Lumsdal Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

AutCuddly Great movie! If you want to be entertained and have a few good laughs, see this movie. The music is also very good,

Ariella Broughton It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

Caryl It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

longislandlloyd "Passionada" is a very light and enjoyable film. But the story has been done a million times over by Hollywood and on TV. It's the typical tale of a worldly, WASPy guy who meets and romances an ethnic, family-devoted girl. You just knew that there would be a clash of cultures and an eventual break-up. She would undoubtedly tempt her guy with ethnic food, dance and song, and even sensual sex. And he would tempt her with excitement, luxuries, and new adventures that only a man from outside her world could promise her. Sound familiar? Some people here complained about the lack of authenticity due to the director using non-Portuguese actors and Brazilian music. I don't think it made any difference. The acting and music and shots of the locale were very authentic and first-rate. The only thing that I couldn't figure out was all the casino scenes, since there are no casinos in New Bedford, Mass. The nearest ones are Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods in Conn., over an hour away. And Vicky, the young daughter, drove her scooter all the way over there and back on school nights? And if Charlie was such a professional card counter at Blackjack, banned from every casino, why was he broke? I must've missed something during a bathroom break. Other than that, "Passionada" is a fun film and a good insight into Portuguese-American culture, if that's your thing.

Claudio Carvalho In a Portuguese fishing colony, in New Bedford, Massachusetts, the widow singer of "Fado" Célia Amonte (Sofia Milos) has been grieving the death of her beloved fisherman husband for seven years. She lives with her teenager daughter Vicky (Emmy Rossum), and her mother-in-law is her neighbor next door. The English gambler Charles Beck, who is spending some days with his wealthy friends Daniel Vargas (Seymour Cassel) and Lois (Theresa Russell), falls in love with her, and lies about his past to conquer the love of Célia. "Passionada" is a nice romance. Indeed, it is literally a delicious romance, with many Portuguese and Spanish dishes, which made me feel hungry. The story is predictable, but a great entertainment, and the cast is very attractive. I glanced some reviews in IMDb, and I really found very funny comments. First of all, the Portuguese spoken along the movie is from Portugal. There is a joker, who wrote that the accent was from Brazil, but only the Portuguese people who live in Brazil has that accent (just in time, my grandmother was Portuguese and I am Brazilian, so I can tell about accents). I do not know Spanish, but "Passionada" is neither a Portuguese nor an English word. I believe that it might be a combination of the English word "Passion" (from Charles Beck, the English card player) with "Apaixonada" (from Portuguese, meaning in love), with the author playing with words. Célia prepares many dishes of fish and seafood for Charles, and she has never mentioned that they are Portuguese dishes (inclusive one of them is from Mozambique). There are dozens of ways of preparing "bacalhau" (codfish), and not only oven-made, and the "bolinhos de bacalhau" (codfish cakes) are perfect. Indeed, Paella is a typical Spanish dish, but her intention is to show Charles different meals she was able to cook. In accordance with IMDb information, Sofia Milos was born in Zurich, Switzerland, and not in Greece. At the street parade, the song is sang with the Portuguese of Portugal accent. The song, when they dance is "A Felicidade", a Brazilian "bossa nova" of Vinicious de Morais and Tom Jobim (it is not a "samba", or "soft???-samba"). It is amazing the number of nonsense I read about this movie in IMDb. The alternative end is horrible and fortunately was deleted. My vote is seven.Title (Brazil): This DVD is not available in Brazil.

MissWatusi After reading all the glowing reviews on this site for this movie I wonder if I saw the same movie. To me it was little more than a made for TV movie shown on the Lifetime channel on a Sunday afternoon. First of all, the plot and lives of the characters did not ring true. We saw the mother at work once. We never saw the daughter going to school, yet she stayed out all night at the casino. The mother let her daughter meet people from the internet? The dialogue was stilted and the acting was bad. The mother asked "What?" several times. That was annoying. I cringed at the performances of Vicky, Grandma, Lois, and Lois' husband. The movie dragged on and on. Oh, well. Such is life.

pam-106 Passionada is such an unpretentious movie that its unique charm and superb craft sneak up on you, and by the end, win you over in such a refreshing way that is really stays with you...and for me, that's the sign of a wonderful movie!I haven't felt so good watching a movie this simple in a long time. And, if its complexity you're looking for, I suggest you see Dan Ireland's other film, The Whole Wide World. But, for me, Passionada may look simple, but to pull off what Ireland does so successfully here is an almost next to impossible feat. This is a sunny, optimistic celebration of love and second chances, told with the artistry of a European master. In a world of 'edge' from independent filmmakers, this is a welcome and refreshing departure. It's almost like you have been transported back in time to a happier, more care free world, where the most important thing is family, community and personal happiness. Sound unusual?The cast is sublime, especially Sofia Milos. What a beauty, what a performance! She's a cross between Anna Magnani and Sophia Loren, with a little Irene Pappas thrown in for a chaser. Emmy Rossum is going to be a big star, and like Renee Zellweger, she owes Ireland big time in his brave choice of casting her in a role (I read that she was 14 at the time) that she wasn't old enough to play, but did it so beautifully! Also, like what The Whole Wide World did for Zellweger (she got Jerry Maguire from it), I hear this film brought Rossum to the attention of Joel Schumacher who cast her in the lead role of Christine in The Phantom of the Opera.Jason Isaacs is perfect in a very difficult part, but he plays it to Cary Grant perfection. This should open eyes to those that only think he can play a villain.The score by the always amazing Harry Gregson-Williams, the intoxicating singing of Fado songs and the sumptuous cinematography by Ireland's long time collaborator, Claudio Rocha are nothing less than first rate.If you want to be taken to a world where you've never been before, rent this DVD. Such a shame it was wasted in its brief theatrical release. Don't let this one slip by. If you long for a film that will make you feel good, here it is. Do yourself a BIG favor.