvey Keitel.
Cons: erratic filmmaking, too much Hollywood influence in this Australian film.

What makes a person want to dive wholeheartedly into a religious cult, or even just traditional religion? What makes someone want to overhaul one’s life, on the basis of faith? While most people who go to a traditional church every Sunday are...

Pros: There's something about it. Just -something-.
Cons: Bad, bad special effects clips. Warning y ou now.

Where there's smoke, there's cheese:
Jane Campion is a strange director. There's The Piano, which was undoubtedly serious in tone, and then Sweetie that wasn't. She tackles hefty issues with a dogged determination, and then...

Pros: Shows much of the customary innovation of underground, star-centric films.
Cons: Is flawed in terms of theme, as many subterranean films are.

I am simply amazed at how well The New York Times has preserved itself. Not only does it still have its faithworthy credo, "All the news that's fit too print" in the upper-left hand corner of the front page, but, in the face of wildfire tabloid...

Pros: Superb performances by Winslet and Keitel. Some interesting ideas.
Cons: Utter mess of a film that wastes all of the considerable talent associated with it.

The script, the premise, and the direction are a mess. Holy S-M-O-K-E is not what you will be saying if you spend any money or much time with this smoked turkey. The script, the premise, and the direction are a mess.

As the film began with...

Pros: Kate Winslet, beautiful scenery
Cons: Harvey Keitel, the romanticizing of sexual coercion

In Jane Campion's latest film, HOLY SMOKE, a character tells of the photographs of male movie stars she keeps in her nightstand drawer, at which she sneaks peeks while she and her husband are making love. Campion is fortunate in that she can find people...

Pros: Keitel and Winslet, sound track, location
Cons: some untasteful issues, but hey, what the heck!

Looking for a quirky, funny, out-of-the- mainstream flick that you can't watch with the kids? This must be the one! If you want to see a film that proves that Kate Winslet really can act, feast your eyes on this one. Harvey Keitel, killer sound track in...

Pros: Winslet is lovely, the concept is interesting
Cons: the story and the relationship don't work

I expected Holy Smoke to be a much different movie than it was. The topic of exiting or deprogramming is a controversial one, and the idea of making the process come alive using two very talented actors was intriguing. So why was this film so...

Pros: Kate Winslet, but, alas, not Harvey Keitel ...
Cons: Jane Campion ...

Holy Smoke, the latest addition to the dubious Jane Campion oeuvre, has Kate Winslet large, naked and wetting herself, and that's about it. Apparently--and along with Abel Ferrara in The Bad Lieutenant--having milked Holy Smoke costar Harvey Keitel for...

Pros: Some great cinematography, mostly sound acting from Winslett.
Cons: Hopelessly muddled, full of distractions.

I try not to get too excited in advance of seeing a new film, or hearing a new album, as even the best art can suffer from great expectations. However, with Jane Campion at the helm, who made a lasting impression on me with The Piano, and starring...

Pros: Kate Winslet, Campion's Direction
Cons: The Finale

Jane Campion's cinematic remarks on women have never been more eye-catching.

When I began Holy Smoke!, I was under the impression that I was getting another look at women capturing the upperhand in a war of intelligence with a man in a grand...

Pros: Provocative subject matter and performances
Cons: Frustrating because you know they're unfairly matched

With last year's "Hideous Kinky" and now "Holy Smoke," Kate Winslet seems determined to reach beyond her classic "Titanic" heroine. In this psychosexual drama, Kate plays Ruth Barron, a young, vulnerable Australian...

Pros: Very beautiful, good characters portrayed by good actors, intelligent basis
Cons: Muddled, doesn't seem to know what to do with itself

Were I a bit less charitable and confused about this movie, I might title my review "Holy Crap!" As it stands, however, I am content to say that while Holy Smoke is certainly not one of the best films of the year, Jane Campion has included a...

Pros: Winslet is great (and great to look at)
Cons: plot gets so muddled and confused that it becomes ridiculous

On paper, the concept of "Holy Smoke" sounds interesting-girl gets swept up by cult, family gets professional "exit agent" to rescue her, guy "cures" girl. Somehow, this film, directed by Jane Campion, manages to muddle...

Pros: Brave performances and a satirical first half
Cons: Unbelievable romance ruins the second half

‘Holy Smoke’
Starring Harvey Keitel and Kate Winslet, directed by Jane Campion.
Written by Anna Campion and Jane Campion.
A Miramax release. Rated R for sexuality & language. Running time: 114 min.

Kate Winslet plays free...

Pros: seeing the acting of Winslet and Keitel together.
Cons: Goofiness becomes too much.

It's hard to deny that Jane Campion is an inventive director. But one could ask the question, "Has she gone too far?" with this one. Kate Winslet stars as Ruth, an Australian woman who gets caught up in the mysticism of a India guru. On a simple trip as...