A Walk in the Clouds (1995) User Reviews

Step into the magic!

[Nazi_Fighter_David · 8/10 · 21 June 2003]

After working as an actor in such films as Sam Peckinpah's controversial Western "The Wild Bunch," and starred in Alejandro Jodorowsky's legendary cult film "El Topo," Alfonso Arau makes his directorial debut in a magical Mexican art film, 'Like Water for Chocolate,' set during the Mexican Revolution...

His success makes him direct his first English-language feature, where he presents the strength and beauty of the bonds that can unite human hearts...

The time was right after World War II...

The place was more lovely than you ever imagined... Gorgeous scenery dominated by vineyards, the perfect nestle for a romantic fairy tale...

Everything comes from the heart in this rich heartwarming film... Arau's vision and dream was to build a tunnel between what we know and don't know about two-spirited people, the roots and blood-ties of a family, its traditional values, and its attachment to the earth...

Arau reinforces the borders of tradition in the Mexican aristocratic family who have lived on American soil for generations, describing her fundamental values: family solidarity, religious commitment, and cooperation with the land and nature... His motion picture derives its emotional power not only from the sweet love that blossoms between Paul and Victoria, but from the unconditional familial love that the young GI encounters while at her hacienda... Each type of love is strengthened through the knowledge that one leads to the other...

Keanu Reeves plays the quiet expressive dreamer who finds the traditional values in a magical place... He is a genteel seller of chocolate candy who, en route on a train from San Francisco to Sacramento, meets a graduate student in crisis... He learns that she is frightened to return home because she is pregnant and unmarried...

To protect Victoria from her father's wrath, and ignoring obviously the outcome, Paul tells Victoria that he believes "there's a perfect someone for everyone - someone who'll love you no matter what." He gallantly insists in posing as her husband just for one night...

Making her American film debut, Aitana Sanchez-Gijon plays the strong, exquisite woman 'so easy to love'... Victoria has been seduced and abandoned by a 'free spirit.' She is now on her way to her wine-growing family in Napa Valley to help with the annual grape harvest...

While her silken butterfly big wings spread the heated air around the frozen grapes, Victoria's sight was enough to engulf Paul with desire... And when her dark hair tumbled down to him, Paul's face was burnt by the harshness of actually having been able to feel some part of her... This burning has been caused by something as soft and luscious as her beautiful black hair... It is simply Arau's shot of her luminous figure, that discreetly heightened her feminine mystique, and her strong sensuality...

The legendary Anthony Quinn, a two-time Academy Award-winner for "Viva Zapata" and "Lust for Life," is the wise patriarch, Don Pedro who tries to intensify the romance between Paul Sutton and Victoria, while her father tries his best to show his displeasure at her choice... While chomping Paul's chocolates, the sagacious old man shows the polite soldier the root from which the entire vineyard has grown, and instructs him the traditions and beliefs of his ultra-conservative family...

Screen veteran Giancarlo Giannini (who received an Oscar nomination for his performance in "Seven Beauties"), plays the proud, suspicious, ultra-traditional father, whose beliefs are deeply rooted in tradition: 'My daughter can trace her roots back 400 years to the best families in Mexico,' he affirms... As a strong believer in the importance of family, Don Alberto Aragón reacts violently to the prospect of his beloved daughter already married to someone who has nothing... No family. No past. No future!

If you want to be moved by a consummate screen composer, and enjoy a wonderful family dinner... If you want to watch Reeves and Quinn singing and getting drunk... If you want to observe joyous women rolling around in a tub of emerald green grapes, keeping pace with the help of musicians... If you want to admire sensational landscapes sleeping against the sunset sky, or forming like a dream out of the silver dawn... don't miss this breathtaking piece of visual art, and step into the magic!

Beautiful, magical

[carflo · 8/10 · 3 August 2003]

This is a magical movie. Even if you turn off the sound and just watch it, it is beautiful. Of course, if you turned off the sound, you would miss the beautiful music. As for the story, it is a fairy tale, totally unrealistic. But it is a very, very romantic fairy tale. I'm an overage, overweight, cynical old lady, but I still cried through half the movie. If you watch this movie, have a big box of tissues, a big box of chocolates, and a large dose of the willing suspension of disbelief. If you have even one romantic bone in your body, you'll love it. If you can't suspend your disbelief, skip it - you will just be irritated.

