Juana la Loca 2001

Wesley Morris, Boston Globe: Like an Afterschool Special with costumes by Gianni Versace, Mad Love looks better than it feels. Read more

Connie Ogle, Miami Herald: It's Lopez de Ayala's show, and she's relentless in her energy and passion. Read more

Loren King, Chicago Tribune: Equal parts bodice-ripper and plodding costume drama. Read more

Elvis Mitchell, New York Times: An often watchable, though goofy and lurid, blast of a costume drama set in the late 15th century. Read more

John Hartl, Seattle Times: Ends up being mostly about ravishing costumes, eye-filling, wide-screen production design and Joan's wacky decision to stand by her man, no matter how many times he demonstrates that he's a disloyal satyr. Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: If you're in the mood for impressive castles and sumptuous costumes, torch-lit processions and decorative nudity, this is the place to turn. Read more

Rick Groen, Globe and Mail: Nothing more or less than an outright bodice-ripper -- it should have ditched the artsy pretensions and revelled in the entertaining shallows. Read more

Gary Dowell, Dallas Morning News: There's a little violence and lots of sex in a bid to hold our attention, but it grows monotonous after a while, as do Joan and Philip's repetitive arguments, schemes and treachery. Read more

Dan Fienberg, L.A. Weekly: De Ayala is required to supply too much of the energy in a film that is, overall, far too staid for its subject matter. Read more

Andrew Sarris, New York Observer: The gifted and lovely Ms. Lopez de Ayala makes Joan both an imperious queen and a passionate creature of desire. Read more

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: A sexy, peculiar and always entertaining costume drama set in Renaissance Spain, and the fact that it's based on true events somehow makes it all the more compelling. Read more

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Read more

Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star: A sumptuously-appointed account of the life of the 16th-century Spanish royal Joan of Castile. Read more

Time Out: Read more

Michael Atkinson, Village Voice: Adroit but finally a trifle flat, Mad Love doesn't galvanize its outrage the way, say, Jane Campion might have done, but at least it possesses some. Read more

Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post: A bodice-ripper for intellectuals. Read more