The World Beyond BetterMost > The Culture Tent
Resurrecting the Movies thread...
opinionista:
--- Quote from: Meryl on February 02, 2007, 07:17:03 pm ---It's rather overplotted, with a fair number of twists and turns and convenient coincidences that require some suspension of belief. Family secrets, ghosts and mistaken identity all figure in the story. In the hands of, say, Mel Brooks, it would make a good slapstick comedy. Almodovar makes it more like a Spanish Woody Allen film--you laugh more because of the characters than the situations.
--- End quote ---
I did like Volver, and very much. But I think this movie was not really suitable for the international public. IMO, it is too deep rooted in the culture of Spain, especially of La Mancha. It's really about the women, and the strange, but strong-tied relationship they develop, mostly to protect each other. They can fight and grow apart, but in the end they go back to each other. They also have a different understanding of death. I went to see it with two friends whose parents are from small towns of La Mancha. They live in Madrid, but they still have strong ties with their respectives towns, and visit them often. They thought the movie's portrayal of La Mancha women is very accurate. Of course, their lives are different to Raimunda's, but in general, they felt very represented in the movie.
Penelope Curz's Raimunda is based on Almodovar's own aunt, who was also a Raimunda. Part of the plot is based on real-life events.
This is the type of movie you can't see from an American point of view, IMO that is.
Meryl:
--- Quote from: opinionista on February 11, 2007, 08:28:29 pm ---I did like Volver, and very much. But I think this movie was not really suitable for the international public. IMO, it is too deep rooted in the culture of Spain, especially of La Mancha. It's really about the women, and the strange, but strong-tied relationship they develop, mostly to protect each other. They can fight and grow apart, but in the end they go back to each other. They also have a different understanding of death. I went to see it with two friends whose parents are from small towns of La Mancha. They live in Madrid, but they still have strong ties with their respectives towns, and visit them often. They thought the movie's portrayal of La Mancha women is very accurate. Of course, their lives are different to Raimunda's, but in general, they felt very represented in the movie.
Penelope Curz's Raimunda is based on Almodovar's own aunt, who was also a Raimunda. Part of the plot is based on real-life events.
This is the type of movie you can't see from an American point of view, IMO that is.
--- End quote ---
I guess that's so that an American wouldn't get as much out of it, but I didn't really have a problem believing the relationships or the supernatural part. It was just that some of the plot twists seemed pretty contrived. I can't go into much detail without spoiling it for others, but I hope you know what I mean.
saucycobblers:
WOOHOO!!! Forest Whitaker won the Best Actor BAFTA!! Go Forest!!
The BAFTAs sure have great taste - remember thay gave the statue to Jakey last year?
;D :D ;D :D ;D :D ;D :D ;D :D ;D :D ;D :D ;D :D
ednbarby:
Yes, they have great taste. Except for not giving one to Heath and Michelle, that is. But I'll give them snaps for at least getting it right where Jake and the movie, screenplay, and director were concerned.
I was glad to see Forest win. As I've said before, he's one juggernaut who deserves everything he gets and then some. I've just about never seen a performance like his - legendary. The only film performances I can compare it to are Judi Dench in "Mrs. Brown," Ralph Fiennes in "Schindler's List," and Heath Ledger in "Brokeback Mountain."
And unlike Phillip Seymour Hoffman, I feel like Forest is just gettin' started.
(Sorry, btw - but I appear to be about the only person on the planet who thinks Marlon Brando, James Dean, and Sean Penn are vastly over-rated, so I didn't include their penultimate performances in that list.)
opinionista:
--- Quote from: Meryl on February 12, 2007, 12:05:40 am ---I guess that's so that an American wouldn't get as much out of it, but I didn't really have a problem believing the relationships or the supernatural part. It was just that some of the plot twists seemed pretty contrived. I can't go into much detail without spoiling it for others, but I hope you know what I mean.
--- End quote ---
I thought the plot twist were plot devices. I didn't see them as an important part of the movie. I think it was more about the relationship. That's why it is called Volver. It means coming back.
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