Pedro Almodovar Fans - Volver  

rtamara,
Thanks for the recommendation!

Glad to hear that you're also an Almodóvar fan! He's one of the few filmmakers whose movies I will usually go to "sight-unseen".

My sister just got back from Valencia, so at our Thanksgiving dinner we had tortas de aceite, chorizo, and other fun Spanish hors d'oeuvres.

We have an Orson Welles theme going, too, and watched Third Man and Citizen Kane in the past few days. (I almost wore Third Man cologne during the movie, but far be it from me to have overkill!)

¡Viva España!

One of my all-time favorite filmmakers. Thanks, I'll add it to my NF queue. If you haven't aleady, you should also see Talk to Her, Tie Me Up Tie Me Down, and Women on the Edge of a Nervous Breakdown.

You might also like Y Tu Mama Tambien by Alfonso Cuaron.

S.

I've always beem a huge fan of Almodòvar, and imo, together with Amenabar, he's one of the best spanish directors. Don't miss also to check out "High heels" and "Kika", two really intriguing and exilarant movies from Pedro.

I saw it the day it opened here in Los Angeles. Of course a lot of Spaniards watching the movie. I've seen almost all if not all of Pedro Almodovar's films but this one "Volver" is over the top. It's kinda unbelievable. I won't be a spoiler but ???????????!!!!!!!!!!.

Aubrgene,
Pedro over the top! This must be really wild, as to me he always has over-the-topness.

Thanks for some firsthand observations. No problem in having a different opinion; I'm puzzled by people that (sometimes tacitly) insist on consensus - to me it's possible to totally disagree, yet be civil about it. Then you can have an actual conversation.

PS: rtamara, I see your picture is evolving.

I loved kika, womenOTVOANB, tie me up/tie me down, what have i done to deserve this?... and in general his funnier films, i was not too keen on The bad Education and all about my mother...
I have yet to see Volver and i'm trying hard to not to read spoilers! i even posted this without reading many posts here just to avoid any (if there are some, i dunno)...

I watched it tonight with my b/f who is spanish-speaking without subtitles. Quite frankly, it felt like I didn't really need them most of the time. And the way Almodovar weaves colours into his scenes and characters is just amazing, I don't know anyone else who does it so expertly.

The scene in which Penelope Cruz sings is simply stunning, words are very unnecessary in this particular case, there's no way to describe it. And I thought he couldn't top it after La Mala Educacion.

I finally saw it a couple of days ago and i saw it actually two times, the first time it was an ok movie and the second time, believe it or not, i found it to be even better: funnier and saw more the links between the stories and the whole thing seemed to have more cohesion, i found it to be very entertaining, and Penelope is fantastic, she's so much better in spanish than in english -wich i think hinders her performances still.

I find Amenabar's films (and style) so unoriginal - he wears his influences so visibly on his sleeve that it's irritating. 'The Others' was simply a rip-off of 'The Sixth Sense' - why that film was a box office success is beyond me (but, then again, I can't stand Nicole Kidman). 'Abre Los Ojos' (or 'Vanilla Sky') is probably the best thing he's done so far (and that was a slightly patchy affair in itself). The films by Julio Medem are far better, IMO.

I've seen all of Almodòvar's films (apart from Volver) and they're all worth watching. However, I would advise you to avoid 'Matador' - that's the only stinker he's made so far. His films from the early eighties are so OTT and entertaining but lacking in substance. IMHO, it's only since the late '90s that his films began to possess an emotional core (and therefore more substance), which began with 'Live Flesh' (1997). But, yes, watch them all and judge for yourself.

Which one is the best film from Almodovar in your opinion?
All about my mother is my favourite, followed close by Live Flesh and Talk to her

I love Todo Sobre mi madre, ¡

From a subjective point of view, I'd choose 'All About My Mother' - I found it to be his most emotionally substantial film (and it also moved me in a profound way). 'Live Flesh' would be a close second for me as well. 'Talk To Her' and 'Bad Education' are based on darker, more sinister themes but I love them both too.

'Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown' was his first real classic, simply because he managed to hone in writing and directing skills with great aplomb (I really have to watch this one again sometime). His first two or three films only served to shock more than anything else (just watch 'Pepi, Luci and Bom' to know what I'm talking about). The films in bewteen these two periods saw Almodovar attempting to take his art more seriously (with varying results). However, around this point, his directing and production techniques had gradually improved.

Unfortunately, after 'Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown', I think he lost his way a bit - maybe he felt he'd discovered 'the magic formula' and wanted to milk it as much as possible. After 'Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!' (say no more) and 'Kika' (try watching the 'extremely humourous' rape scene in a public cinema - should you 'appreciate' this style of humour or be totally disgusted?), the critics accused him of misogyny and exploitation (and rightfully so). The problem was, he wasn't really addressing these taboo subjects in a sensitive and intelligent way - instead, he was using them as a foundation for his perverse sense of humour. I'm aware that Spaniards are about 20 years behind on certain attitudes (especially with regards to political correctness), but many felt he had gone too far.

I think 'The Flower of My Secret' was probably his reponse to the 'backlash', even though I found it to be one of his least interesting works. Here, he tries to re-address the balance - focusing on the emotional aspects more than ever before. I don't think he got the balance right, by this point, but he was certainly getting there (it was also probably his least humourous film, which would suggest he was still a bit sore from all the harsh criticism around this time). The follow-up, 'Live Flesh', proved that he had perfected his style, while becoming more self-conscious about the limits of his humour (or, to be precise, the issues that his humour is based on). As a result, his most recent films reflect a more mature and sensitive director who's learnt from his mistakes.

Forgive me, this is off-topic, but maybe not too much.

Antonio Banderas has appeared in several Almodovar films. He's quite a good actor as well as being a handsome fellow.

He has some perfumes, as you know. People say in BN about how Banderas men's colognes suck. I like to try things myself, to avoid peer pressure and see if I might like it anyway. So when I saw the new cologne "Antonio" in the store, I decided to check it out.

I know you folks think the Banderas colognes are just awful, but after trying this, I have to disagree - this one, "Antonio", is... worse than awful.

I got that stuff off fast! Come to think of it, Antonio's US movies are mostly pretty awful, so I should have known.

I am surprised La Mala Educacion has not been as universally praised as Talk To Her and All ABout My Mother. Almodovar said it was his most personal movie and I relate to Educacion more than to any other of his movies, as brilliant as they are. It was also strikingly different considering it completely lacked a main female character.... La Mala Educacion for me as the ultimate Almodovar-defining movie.

Well, I find Vanilla Sky to be an unworth remake of 'Abre Los Ojos' in holliwood sause... the use of colours and light in the original one speaks itself. Again about "The others" if I can agree with you being the screenplay along the same lines of the sixth sense, Nicole plays far better than Bruce (after all this is the only movie in which he doesn't play dressed in a sweaty tank top nah? ) and the movie itself is well directed imo.
But, again Trebor, as for scents, to each his own.

Yes, I have to agree that 'Abre Los Ojos' was far superior to 'Vanilla Sky' (which I watched only out of boredom). As for 'The Others', so what if Nicole Kidman's acting was better than Bruce Willis'? It's still a very unoriginal film, especially when you take into account how many years apart these two releases were.

As for Nicole Kidman's acting, I found her to be over dramatic and (at times) unnecessarily hysterial. A brilliant film usually comprises of an original script/screenplay; an imaginative director; great acting, editing and soundtrack music (if any). I'm sorry, but whether or not Nicole Kidman was 'good' doesn't excuse the fact that this film was utter tosh.

Oh, and btw, Amenabar's fixation with Hitchcock has become extremely grating. If there's one thing I've learnt about Spanish cinema and music is how much they attempt to 'emulate' their English/American idols - and usually failing miserably. Almenebar is well established now and, yet, has still failed to forge an identity for himself! Even Almodovar had the good sense to develop this from his very first film, no matter how sketchy his initial vision was.

Bigas Luna, Pedro Almodóvar, Julio Medem, Luis Buñuel, Juanma Bajo Ulloa - these are Spanish directors who have shown originality in their films (regardless of their flaws). Amenabar showed promise at the beginning but has now become both a devotee of Hitchcock (yawn!) and a Hollywood whore.

I dare you to watch at least one film by each of the above directors, and then come back and tell me that you still thought 'The Others' was 'fab'.

Don't get me wrong Robert, I never said "The Others" was fab. Agreed with you that a fab movie is a complex work where "original script/screenplay, imaginative director, great acting, editing and soundtrack music" and let me add photograpy, costumes, makeup, special effects etc... everything perfectly marches together, It so rarely happens (as for the total unmatch) that I've learned that among fab and disastrous there are shades. And imo "The Others" lay in the middle, having some lightpoints itself.
Well, said that Pedro is still my fav, and Bigas is my least fav, again Amenabar lays in the middle.
Respectfully,
Mag

Hi Magnifiscent,

See what happens when you mention Nicole Kidman, to me!

I totally agree with you about there being shades. As for Bigas Luna, although I can gain some enjoyment from his films, they are horribly sexist. However, his style is unique and with some considerable substance (and, let's face it, he could have been even more un-PC if he wanted too).

And that's the problem I have with Amenabar. Yeah, he's in the middle but more towards the irritating than the interesting. I have no problem watching his films but there's something awfully unoriginal and contrived about his most recent works - and that's my main gripe with him.

What a bigoted thing to say, I am guessing you are another 30 years behind those Spaniards. I pity you fool.

Maybe that's because I've lived there for three years, so know exactly what I'm talking about.

Btw, welcome to Basenotes.

I am Spanish and I have lived in London and I will keep quiet & silent because of my politeness, but IMO all of us would better to avoid talk about other different countries & cultures specially when we cannot understand their idiosyncrasy. It is easy to offend and light the fire if ignorant people open their mouths it does not mind their nacionality...it transcends the country they come from...luckily for the rest of their compatriots)

¡¡¡¡¡QUE VIVA ESPAÑA...Y OLE!!!!!

Keeping silent and remaining ‘polite’ is the worst thing anyone can do – that’s how issues worsen and often go unnoticed. Such things need to be brought to the light and openly discussed, even if such perspectives are fiercely challenged.

After witnessing (and enduring) shocking levels of sexism, misogynism, racism, work inequalities and homophobia during those three years in Spain, I think I have the right to relay such personal experiences. Maybe someone out there, after reading this thread, will actually benefit in the long-term after doing additional research…

Understanding idiosyncrasies? Well, try telling that to the many Latin Americans and Africans who are largely marginalised, segregated and racially abused in Spain; try explaining why it’s still in good taste for a Caucasian Spaniard to wear dark shoe polish on a TV show to impersonate a black man; try excusing away the alarming rate of domestic abuse inflicted by men; try concluding why there is hardly anyone from other ethnic groups working in Spanish office environments; try to enlighten on why many Spaniards think that only native English-speaking black people can't possibly come from Europe but only from the US.

I remember Spaniards being fiercely patriotic and that’s fine. However, if it’s at the expense of others then it’s not fine anymore.

Trust me. It is much better...sometimes... to keep silent!!!!

ey man , what are you saying ? you know Spain only for 3 years of stay here? hahaha Don´t make me laugh, you realize you're making generalizations only by personal experiences? don´t say trash.
if you saw incidents of racism, what you had to do is reported to the spanish police, not pretend here to be a Spanish anthropologist.

still in good taste for a Caucasian Spaniard to wear dark shoe polish on a TV show to impersonate a black man?
who say to you that is in good taste or maybe is just only a particular situation?
would be better to use your intelligence to solve the same puzzles in your own country, which abounds many of your wonderful spanish experiences.

many Spaniards think that only native English-speaking black people can't possibly come from Europe but only from the US.
hahahaha Have you ever done a survey to know this? Do not be ridiculous
Spain is great and complex , don´t be so clever to believe yourself that know all !!

hahahahaha .....don´t believe yourself so important to think that the 4 guys you met here are MANY!!
you define yourself with this intelligent deduction

Locked as political threads, or those that turn political, have not been allowed on Basenotes for awhile as they tend to inflame members.