Movie Review: ‘Kiss Of The Spider Woman’

Related Article: 5 Things We Learned At The ‘Kiss Of The Spider Woman’ Press Conference

Initial Thoughts

(L to R) Jennifer Lopez and Tonatiuh in ‘Kiss Of The Spider Woman.’ Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

At the core of ‘Kiss Of The Spider Woman’ are three powerful, unforgettable, performances. Jennifer Lopez, Diego Luna, and Tonatiuh are all incredible actors, and if nothing else, this movie is proof of that. They all ooze chemistry with one another, which is important for the story being told. However, there are some issues with the pacing that severaly take away from this, causing it to not hit the potential that it has.

Story and Direction

Bill Condon attends the ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’ New York premiere. Credit: Jason Crowley/BFA.

‘Kiss Of The Spider Woman’ essentially tells two stories that are often playing off of one another. As Molina explains his favorite movie to Valentin over the course of many days, we find life immitating art. While both of these do have their intriguing and captivating moments, the cuts back and forth often take viewers out of the experience, causing them to struggle to reconnect with the characters when they are re-introduced to them.

That said, director Bill Condon does a wonderful job capturing the feel of an early era movie, as does the production and costuming team.

(L to R) Tonatiuh and Diego Luna in ‘Kiss Of The Spider Woman’. Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

One of the biggest issues here is a key plot point that almost comes out of nowhere. Those who know the musical will be waiting for it, and those that do not, well, they will never see it coming. The issue here lies in that there really should be breadcrumbs along the way hinting that this is where things are going. It is almost too jarring and out of left field for viewers who do not know what to expect. This is largely in part, once again, due to the back and forth of the two stories.

Cast and Performances

(L to R) Tonatiuh and Jennifer Lopez in ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’. Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

As already discussed earlier in this review, the strongest part of ‘Kiss Of The Spider Woman’ is the cast. All three leads deliver performances of a lifetime. They connect with each other in unexpected and thrilling ways, always evoking a powerful emotion, no matter who they are opposite with in the scene.

(L to R) Diego Luna and Jennifer Lopez in in ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’. Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

Jennifer Lopez is not just a great actress, she is known for her singing and dancing, something we see a lot of in this movie. However, audiences will likely find themselves wanting more every time it cuts back to the prison. Still, it is impossible not to appreciate all of the musical performances, no matter how subtle or grandeous.

Final Thoughts

Jennifer Lopez in ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’. Courtesy Of Roadside Attractions.

Audiences will be drawn to the screen due to the gorgeous costumes and lead performances in ‘Kiss Of The Spider Woman’, if nothing else. While the overall stories timely and emotional, the back and forth does a disservice to both of them.

There was also no need for the film to be over two hours long. If twenty minutes or so were removed, and if the dual stories were allowed more time to breath rather than rapidly going back and forth, ‘Kiss Of The Spider Woman’ could have been a masterpiece. Instead, it is a fine enough movie that is worth seeing, if only for Diego Luna, Jennifer Lopez, and Tonatiuh.

‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’ receives a score of 65 out of 100.

(L to R) Jennifer Lopez and Tonatiuh in ‘Kiss Of The Spider Woman’. Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

What is the plot of ‘Kiss Of The Spider Woman’?

Valentín, a political prisoner, shares a cell with Molina, a window dresser convicted of public indecency. The two form an unlikely bond as Molina recounts the plot of a Hollywood musical starring his favorite silver screen diva, Ingrid Luna.

Who is in the cast of ‘Kiss Of The Spider Woman’?

‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’ opens in theaters on October 10th.

List of Bill Condon Movies:

Buy Tickets: ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’ Movie Showtimes

Buy Jennifer Lopez Movies on Amazon