40
This filmed Tosca -- not the first, by the way -- is a pretty good job, if it's filmed Tosca that you want. I'll stay with the stage versions, however, which bite cleaner, and deeper.
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What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
75
Christian Science Monitor by David Sterritt
The result is a fine production with splendid singing by Angela Gheorghiu, Ruggero Raimondi, and Roberto Alagna. It joins the very short list of first-rate opera films.
63
New York Daily News by Elizabeth Weitzman
For the broader audience, this seems both suffocating and confusing -- True opera buffs, however, are more likely to feel thrilled, as if they're privy to a private production of the highest caliber.
60
New Times (L.A.) by Gregory Weinkauf
Audiences are advised to sit near the back and squint to avoid noticing some truly egregious lip-non-synching, but otherwise the production is suitably elegant, a fine retreat from summer cinema overkill.
83
Entertainment Weekly by Lisa Schwarzbaum
Conveys the heaving passion of Puccini's famous love-jealousy-murder-suicide fandango with great cinematic innovation.
50
New York Post by Megan Lehmann
Purists will probably have a conniption at the mere idea of messing with the form, but the worst thing about Jacquot's post-modern treatment is that its incongruity wrenches you out of the story.
75
San Francisco Chronicle by Mick LaSalle
Glorious moments aplenty despite director who's just in the way.
100
New York Magazine (Vulture) by Peter Rainer
A rare example of first-rate filmed opera.