Viva Zapata!

Audience Reviews

View More

George R Jun 14, 2018 Viva Zapata! triumphs! Director Elia Kazan uses all his masterful skills to bring Emiliano Zapata to life. Kazan carefully lights faces in the dark, shows faces in mirror images, juxtaposes religiosity and violence, and adapts John Steinbeck's profound script with a thoughtful contemplation in cinema. Moreover, Marlon Brando realistically depicts Zapata's struggle to free his Mexican people. He adds an air of sincerity and caution in his deep gazes and wise words. Brando is excellent. You will be drawn to his magnetism and delivery. Similarly, Alex North composed a glorious score for Viva Zapata! His music soars over the battlefield and stings you in the dramatic scenes. North is at his best here amazingly still brilliant right after his musical selections from A Streetcar Named Desire. Overall, Viva Zapata is up there with Ben Hur, Spartacus, and Gladiator. This is one film to remember. Viva Zapata! See more

Anakin L Jul 10, 2017 Viva Zapata? No, Viva Villa!

Poe S Jun 25, 2017 Mexico, 1909. The people in the state of Morelos rise up against the tyrannical regime of President Porfirio Diaz. They are lead by a simple, illiterate peasant-farmer, Emilio Zapata. All he wants is justice and fairness for his people but as things progress he is drawn deeper into a civil war where allies and enemies are often difficult to tell apart. Written by John Steinbeck, directed by Elia Kazan, starring Marlon Brando and Anthony Quinn, and based on a true story, on paper this has all the makings of a classic. The end result, however, is far from satisfactory. The intention was good: show the life of a man of integrity and honour and the lengths he is willing to go to for the rights of his people, throw in a theme of how power corrupts, plus another theme of how a name can sustain a revolution. Can't fault the performances either. Brando, in his third movie, puts in a strong performance as Zapata. The movie provided him with his second Oscar nomination, after only three movies (his first was in A Streetcar Named Desire, his second movie). Anthony Quinn won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 1953 for his portrayal of Eufemio, Zapata's brother. No, it is in the execution, especially direction and editing, that things fall a bit short of their potential. The story is clumsily told by Elia Kazan. Scenes don't link well, some scenes seem entirely unnecessary and it is difficult to follow the history behind the sequence of events. No explanation is given for the seeming lack of continuity, eg Zapata is President, all seems well, then next we know it is back to civil war with Zapata a revolutionary. No detail for the change provided. This sudden change of direction, without the events that changed the direction, is incredibly jarring and disconcerting. So, in the end, you have a historic story with many of the historic details left out. Not ideal. Overall, okay, but not great. While Elia Kazan was a great director, I can't help but think this movie would have been a masterpiece if someone like John Huston, or maybe John Ford, had directed it. See more

Hagrid S Mar 31, 2017 Despite being white-washed and possessing other flaws, like being fairly slow in its first half, it still has a brilliance.

Read all reviews

Viva Zapata!

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING