Total Eclipse

1995

Total Eclipse

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

Total Eclipse Photos

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Movie Info

This historical drama, directed by Agnieszka Holland, focuses on the rocky relationship between the renowned 19th century French poets Arthur Rimbaud and Paul Verlaine. Rimbaud (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a teenage wunderkind known for his rebelliousness against conventional society and his surrealistic writing. He disrupts the life of Verlaine (David Thewlis), a more conventional writer who is older and married to a dutiful young wife, Mathilde (Romane Bohringer). The drunken Verlaine is unkind to Mathilde, even though her father is providing him with a house and an income to live on while he pursues his writing. Rimbaud overwhelms Verlaine, mocking his conventionality, constantly disrupting his domestic life, and somehow attracting the maniacal love of the older man.

Rating:

R
Genre:

Art House & International, Drama
Directed By:

Agnieszka Holland
Written By:

Christopher Hampton
In Theaters:

Nov 3, 1995 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

Dec 21, 1999
Runtime:

110 minutes
Studio:

New Line Home Entertainment

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Cast

Leonardo DiCaprio
as Arthur Rimbaud

David Thewlis
as Paul Verlaine

Romane Bohringer
as Mathilde Verlaine

James Thieree
as Frederic

Emmanuelle Oppo
as Vitalie

James Thierree
as Frederic

Denise Chalem
as Mrs. Maute De Fleurville

Andrzej Seweryn
as Mr. Maute De Fleurville

Christopher Thompson
as Carjat

Bruce van Barthold
as Aicard

Christopher Chaplin
as Charles Cros

Christopher Hampton
as The Judge

Felicie Pasotti Cabarbaye
as Isabelle as a Child

Nita Klein
as Rimbaud's Mother

Mathias Jung
as Andre

Kettly Noël
as Somalian Woman

Cheb Han
as Djami

Dominique Blanc
as Isabelle Rimbaud

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Critic Reviews for Total Eclipse

All Critics (16) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (4) | Rotten (12)

A misguided project from Holland: Watching Verlaine and Rimbeau engage in endless arguments about the nature of love, you wonder when they had time to create the poetry that revolutionized the world.

Jan 9, 2007 | Rating: C | Full Review…

Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Fascinating biopic marred by Di Caprio's performance.

Feb 18, 2004 | Rating: 4/5

Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Despite its fascinating subject matter, Total Eclipse is both unflattering and loveless.

Jul 31, 2003 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

Ed Gonzalez
Slant Magazine
a noble effort to capture Rimbaud's genius, but it fails to take enough risks to get close to the enigmatic poet.

Oct 11, 2002 | Rating: C | Full Review…

John A. Nesbit
Old School Reviews
A disappointing biography about the homosexual relationship of two famous 19th century French poets.

Feb 13, 2001 | Rating: C- | Full Review…

Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The Rimbaud seen here is less a poet warrior than cloying brat.

Jan 1, 2000 | Rating: 50/100

Ed Gonzalez
Apollo Guide

View All Critic Reviews (16)

Audience Reviews for Total Eclipse

Jan 29, 2011

Opening credits go on way too long, there is some vacany in the story's execution and the film also slips to some other lows. Still, DiCaprio is, get this, phenomenal. I know, czazy isn't it? He is also hilarious comic relief, which really is shocking when you consider how serious of an actor he is, Academy. There are also some other great performances, good lines for DiCaprio, I hate to admit it, but excellent chemistry between Thewlis and DiCaprio and other high points that could have made it a much more solid film, had the story been delivered better. Still, it is an interesting film that's fairly worth checking out.

Cameron J Super Reviewer
Oct 14, 2010

A young Leonardo...already an outstanding actor. He absolutely stole this film as his own even at such a young age. I love period dramas, and biographical dramas, so this movie was just perfect for me. Leo portrays a supposedly true-to-life strange and crazy poet in this movie. I can't imagine anyone doing a better job than he did. Very interesting film.

Cynthia S Super Reviewer
May 15, 2010

This story takes place in the 19th century where two French male poets, Verlaine and Rimbaud, start a taboo like love affair. Verlaine is recently married and Rimbaud is much younger and still single. They're both very passionate and talented, and the heated love affair betweeen them soon creates a lot of trouble. The first thing that came to my mind was that it was extremely weird watching DiCaprio acting as a homosexual and even weirder watching him making a homosexual love scene. It must've taken a lot of bravery from DiCaprio playing a part like this one. The movie was just ok but not something I would want to watch once more. The greatest thing about this movie was of course Leonardo DiCaprio.

Naughtia N Super Reviewer
May 12, 2010

David Thewlis is such a horrible actor that it destroyed this movie. This was a great performance for Leonardo DiCaprio and I feel his portrayal was the only interesting thing about the movie. Even with getting to see Leonardo naked a few times... I still cannot recommend the movie. Seeing Leonardo shine as an actor may only be because of the poor acting of co-stars!

Thomas J Super Reviewer