Rating: 
Summary: Classic
Review: Almovodar does it again! I don't have a single negative thing to say about this movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Ballerina & Male Nurse, Female Matador & Writer & Silence
Review: Another in a long line of outstanding Almodovar movies this flick does not dissapoint fans of his outlandish look at life. There are plenty of plot analysis reviews, controversy and interpretations so look around for the "right" one. What would a Almodovar movie be without ruffling a few feathers? The essence of the movie involves the lives of four people, two couples in love(one in a bizarre one way romance) where there are two women who end up in comas. It is a well done movie. There is a movie within a movie that is excellent, done in black and white in old silent movie style. The set designs in the black and while silent are magnificent and reveal a tragic love story where the "little man" (he takes a potion) makes the ultimate sacrifice to prove his love. This sequence is in itself worth viewing the movie. Besides the cinema itself the added features to the DVD are super. I thoroughly enjoyed Pedro Almodovar and Geraldine Chaplin as they discussed the whole movie as it plays without dialogue, explaining details and revealing unnoticed situations that may have been missed by just watching the movie. Their excitement over the results of their labor are infectous. Whatever you do watch the directors commentary version AFTER you have viewed it once. The performance by Caetano Veloso is outstanding as he sings an incredible version of "CuCu RuCu Cu Paloma " and is so good you'll be tempted to buy the soundtrack. Almodovar admits in the discussion of the film that he is not the same director from the 80's or 90's so if you are expecting the old Almodovar he has moved on. He has evolved and matured but continues to push peoples buttons in even more provocative ways. So is the movie funny like some of the older movies? Yes and no, there are moments where the ridiculous though somber scenes hit on both sides of the pendulum. The acting by the cast is very, very good, especially Beningo the male nurse who is a sordid character. His transformation from being an effeminate male nurse to a "tougher" type in prison is a thing of beauty; it is like two different people. You will ultimately be the judge of this movie but if you like Almodovar more than likely you will enjoy this movie where everything comes together for your viewing pleasure.
Rating:
Summary: Ever too late ?
Review: Yes, a good film. Most reviewers miss the cutting cynicism. [Cynicism that suggest tragedy for us all, sorrow. But, don't.] For example : You had better turn up the microphone and even if you do, people don't hear what you have to say, they only want to comment on the fact that you said "inmate" instead of "intern". Or : Even if you have something vital to say, your lawyer will make you tell nothing; if you're doing a ballet, like Geraldine Chaplin's character: it had better be about destruction and war and ghouls. People end up like the endless patterns of plants in the movie's background scenery. To wit : this is echoed by the appearance of the xerox'ed pairs of vegematic dancers at the film's end. We don't talk to one another -- we are "talking to plants", there is a lawyer or a psychiatrist or a glass shield between us. Dancing is not being a dancer--it is just more leg stretches. The truth of love cannot be spoken person to person. We could follow one another around with a microphone pressed to one another's lips, but all that is emitted is a gutteral sigh, like in the finale. Still, this movie shows us that it needn't be like that.And, the main character survives amidst comatose humanity because he is true to his emotions, not fully willing to "sell out" and become a real life zombie. In the end, we are forced into shedding a tear -- perhaps a hopeful gift from this talented filmmaker. I don't have a lot of DVD's but I have "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown" -- don't let this title fool you into a negative reaction. This is meant to signal humor much like in "I Love Lucy", where often the comedy stems from Lucille Ball's being on the edge of nervous hysteria. A wonderfully funny movie. As for "Talk To Her" thanks, Almodovar for a last chance before total anaesthesia -- hopefully we will come out with it before the next one kicks.
Rating:
Summary: Almodovar evokes the eloquence of silence.
Review: Almodovar's most recent masterpiece is as beautifully written as it is thought provoking. This subtly wrought and and deeply symbolic film is, of course, best appreciated in its original language, and for anyone who purchases the DVD, I would suggest brushing up on your Spanish and turning off the subtitles. But the good news for those of us who don't speak the language is that, among the messages of this work is a statement of the profound communication that can be acheived in silence. Absolutely a must-see!!
Rating:
Summary: Almodovár raises his own bar for originality, best of 2002!
