Mad Love (2001)

Please don't spend money on this.

Just perfect...

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

costumes, pieces from soap opera, atmosphere, characters only as silhouettes. a film who could defined as beautiful but nothing more. its beauty remains at the first level and that does to be one of many historical movies useful only for remind an episode from the past of Spain . presented in large lines, the story of Juana has no soul. the actors seems be tired, the colors are the basic ingredient, the story seems be far by its interpreters. and seems far by the story of a queen because the roots of her gestures remains obscure. story of a woman like many others, captive of her jealousy, it is one of films who not gives more than small references about a generous subject.

Is there something special that draws writers to stories that mix royalty with sex? I don't mean contemporary stuff, in which the princess runs off with the chauffeur, but stories like this, historical epics full of billowing robes, stone walls, and someone hidden behind the curtain. Think of the many monarchs with sexual and emotional hang ups -- Mary Queen of Scots, Elizabeth and Essex, Othello who, like the daughter of Isabella and Ferdinand here, loved not wisely but too well. They've all had movies made about them, whereas nobody has ever made a movie about Ethelred the Black or Ethelblack the Red.An operatic story of Joan of Castile, married as a teen ager to Philip the Archduke of Flanders or something. One of those arranged marriages under dun skies that never clear up. She's sent to Flanders virgo intacta and after a perfunctory ceremony Philip carts her off to bed. She evidently undergoes the transport of St. Teresa and she loves him too. She bears him child after child, never seeming to grow beaten under the strain of her fecundity. She even gets a tickle out of breast feeding the baby, a scandalous act at the time, but why not? It releases the hormone oxytocin which induces a mild high.Philip is a different story. He's tall, dark, handsome, muscular, and very virile. He has money and power and all the social graces. Other women fall for him immediately. In fact, he resembles me quite a lot. Alas, though, he can't keep his pantalones on and he's soon doing various courtesans and ladies-in-waiting and whatnot, one of them a passionate but duplicitous Moor who tries to put a spell on him. She doesn't need to try very hard.By this time, Queen Isabella -- she's the one who invested in Columbus -- is dead and Joan becomes in effect the Queen of Spain and Philip is her "consort." Even if you don't know exactly what a consort is, as I don't, it sounds pretty cheap, doesn't it? And who are you? "I am the queen's CONSORT. I consort with the queen, and sometimes she consorts with me when she doesn't have a headache." The happy couple move to Castile. Philip brings his advisers with him and they suggest that the queen is getting a little too jealous over Philip's peccadilloes and that maybe she's mad and Philip should take over and become ruler of Spain in her place. And, to be frank, Joan is acting a little crazy. She challenges her sexy Moor rival to a sword fight. She has her defenders at court but she evidently doesn't care as much about the throne as she does for her husband. Otherwise, when the parliament accuse her of being mad, why would she say, "Mad? I'm not mad, just terribly hurt." Well, she didn't say it. Groucho Marx did, but you get the idea. She's more angry and anxious about Philip's infidelity than anything else.Pilar Lopez de Ayala is Joan, the principal figure, and she's convincing as a queen. There's something regal about her looks, chiefly her large ears, I think, and that promontory of a nose. She has fierce, coal-black irises and is quite handsome. I don't know why Philip had to go nosing around elsewhere. It doesn't do either of them any good. Philip dies of plague and Joan is confined for life to a cell, until her oldest child is of age to rule.There are no momentous battles or duels. It's not a swashbuckler. But the set dressing, wardrobe, and make up seem suitable to the period. It's all rather colorful, though never gaudy. Not under those clouds.Almost accidentally, the film raises an interesting question: What constitutes insanity -- in a ruler or in anybody else? On the screen she seems more consumed by jealousy, more reckless than nuts. But reckless rulers are hardly unknown.

10 points from 10 for *Juana la loca*! And if there were 100 points I'd give all 100 for this amazingly beautiful and touching film!I've read all the comments and couldn't resist leaving here mine. *Juana la loca* is a film for sensitive people whose intellect has gone far than watching trashy actions and shallow soap operas. This Spanish drama makes a viewer use his intellect, it's not an entertaining film - it is too deep and too emotional, and too well-played to be called *soap opera*. Based on real events the film gives us the full description of those beautiful and at the same time sad pages of Spanish history. Pilar Lopez de Ayala is an unsurpassed young actress! She was so convincing in this role, so touching and so brilliant. She had no such a love tragedy in her own life but she managed to portray it on the screen. As if she had suffered it herself. All her words, especially those cried out in a heavy rain are pierced with pain and desperation. She played so naturally no matter whom - an innocent young girl, a woman in love or a miserable queen driven into madness from jealousy towards her husband. Bravo, Pilar !!!As for Daniele Liotti, Felipe el Hermoso, he also did great job portraying this monarch. Someone mentioned Antonio Banderas for this part? I'm sorry. I can't even compare these too men. Daniele is the embodiment of man's beauty! When I saw him for the first time it was quite enough for me to understand that PERFECTION DOES EXIST. No one better than him could fit for the part of the king known as *the Handsome*. So, farewell, Banderas. Not this type. Who said Felipe couldn't have such chiseled body as Liotti has? No matter that Felipe was a king, his body would be just the same as shown on the screen. First of all, he led an active way of life - constant hunting and riding a horse.These factors made him look like that. And his acting was appropriate for such a womanizer as Felipe. Great job, Daniele! Giving you 10 points also! And bravo, Vicente Aranda! Beautiful drama!

Seeing a movie with such drama, excitement and great acting is very rare. Seeing it in Spanish with no subtitles and getting the same impression, is even greater. This movie topped my list in 2001 as one of the best I've ever seen. I suggest to anyone that enjoys a great movie, this is a must see.