Konterr Brilliant and touching

Beanbioca As Good As It Gets

Lancoor A very feeble attempt at affirmatie action

Kimball Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Python Hyena Bossa Nova (2000): Dir: Bruno Barreto / Cast: Antonio Fagundes, Amy Irving, Alexandre Borges, Drica Moraes, Debora Bloch: Brazilian comedy about the nature of romance. Amy Irving stars as an English teacher who has a friend in an Internet relationship. An attorney takes her English class in hopes of meeting her. His wife dumped him for a tai chi instructor. Director Bruno Barreto populates the film with interesting characters. He previously made One Tough Cop and Four Days in September. Irving is terrific as a widow confused about her emotions yet takes a chance on a new relationship. Antonio Fagundes is hilarious as he tests the depths of love, but one may question whether the attorney made the honourable choice. Hilarious supporting work by Alexandre Borges as a soccer player who steals every scene he is in, and Drica Moraes who indulges in Internet dating perhaps because it presents a mystery. Director Barreto succeeds in presenting these characters realistic yet with effective comic twerks that pay off. The conclusion makes the romantic elements somewhat questionable, but this film thrives more on humour and the cast pull through big time on dialogue and funny situations. It presents romance within culture and our methods of pursuit, whether effective or not. Theme of influence is evident but boarders on sex, which is flimsy yet entertaining here. Score: 8 / 10

Benedict_Cumberbatch Most Brazilians complain that Brazilian movies only show the poverty and the arid landscapes of Northeast Brazil. I particularly think that we shouldn't conceal the sad reality of so many places in Brazil, and films like "Central Station" and "City of God" are brilliant in their own right. But we can't deny that there should be more Brazilian movies out there showing all the beauty from this country, and "Bossa Nova" is one of those rare movies.Director Bruno Barreto ("Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands") doesn't try to start a socio-political speech here. He cast his own wife Amy Irving as a charming American lady who teaches English in Rio, and falls in love with one of her students, a lawyer played by mature leading man Antonio Fagundes. Barreto's intention was to make a romantic comedy in Rio de Janeiro, dedicated to/inspired by Tom Jobim and François Truffaut. Not an art-house flick, not an Oscar movie. Just an enjoyable love story with great music and beautiful landscapes. And he succeeded. Far from being a masterpiece, "Bossa Nova" is a lovely film that should be seen by anyone who'd like to spend some pleasant 95 minutes, watching a not so popular (at least, not as it should be) side of this unique country. 7.5/10.

kckrause Yes this is not a "deep" movie, but it made me feel good! It shows the beautiful side of Rio, the spontaneous optimism of Cariocas in very beautiful visuals on screen. It is very funny and touching at times, covering several lives and relationships between Gringoes and Cariocas. A Gringoe that escaped to Rio and made a new life, a famous Soccer player getting ready to leave his beloved Rio, a Carioca couple going through a rough patch and a Carioca in love with her online Gringoe. I feel the happiness they feel about life even though they deal with death, betrayal, loss... It makes you feel good about this life we all live, even if it does not show the "bad" side of Rio. If you want to escape into a modern Hollywood version of a Gringoe in Rio interacting with Cariocas, this is it!

Jim Shippey While other comments here have focused on the 'feminine' quotient of the picture, it should be noted that Bossa Nova goes beyond the formulaic approach ala Return to Me, and instead goes for a more Altman-like approach. The confluence of a myriad of characters of diverse backgrounds (including Alexandre Borges [the star of the epic Um Copo de Cólera] as a soccer star about to be traded to an English League team) comes together in a fashion not unlike Altman's Nashville, with some winners and some losers, including nice guys. No, as mentioned earlier, this does not show you a gritty, realistic Rio, but after the fantasy Broadway song and dance sequence, who the hell would have expected it? Ultimately, the film leaves you feeling good, albeit a bit empty, like most summer fare here in the States.