Ken Watanabe simps for Julianne Moore, and then everyone becomes best friends with terrorists. [4.9/10] This movie is hard evidence that simping will work for you if you try hard enough.

In an ocean of modern mediocrity this is one of the best films I have ever seen. It touches the soul of what it is to be positive and human. I strongly recommend this film. I am not sure why others have not given it the maximum score. Every actor and actress performance regardless of individual fame was magical. Types of films I rate highly: Creation (2009); The Red Violin (1999); Miss Congeniality (2000); Paris Texas (1984); Mr Bean's Holiday (2007); Little Lord Fauntleroy (1921 w M.Pickford); Mifunes sidste sang (Danish 1999); As One (2012); Stockholm East (2011)....

Terribly Underrated when it deserves some accolade ?

A movie that tries to tell the story in a hostage situation where the hostages and their captors find joy in music together (particular opera) and come to realize how they relate to one another. Not an action packed movie, but a slow paced movie to build the relationship between the characters. Not a movie your going to rewatch a lot, but a movie that will stick with you.

This film is stunning in so many ways. A complex and fascinating narrative backed up with extraordinary performances - the whole cast carry this film with equal weight. The best film I've seen in years - but you'll only ever watch it once.

unpredictable, heart warming and beautifully filmed 👏🏽

Emotionally affecting; a beautiful adaptation of the best-selling book.

This movie was vastly underrated by both critics and audiences. I found that it touched me deeply and I was extremely glad that I saw it. The performances were wonderful and the direction deft, with a plot that is both hopeful and wrenching at the same time.

Bel Canto has an interesting story. The performances here are well done but the movie isn’t very deep with no true message. Characters aren’t flushed out very well and while it starts off decent it becomes boring and starts to drag. And by the end it gets a little far-fetched and unbelievableinteresting ideas but the final product just doesn’t deliver.

Besides the lousy book it is decidedly racist. The Anglos and their culture must come out on top of the Hispanic always in these racist movies.

Would a film be like an opera that would be like a telenovela? Practically an own goal. (Mauro Lanari)

Bel Canto is a well-intentioned thriller that tries to be political and profound but just doesn't spark or work. In what I think is an unnamed South American country, though I may have drifted off when it was briefly mentioned as it was my 5th film of the flight, rebel forces against a local militant government has taken hostages in the Vice President's residence, including the Japanese investor (Ken Watanabe) he was entertaining who happens to be an opera fan; and the famous opera singer, played by Julianne Moore, who was shipped in at great expense to impress him. Directed and co-written by Paul Weitz, who is better known for lighter and gentler films such as About A Boy and In Good Company, the film soon falls into schmaltzy territory as the situation drags on and a stalemate between the government and the rebels means that we have plenty of screen time for the hostages and the hostage takers to bond over chess, music and love across the divide. Terribly silly and not very believable, I was pretty much unmoved as the film rambles on until a final violent resolution that strives for poignancy but falls face first into sentimentality, despite the best efforts from a cast which also includes an unrecognisable Christopher Lambert!

Good movie but the plots makes us a little bit confuse about the storylines. But overall good. I like it. Julianne Moore always great

Could have put more passion into it ...

It was an exceptionally Oscar worthy movie. Taking through different emotions and giving a big shock at the end. Loved it

Very unrealistic setting. I felt the plot was weak. The dialogues are uninspired most of the time.I had great expectations being a Julianne Moore movie.

Wow, what a whiff. In no way does this movie capture any of the magic or beauty of Ann Patchett’s novel. Such potential wasted.

A passionate, beautiful and heartbreaking film. The two parallel love stories build as the movie progresses. Romance at its best.

A somewhat dull hostage drama centred around Moore and her iffy operatic lip syncing. Not sure what the point of it all is - is it that a) terrorists are people too, or b) music brings all people together? It's never clear, either way. By the time the credits roll you'll realise the time you wasted investing in it.

Great! a movie that 'humanizes left wing terrorist hostage takers". Seems like the people behind this movie contracted the Stockholm Syndrome vicariously. I saw the play a couple years ago on PBS. Oh, and the 'beautiful singing' (Bel Canto), not so much. disgusting. But it did have a happy ending.