Swept Away (2002)

User Rating:

3.5/10   

Director:

Guy Ritchie

Writer:

Guy Ritchie (screenplay)

Release Date:

11 October 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot:

A snooty socialite is stranded on a Mediterranean island with a communist sailor.

Plot Keywords:

Island | Vacation | Sailor | Stranded | Storm

Awards:

5 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Bruce Greenwood	...	Tony
Madonna	...	Amber
Elizabeth Banks	...	Debi
Michael Beattie	...	Todd
Jeanne Tripplehorn	...	Marina
David Thornton	...	Michael
Yorgo Voyagis	...	Captain
Ricardo Perna	...	Crew Member
Adriano Giannini	...	Giuseppe
George Yiasoumi	...	Chef
Beatrice Luzzi	...	Rich Lady
Lorenzo Ciompi	...	Rich Man
Patrizio Rispo	...	Burly Captain
Francis Pardeilhan	...	Tony's Assistant
Rosa Pianeta	...	Receptionist

Also Known As:

Love, Sex, Drugs & Money (USA) (working title)
Travolti dal destino (Italy)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexuality/nudity.

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

UK | Italy

Language:

English | Greek | Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:18 | Brazil:12 | Argentina:16 | Canada:14A | Germany:12 | Netherlands:6 | Spain:13 | UK:15 | USA:R | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Alghero, Sassari, Sardinia, Italy

Company:

Screen Gems

Trivia:

This is Guy Ritchie's third collaboration with his ex-wife, Madonna, after her (uncredited) turn in the BMW short film, Star (2001/I), and the music video "What It Feels Like for a Girl" (2001).

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: There is a camera and pier visible in close-ups of Amber and Giuseppe stranded in the dingy.

Quotes:

Amber: What have you done to me?
Guiseppe: What you needed doing to you. Don't you like it?
Amber: It's okay.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Ray Liotta/The Donnas (#28.10)" (2003)

Soundtrack:

Happy Birthday To You

Ignore the critics!

Really, anyone who refuses to watch a movie, read a book, or go to the theatre based upon the personal opinion (or egotistical diatribe) any critic publishes is a fool. The critics hated and panned this movie from the moment it the project was green-lighted and they had a practically orgasmic time of slagging it and it's star Madonna off. They fell over themselves to write the most scathing critiques, probably drafting their pieces for weeks prior to the movie's release.

But the truth is, this is a good film. Madonna is better than usual in it albeit it for a couple of scenes that needed extra takes (who decides that, the actor or the director?). The cinematography is gorgeous. The music is eclectic and sumptuous. The stars are good to look at. And it's dramatic and funny. Maybe people can't handle two moods in the same film - comedy and drama? I found the movie funny in the places when it was supposed to be funny - Madonna does have good comic timing and plays the spoilt rich bitch quite well! Her scene with the Della Reese classic Come On A My House" is done extremely well and doesn't feel like it was glued into the movie to indulge the singer's musical talents.

The love love/hate between Madonna's character and that of the deck hand whose name Madonna's character constantly fails to remember is played out well, switching between the two in a painful, frightening and uncomfortable manner.

If I can indulge my own opinion here, and my vanity, and resort to a critic's self-opinionated comments, if the final scenes of this movie don't bring a tear to your eye, a lump to your throat, or even just an increased heart beat or a tugging of the heart strings, you're not human! In short - see it and judge it for yourself. If you can't get past a singer as an actress - do yourself a favour and get a life. (Oh there's the critic's diatribe creeping in - how easy it is to sink so low!)