Stunned

[ragreen259 · 8/10 · 14 August 2005]

Who are you and what have you done with the real Keanu Reaves? This guy's come a long ways since Bill & Ted.

I was floored by the cinematography, the story itself, and the way the family was portrayed, capturing the way so many of the wine-growing families of the day were in California--not to mention the traditions and mores that existed at the time.

Anthony Quinn also turns in a stellar performance, as always, as the eccentric grandfather that really isn't quite as odd as he'd like everyone to believe he is, spots Reeves for what he really is early in the story, and pretty much drives him to face what should be his destiny--but lets him think that he's making up his own mind. All in all, I have to say this flick is a major winner, despite the fact that there's no sex, no one is gunned down, no one is blown to bits, and there are no computer generated graphics of meteorites plowing into gasoline refineries. See it.

Romantic

[dayle2 · 12 August 2003]

I know most people put this movie down and call it "saccharine" but I happen to ADORE it and watch it every time it's on - usually ever weekend - and I never get tired of it. It's actually nice to see a man who is gentle and kind...who says that's not masculine? And Keanu is very easy on the eyes too!

Pure romance - the kind we rarely see and what we need more of! Less sex and violence!

The grapevines

[jotix100 · 7/10 · 28 June 2005]

This is the third remake of a 1942 Italian film directed by Alessandro Blasetti. In fact, the new version, directed by the Mexican director, Alfonso Arau, doesn't bring anything new to the action, with the exception, perhaps, of the change of locale, from Italy to Napa Valley.

The premise is the same, as Mr. Arau follows the Italian model almost to a tee. We have the decent young GI who feels sorry about the situation the young single woman who reveals she is pregnant. He meets her on a train and wants to help her face her stern parents. At the beginning everything goes wrong, then the parents accept him. He goes back to his wife, who recognizes the mistake they made upon marrying so young and going to the war without knowing one another well. Then, the young GI returns to the vineyard and to the woman he has fallen in love with.

This is a film targeted to satisfy a romantic fan, who, judging by the many comments to this forum seem to have enjoyed it tremendously. While the film is not breaking new ground, it is pleasant to look at, but predictable.

Alfonso Arau working in Hollywood after his much better "Like Water for Chocolate" seems to be a natural in the way he makes his cast respond to his direction.

Romantic and Classic Style Film

[doned88 · 7/10 · 3 April 2003]

This film is a lovely portrait of a love story from the 40's. Based on the age of the Director and the fact it's a remake that's understandable. However, I feel it could have been better if someone wrote dialog to fit the stars. Keanu Reeves, who is good in this role, sometimes seems to recite dialog rather then say it. That may be his failing of that the dialog needed to be updated or adapted..not sure which. Visually the film is a series of oil painting like shots...lovely and somewhat unrealistic at times, but beautiful. All performances seemed strong and of course Anthony Quinn is a classic himself. Keanu Reeves always amazes me that he will take such a role as this, then do a completely different one...brave actor not just doing the same thing time after time like so many other actors..albeit their same role films are often financially better.

Does anyone remember real virtue?

[occasionsofeleganceforyourlife · 10/10 · 20 August 2004]

Does anyone recall a time when values, integrity, uprightness and true human compassion were a way of life? A Walk in the Clouds does. The story is sweet, romantic, dramatic, and heartwarming. The 1940's was an era when it was terrible shame to be unwed and pregnant. Daughters were often cast away or sent to some distant relative to bear their child in loneliness and disapproval, then the child was given for adoption. I know because I was one of those children. For my mother there was no Paul Sutton to love her and rescue her and her child. The father, portrayed by Giancarlo Gianni was a typical man of those desperate war torn years who was unable to get in touch with his feelings on any level except work and anger. I am more amazed at his ability to show affection for his wife than I am at the anger which rules his life. The family who eventually adopted me was just like this family. Hard horrible father, heavy drinker, full of anger, yet rapier wit and tongue. The rest of the family are so real because in those days most families who had a disagreeable father figure pulled together to make up for and cover over the hurts and embarrassment generated by that father. Very different from today's dysfunctional families. Anthony Quinn was superb and Keanu Reeves could not have been more believable as a simple man with a good heart and high values. His character is not meant to display anything but goodness, which he does beautifully. We have to remember that men used to be governed more by what was right than by the emotion of the moment as they are today. Aitana as Victoria is very lovely and desirable, but her character is also governed by the morals of the day. While she is sexy and flirtatious and clearly loves Paul, she stops short of using his attraction to her to seduce him because the very things she values and loves about him are his stability and uprightness. Today most women would simply go for it, but this film is not about today. It is about real love and true respect. The musical score is simply beautiful and very moving. The wine country and the shot of the California coast along Big Sur are great. Oh, by the by, for the unbelieving, after the grape harvest in the fall the branches of the vine die and become dry and brittle very quickly. The only part of a grape vine that continues to live is the stock and it's root, but even that seems all gray and dead from just looking at the outside. A fire in a dry, post-harvest vineyard would spread and destroy all, just as it did in the film. Today, there are sprinkler systems, etc. to prevent such loss, but not in the 1940's. What a great movie. I own it and will always enjoy watching it again and again.

