Kiss of the Spider Woman

I was absolutely blown away by Kiss of the Spider Woman when I saw it at Sundance this year so I was really excited to see it again with my sister Kristine last night.  I loved it just as much, if not more, upon a second viewing!  During a brutal military dictatorship in Argentina in the 1980s, Luis Molina (Tonatiuh), a flamboyantly gay window dresser, is jailed for public indecency and placed in the same cell as a political dissident named Valentin Arregui (Diego Luna).  The Warden (Bruno Bichir) offers Molina early parole if he can get Valentin to reveal important information about his revolutionary activities but this seems unlikely as the two of them take an immediate disliking to each other.  However, the bleak conditions in the prison prompt Molina to begin describing his favorite movie musical starring Ingrid Luna (Jennifer Lopez) as a way to escape their circumstances and they soon form an unlikely bond.  As the musical comes vividly to life in technicolor, Molina starts to feel conflicted about betraying Valentin as life imitates art.  As a huge fan of movie musicals, I love that the characters use the genre as a way to escape from reality and as inspiration and I love all of the old Hollywood musicals that are referenced in the big production numbers (especially An American in Paris, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and Singin' in the Rain).  I love the bright and effervescent color palette and the dynamic choreography, especially when juxtaposed with the drab and dreary scenes in the prison, because it really emphasizes the fantasy even if the songs themselves are largely forgettable.  Lopez is brilliant in a role that was made for her and I particularly enjoyed her singing and dancing in "Gimme Love" because she is dazzling. Luna is more subdued but I liked his character arc as someone who learns how to love.  I was most impressed with Tonatiuh because he steals the show with an incredibly nuanced performance that is both tender and powerful and his rendition of "She's a Woman" is beautiful.  This might not be for everyone because there are some dark themes but, ultimately, it is about the transformative power of art and I highly recommend it.