tbills2
This epic, sprawling medieval adventure starring Rutger Hauer and Jennifer Jason Leigh is like a one of a kind, terrific, brutal, and audacious warmhearted tale with warranted flesh and blood. Jennifer Jason Leigh is as sweet, as pretty, as gorgeous as they come. Hauer and Leigh give epic+sprawling portrayals! I really love Jennifer's epic sprawl in Flesh+Blood! A 6.9! I love this movie. An 8 in my book. JJL is like a sweet feast! I love her. She's got the goods.
videorama-759-859391
This is just what cinema needed in 1985. Flesh And Blood is certainly different and thankfully so. For me, the movie's a guilty pleasure that I like, especially seeing as Rutger Hauer's one of more favorite actors (charming devil). It has a great cast, who deliver wonderful performances, plus two Australian imports, one who's future became pretty bleak afterwards, where I really wouldn't say his performance here, was impressive. Set back in 1506, Western Europe if I'm correct, in medieval time, a bunch of thieves led by Hauer, lower class sorts, have had the dirty done on em' where they're forced to hand over their loot by the very noble men, who pay em' for their takings. So begins a tale of revenge by these thieves, where a young girl, Agnes (the versatile Jennifer Jason Leigh) has been promised as a wife for a young inventor, Steven (Burlinson) is snatched where she must play revenge driven Hauer to survive (that spa scene in the castle, I'll never forget) Of course being a Verhoeven film, this tale seems to be one to show sleaze and shock, and it does with some moments, some nudity bits I highly approve of. Remember it's Verhoeven, where he's brought a masterful cinematic experience to the screen which is richly rewarding, and entertainingly captivating. It has a great turning point where the thieving peasants, contract the plague, thanks to a dead dog, that ended up in a well, prior to them drinking water from it. The film is periodically shot with excellence, as to the sets whatever, we really feel we're there in medieval times. It's great when these period films or are pumped up with sex and violence, and sleaze, where I can't fault director Paul here, as being a big fan of his. The last frame is memorable with a wandering, vanquished, and undead Hauer. Well done Paul, well done.
SnoopyStyle
It's 1501 Western Europe. Martin (Rutger Hauer) leads a group of veteran mercenaries. Arnolfini promises them 24 hours of looting but he recants on his promise. Arnolfini's son Steven (Tom Burlinson) is engaged to Agnes (Jennifer Jason Leigh). Their caravan is attacked by Martin and Agnes is taken. Steven struggles to rescue her.Paul Verhoeven gives us lots of sex and violence in this medieval drama. It has since become his signature move. It's over the top nature was only restrained by his budget. Of course, Verhoeven gets people to walk around naked especially Jennifer. This could be categorized as cheese. Mind you, it's extremely high class expensive cheese. The humor can be very broad. Some of the acting is very big. All of it very memorable. The best part may be the sexual relationships that goes on in this movie. Who seduces who is maybe the most compelling question. The love triangle looks different depending on which side you're coming from. It's both compelling and a fun guilty pleasure.
