Comandante

2003

1h 39m

Documentary

List

62%

13 Reviews

Tomatometer

73%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Filmmaker Oliver Stone profiles Cuban leader Fidel Castro and his country.

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Audience Member

The best thing about this film was Fidel Castro. The worst was Oliver Stone.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

camille l

Comandante est le premier long-metrage documentaire d'un Oliver Stone qui y trouve l'occasion d'interviewer Fidel Castro, qu'il admire publiquement, pendant 30 heures. Reduit a 90 minutes, cette longue interview entre un dirigeant politique au charisme impressionnant et a la repartie facile et un realisateur opiniatre et provocateur n'est pas forcement passionnante de bout en bout mais est dotee de passages tres interessants et informatifs. De plus, Oliver Stone met ceci en scene avec son style habituel, a la Salvador. Interessant, mais loin d'etre indispensable.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Castro suggested that Stone would shoot a documentary on him with interviews and scenes of his everyday life. This is the result. The film is a good account of Castro and his position as leader of Cuba, but the meeting between the two feels like a missed opportunity more than anything else. Perhaps it would have been more rewarding had this film been shot in a direct cinema style rather than as an interview based film. However, it is a good primary source and a good documentary within the limitations.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Many great questions asked, but if the translation were later, I would have given it another star. This movie is better for those who can understand Spanish.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The very natural, filmed 'as is' documentary more or less showing plainly the conversation between Fidel Castro & Oliver Stone in February 2002. When watching this documentary you need to understand that Castro has a pistol on him & if he is angered he can & will shoot the person responsible & with that in mind the risk Oliver takes in asking certain questions. This documentary showed me two things, 1) Fidel Castro is not a stupid man he is quite intellectual & articulate and surprisingly charismatic at times 2) He is controlling & delusional & somewhat of a victim of narcism. This is very factual (well in Castro's eyes) and rather talky, If you are interested in cold war, early 60's then it's interesting to hear his side...

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Oliver Stone's documentary/footnote to the cold war days has an unique ability to make you rethink the issues your mind is most made up on.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

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Oliver Stone

Director

Oliver Stone

Self

Fidel Castro

Self

Juanita Vera

Castro's Interpreter

Oliver Stone

Producer

Fernando Sulichin

Producer

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Critical Consensus: A Brave New "World," A "Step" Down, And No Screenings for "Pulse" and "Zoom"

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Alan Morrison

Empire Magazine

An opportunity frustratingly squandered, but one which still makes for fascinating viewing thanks to Castro's natural charisma. Errol Morris would have nailed it.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 30, 2006

Full Review

Time Out

The pair make a smug double act, but you can't fault them for charisma.

Jun 24, 2006

Full Review

Johann Hari

Independent (UK)

Rated: 2/5

Jan 27, 2004

Full Review

Marc Mohan

Oregonian

Even when he seems less than forthright, Castro rarely fails to come across as a genial, charismatic guy. But that might just be the magic of the movies.

Rated: B-

Jul 13, 2007

Full Review

Oz

eFilmCritic.com

The documentary that, according to HBO, isn't good enough for you to see.

Rated: 3/5

May 26, 2004

Full Review

Rich Cline

Film Threat

While it's fascinating to get Castro's perspective on things like the Bay of Pigs invasion, the missile crisis, US intervention in Latin America and the Cold War, we can't help but feel that Stone is bending this documentary for his own personal interest.

Rated: 2/5

Aug 27, 2003

Full Review

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Synopsis

Filmmaker Oliver Stone profiles Cuban leader Fidel Castro and his country.

Director: Oliver Stone
Producer: Jaume Roures, José Ibáñez, Álvaro Longoria
Production Co: Morena Films S.L.
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Runtime: 1h 39m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)