Holy Smoke 1999, Rated R Buena Vista Home Entertainment

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Starring Kate Winslet, Harvey Keitel, et al. Released to DVD on August 8, 2000.

Directed by Jane Campion (The Piano) and starring Harvey Keitel and Kate Winslet, Holy Smoke was supposed to be a movie that critics would revere and that audiences would find intellectual and witty. The emphasis on the following sentence is, of course, on the words 'supposed to'. In reality, as is so often the case with movies that attempt to be classified as genius, Holy Smoke turned out to be quite mediocre, with little plot material with which either audiences or critics can identify. Winslet plays Ruth Barron, a headstrong young Australian woman who has gone to India and begun following the teachings of the Hindu religion. Rationalizing that their daughter has been brain-washed by Indian holy men, Ruth's parents bring her back to Australia where they hope to bring her back to her senses with the help of PJ Waters (Keitel). Instead, PJ falls in love with Ruth and the movie ultimately ends with him chasing after her in the outback wearing a red dress. Campion provides for some nice scenery in Holy Smoke, the movie itself just isn't that strong.