Ironically the film’s failure as a work of art about artists may be what helps it succeed as a trashy guilty pleasure...

Despite its fascinating subject matter, Total Eclipse is both unflattering and loveless.

It lacks any sense of humor, and is under the delusion that its subjects are interesting because they are great poets. That only makes their poetry interesting.

“The unbearable thing,” muses Rimbaud, “is that nothing is unbearable.” Obviously he hadn’t seen this movie.