Review: Those familiar with Almodovár's work know that his characters are always colorful, diverse, his films being anything but boring and conventional. Perhaps this was the most obvious choice for most original screenplay at this years Academy Awards... First, I must comment on some of the other reviewer's statements that Almodovár condones the violent act in the film, and I must say I couldn't disagree more. He is simply the storyteller of this lonely tale, not the advocate. Furthermore, in listening to his commentary, (which proved to be as fascinating as the film itself) he explains the motivations behind the characters (unlike most other mainstream films, where the protagonist is either evil or good with no grey area) this gives the characters more depth and realism. That being said, 'Talk To Her' plays like a symphony of poetry, colors and even passionate music, that evoke complex emotions within us. Almodovár has a unique style, he is a true master of his characters, they are what drive his pictures. It is the story of four people that are mirror images of one another and yet so different at the same time. The twisting plot developments that will leave you speechless and at the edge of your couch. I know I was mesmerized from beginning to end. A film with many themes, the main one being solitude and loneliness. Yes, it has elements of tragedy, but also encompasses humour, wit and thoughtfulness. The short silent film fantasy in which a little man attempts to please a woman with what can only be described as total and complete commitment, both amusing and heartbreaking. It is also a pivotal change in the film's direction. If you are a fan of Almodovár, then you have no doubt seen this already, but if you've never seen his work before, I recommend trying this one first (most recent of the 17 films he has directed). It is a true work of art.
Rating:
Summary: keeps you thinking...
Review: I have seen All About my Mother and Talk to Her. Both films are unique and interesting in their own ways. Almodovar tries to convey universal themes by adding outrageous characters, spins and situations to his films. Although I have not completely figured out the film, it is one that is filled with meaning and real-life struggles. Some themes it evokes include male-female dependency.
It is interesting to see that Lidia, a woman is a matadora, she kills and has a more stereotypically masculine job. While her "lover" is masculine and not effeminate like Benigno. Benigno's woman is the one that lives, she is the creator of art of meaning, she is a dancer. There are many themes and ideas in this film about male dependency on women and vice versa. In my opinion the character of Benigno should not be extoled for his actions with Alicia, but he does it out of mental sickness. From the beginning Alicia is glorified as the girl that has a father that is a doctor. The audience does nto develop a relationship with Alicia, because she is very wealthy and above the other characters in class. The film makes you think and is definentely worth buying!
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful, Thought Provoking
Review: I recently rented "Talk to Her" this past June after previously having seen it in the theater. [What follows includes a plot summary]. It was easy to enjoy Almodovar's "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown" and "All About My Mother," but "Talk to Her" was for me troubling, even if remarkable. On the one hand it is the beautiful result of thoughtful, careful filmmaking. The mundane details of Almodovar's scenes are often raised to the level of art not by heavy stylization but by showing us the artfulness and colorfulness of mundane life. One example occurs in the scene where Benigno tells Marco about the time he saw him crying during the earlier theater performance scene; what is beautiful is that Marco naturally, unnoticeably is putting eye drops into Alicia's eyes at the same time. This detail could be interpreted in many different ways: perhaps it shows that Marco is a sensitive, emotionally whole person; Benigno, by literally putting tears into Alicia's eyes, is foreshadowed to cause pain. This detail also points to the artful narrative structure: it may seem obvious, but the mirroring that takes place throughout ought to serve as a starting point for analyzing where this mirroring begins and ends, how it is distorted, and how it functions to illuminate each subject. Some examples of this are: Marco/Benigno, Lydia/Alicia, Marco-Lydia/Benigno-Alicia, and each detail that falls within the realm of each of these subjects. The troubling thing about "Talk to Her" is how the rape of Alicia by Benigno essentially brings Alicia to life and out of her coma. This should trouble us and we should spend some time thinking about what it means. But, first, we should admit that this movie is not "about women." The two main female characters are comatose and are taken care of by two men; the movie would appear to be "about" these two men. Second, I find that "Talk to Her", "All About My Mother", and "Women on the Verge..." are three films that "talk" to each other. Recognizing this, we see that "Talk to Her" has men replacing women as the caregivers and protectors that they are in the other