My brother and I saw this movie when it was playing at Stanford, and we both felt it was the most pretentious dreck we had ever seen. People try to rescue it with words like "surreal" -- no, I've seen Buñuel and this film simply presents its lack of consistent characterization as real -- there is no surreal level to it. Others say it is "film noir" and while there is some idea of a mystery to be solved, there is no tension, and any critique of conventional mores is undone by its voyeuristic gaze on Ellen Barkin. Siesta is a fiesta of cliches and puerile dialog, a masochism-curious vicar's idea of an art film, and a barely disguised attempt to discredit Martin Sheen's movie career. I've been in more enjoyable automobile accidents.
Review of Siesta
