Kiss of the Spider Woman

Kiss of the Spider Woman
Starring Jennifer Lopez, Diego Luna, Tonatiuh, Tony Dovolani
Directed by Bill Condon

Ever wonder why movies, books, comics, television shows, video games and the like have been so popular since their iterations over the centuries? Because people need a way to escape from their dreary, depressing existence - not that everyone's lives are terrible, but the world we live in oftentimes highlights the negative aspects rather than the positive. By escaping into a good book, a great movie, or binge watching a television series, you lose yourself in the fantasy of another life and your cares and worries disappear. It's a magical thing when you think about it. "Kiss of the Spider Woman" - a novel turned movie turned stage play turned a Tony-winning stage play turned to movie - shows what happens when two men escape their dreary circumstances and lose themselves in the story filled with Technicolor hopes and dreams.

In Argentina during the Dirty War, Valentin Arregui Paz (Diego Luna), a political dissident involved with a revolutionary group, is imprisoned for his participation and for knowing information he's not willing to share. Hardened, he's displeased when he learns he has a roommate in his cell - gay window dresser Luis Molina (Tonatiuh), who's been imprisoned for public indecency. At first the two men don't get along, but Luis shares his love for films - in particular, one called "Kiss of the Spider Woman" - and he proceeds to tell Valentin about it, transporting the two men into a colorful world led by the alluring Aurora (Jennifer Lopez), who falls for the handsome Armando (also Luna) to the chagrin of her faithful and homosexual assistant Kendall Nesbitt (also Tonatiuh), with the threat of the curse of the Spider Woman (also Lopez) looms over all three. As Luis tells more of the story, the two men grow closer, even as Luis's secret threatens to break up the friendship and Valentin's unwillingness to give information threatens his very life.

"Kiss of the Spider Woman" is a wonderful blend of the fanciful and realism, with stunning cinematography, lavish musical numbers, and three actors giving six powerful performances - so essentially it's getting double for what you pay for. I've never seen any of the other iterations (and diehards are already complaining about the changes made for this one), so I got nothing to go off of except for what I saw, and what I saw was a brilliant film that highlights the importance of cinema and the bonds that tie people together.

The framing device of the movie centers on the Dirty War in Argentina, where over 30,000 people were killed or imprisoned. Director Bill Condon and cinematographer Tobias Schliessler give a depressing color palette filled with dreary blues and greys that highlight the depression Luis and Valentin endured while they were in prison. Almost solely shot in the cell room they share, the men face uncertain futures in a country ravaged by war as they also endure the torture of their captors including food poisoning and beatings. So Luis sharing "Kiss of the Spider Woman" is a welcome escape from their reality, and serves as the bridge that connects the two men who were first at odds, but at the end become more than friends. It's a passionate, bold approach that showcases the talent of Diego Luna and especially newcomer Tonatiuh that you believe their natural budding friendship and love that transcends their current situation. 

When Luis tells Valentin the story, we're transported to a Technicolor dreamland, filled with bright vivid set designs, dazzling costumes, exquisite choreography and toe-tapping songs that helps the men - and us - escape from our dreary realities. Both Luna and Tonatiuh play different roles in this world as well - Luna as Aurora's love interest, and Tonatiuh as her longsuffering assistant - but here both their performances are more muted for a very good reason. This is Jennifer Lopez's story, and she more than electrifies the screen as both Aurora and the Spider Woman. She can sing, obviously, and everyone knows her ability to craft picturesque choreography, so essentially this is her wheelhouse. Even her acting is superb, giving an awards-worthy performance not seen from her since her snub in "Hustlers."

With a story as rich as it is equally depressing and uplifting, "Kiss of the Spider Woman" is an excellent musical with three A-list leads that fully immerse you in their story, giving fully fleshed out characters and emotions that hit all the right notes.

The Score: A+