Proteus (2003)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:17
Fresh:5
Rotten:12
Average Rating:4.6/10
Theatrical Release:Jul 30, 2004 Limited
Synopsis: An historical drama based on the true story of a homosexual love affair in South Africa during the 18th Century, PROTEUS unfolds within the confines of a Cape Town penal colony. Rijkhaart Jacobsz... [More]
Starring: Tessa Jubber, Rouxnet Brown, Brett Goldin
Director: John Greyson, Jack Lewis
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Reviews for Proteus
| Tomatometer | Critic | Review | Category |
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 2.5/5 |
The problem with Proteus is that the issues tend to overwhelm the story, and one is never fully engaged in the narrative. Full Review |
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 3/4 |
Grounded by the stark physicality of the location and the emotional charge generated by those prison-bound passions (Jean Genet would have approved). Full Review |
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1.5/5 |
Click to read the article Full Review |
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Frankly steamed sex scenes spice the film from John Greyson and Jack Lewis, gaining it entry to gay festivals but only momentarily rousing it from the fetid doldrums of a fatiguingly 'instructive' story. Full Review |
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3/5 |
The biggest failing of the movie is that it focuses on the scientific experiments and the facts of the case instead of the emotion of the situation. Full Review |
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1.5/4 |
Problematic on almost all levels. Full Review |
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3/5 |
An intelligently rendered film (shot on video) that doesn't seek to make its central characters overtly sympathetic even as it stresses the human rights so thoughtlessly or deliberately denied them. Full Review |
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3/5 |
Involving and affecting even if it is not completely coherent or fully realized. Full Review |
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Carries an air of forced-wit experimentation that never quite gets its anachronisms in order. Full Review |
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Clearly attempting to make the story relevant for contemporary times, they use a variety of stylistic devices that serves to have the opposite effect, distancing us from a story that might have been far more compelling if rendered in a direct fashion. Full Review |
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3.5/5 |
The historical specificity of this real-life episode is constantly challenged by the filmmakers' fanciful use of 1960s anachronisms but these postmodern touches never detract from what is at heart a deeply moving love story. Full Review |
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1/4 |
The movie's pretty much a stinker. Full Review |
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2.5/4 |
A challenging, flawed look at a little-known slice of history. Full Review |
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2/5 |
A heavy, pretentious and derivative film. Full Review |
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4/5 |
... the story of lust, love and betrayal intriguingly bemoans racism and prejudice of bygone times while peppering the 'history' with more modern references ... Full Review |
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Homophobia and hyprocisy, history and legend, racism and jealousy, cruelty and love all figure in -- and prove too much. Full Review |
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Script doesn't sufficiently fill in the blanks left by historical record regarding the personalities involved, which robs the central relationship of emotional (let alone tragic) depth. Full Review |
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