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Frida
Director: Julie Taymor
Actors: Salma Hayek, Mía Maestro, Amelia Zapata, Alejandro Usigli, and Diego Luna
Rated: R (Restricted)
Retail Price (not our price): $14.99
Release Date: 2003-06-10
Theatrical Release Date: 2002
Studio: Miramax Home Entertainment
Run Time: 123 minutes
Format: Array
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Discs: 2


Editorial Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):

1) Amazon.com
Salma Hayek makes up for many bad movies with her fierce performance in this sumptuous film. Hayek plays the Mexican surrealist painter Frida Kahlo, whose tempestuous life with her unfaithful husband, muralist Diego Rivera (Alfred Molina), drives the story of Frida. Maverick director Julie Taymor (Titus, the Broadway stage production of The Lion King) pulls out a wealth of gorgeous visuals to capture everything from the horrific bus accident that damaged Kahlo's spine to her and Rivera's trip to New York City, where Rivera's political leanings ruptured a commission from the Rockefeller family. Though the script spends too much time telling us how great Frida's painting is (rather than trusting in the power of the images themselves), Taymor's dynamic energy and Kahlo's forceful personality give Frida genuine emotional impact. The superb cast includes Roger Rees, Valeria Golino, Ashley Judd, Geoffrey Rush, Antonio Banderas, and Edward Norton. --Bret Fetzer

2) Description
Nominated for six 2002 Academy Awards(R), including Salma Hayek for Best Actress, FRIDA is the triumphant motion picture about an exceptional woman who lived an unforgettable life! A product of humble beginnings, Frida Kahlo (Hayek) earns fame as a talented artist with a unique vision. And from her enduring relationship with her mentor and husband, Diego Rivera (Alfred Molina -- CHOCOLAT), to her scandalous affairs, Frida's uncompromising personality would inspire her greatest creations! Also starring Antonio Banderas (SPY KIDS), Ashley Judd (KISS THE GIRLS), Edward Norton (RED DRAGON), and Geoffrey Rush (QUILLS).

Customer Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5

1) Visual and emotional treat   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
I recently watched this for the second time after initially watching it some years ago and was even more impressed the second time around. While the reasons might not interest anyone but me, the fact is, this movie touched me and moved me deeply. For starters, it is a gorgeous film to watch. The seamless integration of live actors into Kahlo's stunning and evocative work is a magical joy to behold and adds even more depth to the artist's brutally candid art. Secondly, Salma Hayek and Alfred Molina deliver top notch performances and most impressive may have been Hayek who is on screen nearly the entire time. I can forgive the vanity hiring of Ashley Judd and Edward Norton as their portrayals are less than the aforementioned two, but this is a minor issue. Lastly, regarding the dvd features and what-not, the second disc is mostly behind the scenes featurettes on the making of the movie whereas the special features on the first disc have lengthy interviews that are illuminating and candid while demonstrating the love Hayek and Taymor have for Kahlo. I am not a Frida Kahlo scholar by any means nor do I wish to convey any knowledge of her art, life, politics, or anything else. I know that I find her paintings to be vivid and mesmerizing and that's enough for me. I am grateful to this movie for giving me an introduction to an artist whose work I have grown fascinated with and I am furthermore glad that I have a little knowledge, albeit Hollywoodized, of this remarkable human being. My interest has been piqued by this sumptuous love letter to Frida and I will continue to enjoy this movie and my exploration of her work and her life. I hope you find a similar experience.

2) Frida Should Be In The Top 100 Interesting People List   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
Salma Hayek does a wonderful acting job portraying Frida. Her accident arouses sympathy, and her life and art are fascinating to watch as it unfolds.

3) Frida Review   [Rating: 4 out of 5]
The movie provides a lot of reliable details on Frida's life. However, some aspects (such as her sexuality) are a bit too dramatic and deceiving. The best part of this movie is how the director managed to incorporate her paintings into the scene shots so they commanded respect.

4) Visually stunning!   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
An incredibly beautiful movie that is well-acted, portraying the often tragic life of Frida Kahlo. While her romantic entanglements may be a bit stylized for Hollywood's sake, the voice of her remarkable talent and contribution to twentieth century art comes across clearly. I highly recommend this movie to any budding artist, those of mexican heritage, and any who have an interest in studying the evolution of women in the fine arts. Sexuality, including some homosexuality, is a part of the plot and may be offensive to some viewers. Adult supervision is recommended.

5) Excelente; Perfecto   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
This is one of the best films of the decade: unique, passionate, brilliantly acted, directed and designed. It is a stunning masterpiece from first to last, a tribute to the magnificent painter and the superb actress who plays her. The cast is beyond great. Each plays his or her part with gusto. Selma Hayek plays with all her heart, a brave actress with rare skill and beauty. Molina is terrific, of course, as are all the players, large and small. I loved Rush as Trotsky, but the real star of this film is the director who, with her design team, has made one of the most visually stunning films of the century. It is so gratifying to see Mexico so well represented on film, so glorious in all its facets. The Kahlo house, of course, is a palace. What an enchanting little masterpiece of architecture. The music, the food, the clothing...it is a great advertisement for a life and a way of life.