Why was this the last screen appearance for Gregory Martin?

[xavrush89 · 6/10 · 9 February 2005]

This is an enjoyable film without a lot of surprises. It is pleasant without being really suspenseful, and its sweetness may be a little too much for the small screen where on the big screen, you just go with it. Aitana Sánchez-Gijón is flawless as the female lead, which is a good thing considering her leading man is the almost always flaw-FUL Keanu Reeves, who has amazingly held onto his leading man status despite having only his great looks and minimal talent (the modern-day Rock Hudson). With a great supporting cast (including a pre-Six Feet Under Freddy Rodriguez and a post-original "Swept Away" Giancarlo Giannini), Reeves' shortcomings as an actor can't help but stand out. Amid all the good players and romantic tone, there's also some lovely scenery and good costuming.

But seeing this film on HBO nearly ten years after viewing it on the big screen begs the following questions: Why has Penelope Cruz been foisted on the American moviegoer when we could have had Aitana Sánchez-Gijón all along?! Why did it take Hollowood so long to rediscover Debra Messing after her bit part in this film? Why is Keanu Reeves a big star while the extremely sexy Gregory Martin (whom I still remember steaming up the small screen in the miniseries "Ellis Island") never appeared in a movie again? Man, he was hot! And although you wouldn't know it from his small role here, I'm sure he could act circles around you-know-who.

I may never get answers to these questions, but if your video store doesn't carry "Il Postino" and "Cinema Paradiso," you might want to check out this slightly inferior but nevertheless enjoyable film. The reason the story is timeless is because it is an English language remake of the 1942 film, "Quattro passi fra le nuvole," and it was a good idea on the part of the producers to resurrect it.

A romance film for all ages

[rook01 · 9/10 · 4 June 2005]

Many women who have written reviews said Keanu Reaves was an ideal man. Most men would like to think they could live up to the quiet strength shown by Reaves portrayal of Paul Sutton. Of course a woman as stunningly beautiful as Aitana Sanchez-Gijon could certainly inspire such nobility.

They are many roles that Reaves is not suited for. I am not a fan of his Matrix acting and please keep him away from Shakespeare. However playing a humble straight forward guy with some nobility he can do. Essentially that is what he was doing in Speed, Something has gotta give and this role. He even did that playing an adult turned teenager in Young Again. I am not sure he is a great actor but he is perfect for this part.

Aitana Sanchez Gijon has a beautiful screen presence which has shocked me why the Hollywood hype machine has not tried to build her up like they did with Penelope Cruz. This film did nothing for her career over here. I would watch her over Jennifer Lopez, Penelope Cruz and dozens of other actresses that Hollywood has hyped into stardom.

Giancarlo Giannini is great as the father. Although Italian, his portrayal of a Mexican with roots back to Spain was dead on. Living in Florida near Tampa, many Cubans In Tampa trace their ancestry back to Spain and exhibit the same type of pride he showed in the movie.

It was also Anthony Quinn's best role in years.

However the star of the show was the music and the photography. Except for perhaps the music and photography of Last of the Mohicans, I can not think of a film where the scenery and the music did so much for a film.

