Javier Bardem,
Olivier Martinez,
Andrea Di Stefano,
Johnny Depp,
Sean Penn
... see more 
For his sophomore feature film effort, visual artist Julian Schnabel chronicles the life of one of Cuba's most charismatic literary voices, the late Reinaldo Arenas. Working with Arenas' friends and f... read more
Directed by: Julian Schnabel
Release Date: January 12, 2001
Keywords:
javier bardem,
johnny depp,
sean penn,
reinaldo arenas,
Javier Bardem ,
Johnny Depp ,
Reinaldo Arenas ,
Before Night Falls
DVD Release Date: May 22, 2001
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Stats: 1,029 reviews
Your Rating
Flixster Reviews (1,029)
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February 10, 2012What a magnificent film. Julian Schnabel pulled off a real tour de force with "Before Night Falls," his second film. Gloriously artistic and gloriously humane, it tells the tragic but also uplifting story of Cuba's boy genius, the poet and novelist Reinaldo Arenas, who was brutal... read more
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April 29, 2010When it comes to biopics, there are very few that stand out as masterpieces or true representations of the real-life counterparts. However, this manages to do just that. Javier Bardemâ??s interpretation of Reinaldo Arenas is amazing. To hear about the real life counterpart and th... read more
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September 22, 2009A beautiful film with a strong message, Julian Schnabel is a great film maker and Javier Bardem is brilliant as Reinaldo Arenas! This is a warning from the past and should be on the curriculum!
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August 11, 2009The narrative style is captivating, Julien Schnabel doesn't shy from showing the virtues and the vices of Reinaldo Arenas's literary circle. Arenas, a Cuban poet, confronts the Revolution he once believed in when persecution against homosexuals in Cuba becomes blatant. In a very ... read more
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February 17, 2009Quite a difficult one to rate, as the acting was superb, whilst the film was long and drawn out. Great narration throughout by Javier Bardem, which worked well and he, as always was very impressive.
The story of Reinaldo Arenas? life is certainly an interesting one, but the f... read more -
May 30, 2008The kind of film you watch to remember why Bardem is a great actor. Also, probably the last good film that Johnny Depp made.
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February 13, 2008The trouble with biopics of literary figures is that their art is almost impossible to convey cinematically, since a film is not made of words. Though it's not immune from this limitation, the highest compliment I can pay "Before Night Falls" is that it offers enough tantalising ... read more
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January 11, 2008Although, during the first 45 minutes, Julian Schnabel's BEFORE NIGHT FALLS looks just like a movie about being gay and boning every guy that comes your way, it develops into a heartbreaking drama about the troubled life of REINALDO ARENAS, a Cuban writer in the times of the Revo... read more
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June 1, 2009Yet another masterful performance by Bardem in an emotionally penetrating film about the famous Cuban poet and novelist, Reinaldo Arenas .
Critic Reviews
June 4, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
March 12, 2001
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel
Clearly this is Bardem's show. And Bardem walks away with it.
February 23, 2001
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post
It's a struggle not just to make art but to exist, which is itself an art. And to that goal, the cast members, led by the astonishing Bardem, allow themselves to be devoured by the roles they are play... Full Review
February 23, 2001
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
Though Schnabel's first picture, Basquiat, was notable for its excess and self-indulgence, the filmmaker shows restraint and maturity in this moving depiction of Arenas's life and loves. Full Review
February 23, 2001
Houston Chronicle
Consistently intriguing and surprisingly entertaining. Full Review
February 23, 2001
Steven Rosen, Denver Post
The best American movie since American Beauty. Full Review
February 17, 2001
Steve Murray, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A visually arresting, well-acted biopic that would be better in Spanish. Full Review
February 9, 2001
Susan Stark, Detroit News
The main reason to see Before Night Falls is Bardem, one of the few modern actors with real animal appeal and the guts to show it. Full Review
February 7, 2001
Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine
Bardem hasn't the charisma to bring variety to Arenas or his plight. Full Review
February 7, 2001
David Rooney, Variety
Schnabel has fashioned a dense, emotionally satisfying portrait of a man, a time and a place. Full Review
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Before Night Falls
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