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The Year of Living Dangerously Customer Reviews (22 - 24 of 27 Reviews)

One of the best films set in Asia ever!
I saw this movie at the recommendation of a colleague who had lived for a while in Indonesia. I've always been interested in Asia and watch any good movies set in Asian countries that I can lay my hands on. This is absolutely one of the best movies about the region ever! Mel Gibson's acting is fabulous and he looks so hot - so much better than the way he looks now! Sigourney Weaver is also fantastic as Jill, the world-weary British diplomat, but Linda Hunt steals the show as Billy Kwan, the mysterious Chinese-Australian photographer who has amazing political contacts and seems to know everyone and everything in Jakarta. Unlike the characters of Guy Hamilton and Jill Bryant, Kwan remains a shadowy figure throughout the movie and the viewer is permitted only glimpses of his thoughts and dreams. It is Billy's character that holds the film together and elevates it above the standard issue romantic drama set in an exotic land, to a moving and haunting social commentary on poverty, politics and sexual mores, all in an extremely entertaining way. The locales and characters are completely authentic with no attempt at fake Hollywood studio shoots. Gibson and Weaver make an incredibly sexy couple but keep your eye on Linda Hunt if you can. If you have the slightest interest in Southeast Asia and just would like to understand what life was like for expats in the 60's in a volatile part of the world and with the shadow of Vietnam looming, this film is a must-see. Highly, highly recommended!

Excellent film which works on many levels.
What is this film about? Is it about political corruption and intrigue? Is it about how revolutionary movements start by promising a lot and end by delivering little? Is it about the conflict between love and duty? Or perhaps the cynicism of the press and the various and conflicting goals? The film could be about how hard it is to overcome fear and superstition. Maybe it is about doing small things to make the world better, but then reverting to dramatic acts when the small things don't work.

Mel Gibson is a novice reporter for Australian news recently assigned to Indonesia. He wants to make a splash and climb the reportorial hierarchy. Billy Kwan (Linda Hunt in a stellar performance) takes him under his wing and educates him about poverty and teaches him to recognize the shadow play of politics. Billy also introduces him to Jill (Sigourney Weaver). They fall in love and have a wonderful scene in the rain. He commits a dramatic act that costs him dearly. (I don't want to give away everything.) Through it all we meet a cast of characters - reporters and diplomats - who are in turns fascinating and loathsome.

The movie is beautifully photographed. The music adds to the atmosphere. Since I reserve a 5 star rating for true classics, this film gets only a 4. However I do recommend it very strongly.

Not wrong to want to change your country..
Director Peter Weir casts Mel Gibson as a young journalist posted to Jakarta, Indonesia. This is set in the 65 Soekarno's reign. The young journalist, Guy is soon soaking in the tumultous years of SE Asia, especially Indonesia. Linda Hunt plays his photog, accomplice and friend, as a Man. A brilliant performance that was rewarded with an Oscar.

The direction, though bitty, is appropriate for the turbulence and looming downfall of the Soekarno regime. The pacing is disturbing, especially with the "romantic" scenes. As is the casting of Sigourney Weaver who weaves an on/off British accent. The relationship between Gibson and Weaver is hot. But it is between Gibson and Linda Hunt's characters that one learns much about the situation there.

Watch out for the bits of jewels - the Wayang Kulit (shadow puppetry) scenes with Linda Hunt and Mel Gibson. The beggars, the sick and hungry and the slum areas as set up in the film, are still here today! The Hotel Indonesia scenes are great, right down to the logo of the hotel. The real gems of course are the shots that Peter Weir show through the photographs of Billy Kwan (Linda Hunt).

Although most of the scenes are set and filmed in Philippines, they are no less, real. Very real. A few groans, though, for some of the glaring Filipino accents. Another real gem is the the scene where Mel finally leaves Jakarta - the Royal Netherlands Aircraft on the tarmac!

Watch it for what it is, though the film does not attempt to go deeper into the politics, it gives us enough. Enough to go read up more.... A great film and I recommend it.

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