Feel Good Romance Movie

[jasminn_tan · 7/10 · 13 January 2020]

I'm a huge sucker for the fake marriage trope in fiction and to see it fleshed out in this movie is an absolute delight. Basically, this is a feel good movie about love and family and finding one's true purpose in life. Plus, Keanu Reeves was so cute in this movie because he smiled a lot. What more could a girl ask for?

Walk in the Clouds-It's Not Exactly How Green Was My Valley **1/2

[edwagreen · 5/10 · 1 October 2009]

Believe it or not, I was even laughing at some of the scenes in this film which has the most beautiful musical score imaginable.

The scene with the family trampling on the grapes vividly reminded me of Lucille Ball doing the same thing on her famous television show. The scene where Keanu Reeves comes home from World War 11 to an unfaithful wife brought me back to Dana Andrews and Virginia Mayo in "The Best Years of Our Lives."

Giancarlo Giannini is the distrusting drunkard of a father here. His daughter, unmarried and pregnant, returns home and on the road finds Keanu Reeves, a chocolate salesman and recent war hero. Reeves agrees to pretend that he is wed to the young lady.

Giannini immediately takes a dislike to Reeves as he doesn't trust him and his cynical regarding his daughter's relationship. In a drunken fit, he accidentally sets the wine valley ablaze. Of course, Reeves pulls out a root which shows no damage. His pulling it out reminded me of Vivien Leigh clutching the soil in "Gone With the Wind." Again, I laughed.

Anthony Quinn played the elderly grandfather who is philosophical and wise. Had he been 20 years younger, he would have had the Giannini part.

One of the top romantic films of all time.....and it reaches new heights in the realm of lovely cinematography, too

[inkblot11 · 9/10 · 10 August 2007]

Paul (Keanu Reeves) has just returned from World War II. He is plagued by horrific memories of combat and wants desperately to start again with his wife (Debra Messing). The trouble is, however, that their marriage was a rushed, wartime affair, as Paul, like soldiers everywhere in America, wanted to taste love and matrimony before being sent into battle. She seems happy to see him but wants him to return to his traveling salesman position as soon as possible. Once on the road, again, Paul meets a stunningly beautiful Mexican-American woman named Victoria (Aitana Sanchez-Gijon) on the bus. When a small group of men begin to harass her, Paul comes to her rescue, with fists flying. Subsequently, both Paul and Victoria are tossed off of the bus. As they are waiting for the next Greyhound, Victoria tearfully tells Paul that she is pregnant, "done wrong" by a professor at the university she attended. Her father, a wealthy vineyard owner, is going to "kill her", as Victoria states. But, wait. What if Paul pretends to be her new husband and goes home with her for a day or two? Then, the big blow of an out-of-wedlock pregnancy will be avoided and the couple can "divorce" some time later. Paul agrees to help her and they return to the stunningly beautiful vineyard and mansion she calls home. Naturally, her father (Giancarlo Giannini) is angry at the sudden marriage, especially since Paul is an orphan and Victoria can trace her family's history back 400 years. Yet, Victoria's mother and grandfather (Anthony Quinn) try to make their new relative comfortable. But, will Victoria and Paul be able to pull the wool over everyone's eyes? And, what about the undeniable attraction that is brewing between the young couple? This is one of the most romantic films ever, giving great delight to anyone who craves tales of epic love. Reeves and Sanchez-Gijon are terrific as the gorgeous and confused young lovers while Quinn gives a great turn as the family's patriarch. Giannini, too, does a nice job as the proud yet vulnerable father and the other actors are quite fine, too. As for the costumes, script, and production values, they are wonderful, also. But, indeed, it is the stunning photography of the lovely vineyard and stately family home that takes this film into the upper echelons of visually-arresting movies. For those in the world who would like to stir up a romantic evening with their partners, this film is a great catalyst. After a showing of its loveliness and romance, most every viewer will be in the proper mood for a night of love.

Good little movie

[ThomasColquith · 7/10 · 5 June 2021]

This film is a solid 7.0/10.0 for me. It's not the most amazing thing, but far from the worst. It is very well filmed, with good color, period costumes, and sets. The acting is fine, and Aitana Sánchez-Gijón is beautiful, but the whole premise of the film is kind of silly. It would have been better if Paul was divorced at the beginning of the film, so that he was a free man to be with Victoria. But I was able to look past this and just enjoy this simple romantic film for the nice little diversion that it is. It is reminiscent of the Fox Studio releases of yesteryear, a nice throwback.

