Matrixston
Wow! Such a good movie.
Michelle Ridley
The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity
Sarita Rafferty
There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.
Ginger
Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.
Zoooma
Gangster film from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The story is formulaic and the make-up of the characters is nothing new; stereotypes everywhere you look. But it takes place in Africa's third largest city, Kinshasa, which makes this a peculiar film already. Thugs steal gasoline, thugs try to steal it back. No moral compass whatsoever. You're forced to cheer for a bad guy because there are no good guys. There's plenty of sex which takes away from building a little more depth into the film but fast sex in such a bleak world is part of life in that country. Everything's all about the now and how to survive this life which has been dealt to these people. Some decent performances here and one supremely evil villain made me want to see how it all unfolds in the end. Filmmaking in such lands is not common so that makes this a curiosity to be sure. Not outstanding by any means but definitely worth a watch.6.1 / 10 stars--Zoooma, a Kat Pirate Screener
eckersley-stephen
Saw this purely by accident when woken in the early hours. Glad I was woken because this unexpectedly turned out to be one the best films I've seen for a while. The whole ambiance of the movie seems to capture the ugly underworld chaos of Kinshasa and the blatant racial tensions between the Angolans and Congolese. The opportunity for making money in Riva's world is all that matters and lives are cheap demonstrated with gritty realism where gangsters are out-gangstered (even by the authorities). Even the church wants a piece of the action (surprise, surprise!)Nice main sub-plot concerning Nora and her relationships with both her husband and Riva. The full on chase by Riva to get Nora as his woman is a little implausible at times but works well and gets across his obsession with the "woman of his dreams". All in all a truly riveting film about a subject and location rarely depicted.
alexandros-15
A good African pulp fiction movie with lots of random sex and violence and a fair dose of millenarian despair. Kinshasa today: Corruption, urban decay, dirty money and instant sexual gratification reign supreme. And no battle between 'good' and 'bad' around here, everybody is 'bad' fighting each other in a downward spiral reminiscent of the "no country for old men". Manie Malone is fantastic in a complex role while Hoji Fortuna adds some style. The plot is a straightforward story of sex and violence but the real story is the characters and the society around them. Not an exceptional or must see movie but a very good one.
Vantheman1790
I got a chance to screen Viva Riva! recently and have to say that I had an incredible time watching this film. There are a lot of similarities to blaxploitation films of the 1970s which makes the film all the more interesting to watch. The film is action packed and suspenseful and really makes for a thrilling ride. Riva, played wonderfully by Patsha Bay, is full of grit and macho- ness that make him the most interesting character to watch. His chemistry with Nora (Manie Malone) is steamy and very sexually charged which is explored in a couple very seductive scenes. This film is somewhat of a guy's action movie with the overt sexuality of the characters and heavy use of fighting and gore. Overall, I would recommend this film to anybody looking for a truly gritty and bad ass film with a little more soul. The characters are strong and charismatic and ready to fight anyone who crosses their path!
