The Movie Press
  • Movie Reviews
  • Twitter News/Updates
  • News & Notes
  • DVD
  • Box Office Results
  • Contact
  • About Us

Broken Embraces

12/9/2009

0 Comments

 
Picture
We find ourselves in an era of American filmmaking where everything has to blow up, love stories are crammed down viewers’ throats, and minor hiccups are turned into major catastrophes by poor decision-making heroes—all in the interest of creating the largest profit margin possible in the shortest amount of time. The reports of the most recent record-setting Thursday night opening total are pushed to the next line only by the most recent “leaked” photos of next summer’s blockbuster hit. In times like these it’s nice to shift your attention overseas where little-known directors (to the general, movie-going U.S. public, at least) are making films for the sake of art rather than trying to turn a massive profit.

Such is the case in Pedro Almodóvar’sBroken Embraces, a Spanish film that doesn’t make a statement with its characters as much as it simply observes a very intriguing segment of their lives.

Read more after the jump!

Rife with subtle twists and turns, Almodóvar has created a movie you really have to pay attention to in order to get the most out of it. Each line of dialogue is crafted by Almodóvar’s own hand to serve a purpose, not just pass time until the next explosion. It’s a shame I don’t speak Spanish because, in reading the subtitles, I missed what appeared to be a colorful, beautifully framed film. Any idiot could make Penélope Cruz look stunning, but Almodóvar succeeds and making her elegant and ravishing. The bold reds and greens really pop on the screen giving the more intimate, dim moments that much more weight.

The first part of the story is told in a Memento-esque sequences that jump back and forth between events before and after the car crash that causes filmmaker Mateo Blanco (Lluis Homar) to lose his eyesight and become a blind screenwriter by the name of Harry Caine.

The flashbacks start in 1992 with the tale of corrupt stockbroker Ernesto Martel (Jose Luis Gomez) falling in love with his secretary, Lena (Cruz), who dreams of being an actress. The two make for a happy couple until Lena auditions for a role in Blanco’s next movie and promptly starts sleeping with him. Suspecting adultery, Martel sends his son (Ruben Ochandiano) to film their every move under the guise of making a documentary about the film. Martel’s life as he knows it crumbles and he sets out on a methodical path towards revenge.

Flash back to present time, where a mysterious filmmaker calling himself Ray X (also Ochandiano) wants to work with Blanco on a script that will be his revenge against Mateo, whom he feels neglected him as a child in his youth. The four main characters writhe about in their Spanish villas with the ominous scent of revenge constantly in the air which can only lead to one thing: tragedy.

Cruz may be the name that American audiences recognize, but she plays a small role compared to the sweeping grand gestures of Homar. His ability to express the simmering anguish of being blind is as easily displayed as the joys he used to experience when he had sight. Subtitles made it difficult to understand if lines are delivered well, but true emotion transcends language, and I would have known the suffering Homar’s character was going through had this been a silent film.

I’m not saying I’m ready to give up on American cinema; goodness knows Greg and I both love us some post-apocalyptic warfare, but every once in a while it’s nice to skip over the pond and nurture your artistic side. Consider it a little R&R from the front lines of Hollywood.

--Mark Collins
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    October 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    July 2018
    June 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    October 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008

    Categories

    All
    Austin Film Festival
    Darcie Duttweiler Reviews
    Derrick Mitcham Reviews
    Eric Harrelson Reviews
    Eric Pulsifer Reviews
    Eric Pulsifer Reviews
    Fantastic Fest
    Greg Maclennan Reviews
    Greg Wilson Reviews
    Jessica Hixson Reviews
    Mark Collins Reviews
    Monte Monreal Reviews
    Reviews
    Rob Heidrick Reviews
    Rob Heidrick Reviews
    Sxsw

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.