Sugary romance

[xenophil · 4/10 · 18 May 2001]

This is the most saccharine romance I ever sat through. The perfect film for an idle housewife in kerchief, housedress, and ostrich-trimmed high-heeled mules to watch in the afternoon, lying on the couch eating bonbons. In fact, bonbons play a prominent role in the movie.

The only reason I was able to watch to the end, is that I finally was able to gaze at Keanu Reeves' dreamy face in almost every scene. In most of his films, he moves too fast to get a good look. The only rapid action in this show is Giancarlo Giannini waving his hands with Latin emotionality - more Italian than Mexican, really.

The dialog is as stiff as wood. Unfortunately, no bodices are ripped - the hero is disgracefully perfect-mannered and mild. The aristocratic warm-blooded old-world family cliche is as old as the hills. What does it matter if they are Irish or Italian or Mexican? This is a fairy story.

I knew before the titles finished running that this would not be the movie I hoped for. The glowing grapes looked like the paragon of all food ads in Women's Day Magazine. I didn't see his name listed, but the art director surely was Thomas Kinkade, who paints the million dollar canvases of Irish cottages snuggled in fuchsias. This film was literally seen through rose-colored glasses. If you like dreamy pink and blue sky, this film is for you! (The bonbons looked really good, too!)

Beautiful...

[BlueOrgy · 27 August 2000]

This film in one word, "beautiful." Keanu Reeves and the rest of the cast make this film enjoyable. I am not a big fan of romance pictures, but this has to be one of the more enjoyable ones. The acting is superb and the story is excellent.

A young woman heading back home meets up with a chocolate salesman. She is pregnant (but not married) and cannot bare to face her father. Keanu's character hides his true identity to play the role as her husband.

This picture is worth seeing and I advise anyone to see it. Whether they are into romance films or not. People who bad-mouth this film are too dense to realize you don't need action and bloodshed to have a good movie.

Very romantic chick flick

[ctomvelu1 · 7/10 · 19 November 2012]

Reeves plays a GI back from the war who crosses paths with a young Hispanic woman on her way home, having been impregnated by one of her professors. She is convinced her old-world father will kill her, so the soldier offers to pose as her husband for one day. Of course, they quickly fall for each other, but this is complicated by the tyrannical father's hatred of this gringo, and the fact that the soldier is actually married to someone else. Beautifully photographed with a great musical score, this oddball romance should appeal to most females and sensitive males. Reeves and his costar, whose name I can't spell, are wonderful together. Giannini makes a great dastardly dad, and Quinn does his Zorba routine as the loving grandpa and family patriarch. The whole thing plays out like a fairy tale, sort of like "Pretty Woman." Which is to say, you won't believe it for one minute but you go along with it. And be prepared: The ending of this leisurely paced film is rather abrupt. An American director would have done a bit more, and staged a lavish wedding.

a visually stunning post-war romance in muted sepia tones

[HelenMary · 6/10 · 5 December 2012]

Paul Sutton (Reeves) comes back from the war (WWII) to find his new bride is not waiting for him. Going back to work as a travelling chocolate salesman, he gets tied up with the Aragon family; a historic Mexican family who have a large and beautiful vineyard. It is their daughter Victoria that is the draw for Sutton. The story is rather special, though not entirely unpredictable, and is a rather nice backdrop to give Reeves the opportunity to play the engaging, gentlemanly, perfect but troubled veteran in this gentle drama.

The scenery of the Aragon vineyard is beautiful, although I believe a lot of it is CGI, and the Aragon family are varied and demonstrate the rich tapestry of family life from the overbearing father Giancarlo Gianinni, the wise and strong mother Angelica Aragon and the irrepressible patriarch Anthony Quinn, who provides some lovely touching and funny moments. It is good to note at this point that - in light of one of those funny moments Reeves CAN sing, and the out of tune serenading of Victoria is acting!

This film is what it is, a romance film, a stunningly beautiful production, well directed and with a good script. There are some moments of real tenderness and joy, and it says something about young men's experience of war and how they are left to cope with it alone. Genius it isn't, or groundbreaking, but it's really nice pretty picture indicative of the big studio star vehicle films of the time it is depicting.

An adult fairy tale, and one of my favorite movies!

[lenied · 10/10 · 26 November 2004]

I have seen this movie at least 20 times. It is an adult fairy tale, set back directly after the second world war (with flashbacks to the war itself from which Paul, a chocolate candy salesman had just returned.) He is an orphan, and he meets a woman who in 1945 has gone off to college, and has returned in disgrace, pregnant, by a professor. Paul (Reeves) agrees to pretend to be her husband for a few days, and then he will abandon her, leaving her and her child alone. The most romantic part of the film occurs when the temperature becomes very cold right before the harvest, and the grapes could be affected by frost. Everyone dons "wings" and fans the warm air from barrel fires around the grapevines to keep the grapes from being killed by the frost. It is one of the most beautiful scenes ever filmed, and one of the most imaginative one. They say you never see anything new in films now a days, well this one is new, and it has a happy ending.

Decent movie

[nosam_yelnats · 6/10 · 10 June 2019]

Picked out this movie because it was in the "Favorites" section in my local video store, and I had never heard of it. Was a decent movie, had a good plot. While the acting was cliche at times I did enjoy this corny little movie through to the end.

A Magical Romance

[robert-temple-1 · 10/10 · 6 June 2009]

This film is a magical fairytale of love, struggle, and romance, directed by the brilliant Mexican director Alfonso Arau ('Like Water for Chocolate'). Keanu Reeves has never been better at being a 'good guy', here tormented by his origins as an orphan, betrayed by a frivolous young wife, returning from War with a head full of hopes only to meet with the apparent collapse of all of his prospects. But Fate intervenes, and he meets the amazingly, delicately beautiful Aitana Sanchez-Gijon. She is the half-Spanish, half-Italian actress who two years later was so brilliant in 'The Chambermaid of the Titanic' (see my review). She has all the freshness of a rose which has just opened in the morning dew. This is what Penelope Cruz was like before she went to Hollywood. The story concerns her family, the Aragons. Her mother is played radiantly by the Mexican actress Angelica Aragon, and her intense and domineering father by the Italian actor Giancarlo Giannini. One of the finest performances in the film is by Anthony Quinn. He was rarely better than this. It is little known that he was born in Mexico, half Irish, half Mexican. Since his middle name was Oaxaca, his mother must have been a Zapotec Indian. Here he is utterly in his element, since the story is of an ancient Spanish family with a vineyard in the Napa Valley of California. Whether such people still exist anymore, I doubt. But this is a fantasy, very similar to the wonderful series of three novels by Bret Harte, commencing with 'A Waif of the Plains'. Certainly these days, as Hispanics become more and more important in America, more films like this should be made exploring the early Spanish settler traditions. Much was made of this sort of thing in Hitchcock's 'Vertigo', but the lead was not followed up by subsequent mainstream directors. This film is a poignant story of how the lost and lonely orphan Keanu Reeves finds true love and acceptance at last in the bosom of a family and in the arms of one of the most delectable gals imaginable. But he only achieves this by being noble, generous, kind, unbelievably tolerant and patient, and by being tested in every conceivable way. Reeves could not possibly have played this character so well unless he had a lot of these qualities himself. The film is a wonderful achievement, the period costumes and sets are perfect, the buildings are authentic Spanish survivals from various places in the Napa Valley, apparently, the atmosphere is pure magic, the vicissitudes are harrowing, but love and devotion and goodness conquer all. This is actually a romantic film from an adult perspective which children can safely see, and that's saying something these days. No grunting in corners, as the emphasis is on love, - remember love? It used to exist. Maybe it will come back one day. We need more films like this to encourage us. We also need more Aitana Sanchez-Gijons, if we can remember and pronounce their names, that is. Etana was Sumerian for 'eagle'. I wonder if there is any connection with Aitana, as she has the same noble quality. This film is an eagle, it soars, it truly soars.

Well meaning fluff.

[DukeEman · 6/10 · 24 February 2002]

This piece of fluff almost works thanks to the performances of the two veterans, Quinn and Giannini. The heroine played by Aitana is believable and also beautiful to look at. The family atmosphere created by these actors makes me want to be a part of them. Shame about the clumsy but cute story.

Wonderful

[DJOfRadioGallifrey · 4/10 · 3 January 2005]

A story which contains the most beautiful fairy-tale kind of characters such as; a handsome kind hearted soldier, a passionate pretty girl, a stern grumpy father, and a eccentric grandpa. A perfect blend for a spicy and yet slow romance.

I think it is a wonderful film, well sorta a chick flick, men will enjoy it too I suppose, but I suggest the watcher should be patient since it takes Paul (Keanu) the whole of the film to realise what woman he is destined for- for the rest of his life. Also don't get irritated by the coincidental appearance of the mysterious girl, because she is important.

Beautifully produced, Inspired Acting, Well Written

[brittsports1 · 10/10 · 28 April 2004]

I was blown away by this movie. Rarely have I been so moved. Wonderfully romantic, consumate acting, fantastically photographed, well written.

Keanu Reeves un-selfconscious performance and total commitment to the character and the material was mesmerizing. I believed it. One often reads about his innocence and ingenuousness, here it was palpable. A strong man with no testosterone OD. Refreshing.

Hard to believe that I would ever agree with Roger Ebert but if you weren't in love with this movie, you don't deserve to have love songs sung outside your window.

Deeply flawed romance, but it still works

[moviesleuth2 · 6/10 · 31 December 2009]

In terms of what "A Walk in the Clouds" does right and wrong, it's like "Memoirs of a Geisha," a dissimilar romance that came out a decade later. The acting is great. The cinematography is breathtaking. The film works with pure magic. But there's a big problem: the screenplay is terrible.

Paul Sutton (Keanu Reeves) is a war hero returning from the Pacific to be reunited with a girl he married "just so I could have someone to write to" (Debra Messing). Realizing that he's entered into a nightmare, he resumes his job as a chocolate salesman. On a bus to Sacremento for his job, he meets Victoria Aragon (Aitana Sanchez-Guijon), a Mexican beauty who is pregnant and unmarried. This would be troubling for anyone, but Victoria's father, Alberto (Giancarlo Giannini) is so traditional he makes Jerry Falwell look positively liberal. Because Paul is such a nice guy, he agrees to pose as her husband for a day, then leave her, which would hopefully solve the problem. Of course, they fall in love, which makes the situation even more complicated.

The acting is solid. Many people give Keanu Reeves a hard time about his performances, and that's a little unfair. True, he's no Sean Penn, and I doubt that anyone will mention his name and "Oscar" in the same sentence any time soon, but given the right role, he can be effective. This was true of "Speed," "The Matrix," and "The Devil's Advocate," which I consider his best performance. "A Walk in the Clouds" should be among that list. It's easily the weakest of the three, but his performance is not. Paul is so immensely likable that it would turn the movie into a case of sugar shock, except that Reeves keeps Paul so genuine that it is impossible to not like him. His co-star, Aitana Sanchez-Guijon, is solid, although their chemistry is more of the "great friends" variety, not "star-crossed lovers." The other main actors, Giancarlo Giannini and Anthony Quinn, are excellent. Giannini is Oscar-worthy as Alberto. He's rigidly traditional, but it's his love of his family that makes him so. Ironically, however, it makes him blind to the needs of others. His father, Don Pedro (Quinn), is like the rest of his family: wise and more open. He always on hand to give advice on love and marriage to the would-be husband. He is also present in a hilarious scene where he gets Paul (and himself) very drunk and has him sing a traditional Mexican courting song outside Victoria's window.

Alfonso Arau made the art-house hit, "Like Water for Chocolate," a film that I haven't seen, but is in my Netflix queue (and has been for some time). The middle part is magic, and it's Arau's talent that speaks to that. Unfortunately, the beginning is clunky, and the ending is completely over-the-top. Not all of this can be blamed on Arau, however. It's his first mainstream American film, so he was probably forced to make some concessions at the behest of the producers. However, even they should have realized that some of the lines needed to be rewritten.

Overall, it works, but not as well as you'd hope.

in a word: Yuck!

[spanky-22 · 2/10 · 22 November 1998]

This is a plot? Why does the father have a thicker accent than the grandfather? Why do they have accents at all if they've been in Napa for years? Why is the girl in a negligee fighting frost when moments before she makes Keanu look away? Why is Keanu the only one to check the ancient vines after the fire?

How many Mexican families owned winerys in the Napa Valley in 1945? Very pretty in a Hallmark special kind of way but not much meat.