two films. It would be silly to assert based solely on "Talk to Her" that Almodovar somehow misogynistically believes that men are the caretakers of women and that this relationship is never reversed. In fact, in seeing this, we should see that the movie does not seek to make such narrow, sweeping generalizations about men or women or even rape. So does the rape by a seemingly loving but clearly pathological man deserve to be excused because it draws a woman out of a coma? I do not think that the film asks the viewer to excuse Benigno's act. His action is nowhere glorified in the film. If we feel sorry for his plight (his imprisonment and suicide), it is because Benigno (benign) is so pathetic and psychologically unbalanced and ill suited to life. We cannot say he is a martyr since he dies by his own hand. The acts of foreshadowing of the rape suggest tragedy and not heroism. Evidence of Benigno's creepiness also shows that the film realizes he is not normal. We should also remember that this is fiction and that the rape is operating symbolically and not literally (i.e., not in our real world). What I struggle with most about the rape is the masking of the actual rape with a lighthearted silent film. Does this sanitize the rape of its ugliness? I don't know. There could be numerous interpretations of the silent film and its placement. I have not resolved this issue for myself, but I think it's something to dwell on. What I am consoled by is this: one theme of the film seems to be that life can rise out of death and ugliness. This does not deny the depravity of the rape nor is it a prescription for those in comas. The ugliness of Benigno's rape and the subsequent miscarriage of the fetus, despite themselves, somehow are causes of Alicia's regaining consciousness. This isn't pretty and we don't want to see it, but sometimes that just how things in life come to pass; it is a mystery of life. I recommend "Talk to Her" because it is beautiful filmmaking, and though it is perhaps troubling at times, it is not malicious; it is merely thought provoking.
Rating:
Summary: a surprising movie
Review: Winner of the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay When I read that a foreign film won a screenplay Oscar, I knew that I had to see the movie. I'm not sure if that has happened in the history of the Academy Awards. I had also heard positive reviews, but I did not have any sort of expectations going into this movie. I have a difficult time comparing the screenplay to an English language film, but this was a very good movie. The movie opens in a theater where there is a dance performance going on. Two men are sitting next to each other, but they do not know each other. One of them is deeply touched and the other notices this and remembers it. The performance is over and they go back to their lives. Benigno is a male nurse who has one patient, Alicia. Alicia is in a coma. Benigno shows incredible care and tenderness for Alicia and early on we get the image that he is a fantastic nurse and that she is well served. Marco, the other man at the theater, meets a female bullfighter, Lydia, and they begin a relationship. When she is gored one day and ends up in a coma, Marco meets Benigno. They begin an odd friendship and Benigno helps Marco learn how to better care for Lydia. It is at this point where we begin to see a different side of the characters. Benigno is revealed to a bit more obsessed with his patient than one would deem healthy. It is clear that he believes himself in love with Alicia. Marco's love for Lydia is being tested by the coma as well as by his memories of their time together. As the movie progresses we see more and more of the backstory that got the characters to where they are at the start of the movie. This changes our understanding of Marco and especially Benigno and it changes how we perceive their relations to each other. By the end, Talk to Her went in some directions I did not expect with the characters. I was surprised by this movie, but it was a pleasant surprise. I liked Talk To Her. I can't speak to whether or not it deserved the Oscar that it won, or if it deserves a spot on a Top 10 list...but this is a good movie and if anyone has an interest in foreign movies, this is one to see (not necessarily the one to see, but it is one to see)
Rating:
Summary: A Silver Lining in Life's Tragedies
Review: Benigno (Javier Camara) is a male nurse obsessed with Alicia (Leonor Watling), a beautiful young dancer who has been in his care since an accident rendered her comatose. He talks to her as if she were conscious and handles her with the utmost care, attending to every detail of her needs to make sure she stays as beautiful as she was before her accident. Marco (Dario Grandinetti) is a journalist who is in love with Lydia (Rosario Flores), a female bullfighter who was recently jilted by her lover. When an injury leaves Lydia in a coma and near death, Marco meets Benigno. Benigno shows Marco how it is possible to care for someone who does not respond, and the two men, who seem to have little in common, develop a friendship based on their mutual grief. Benigno's odd and inappropriate attentions to Alicia eventually turn criminal. And we see how relationships form, are broken, and form again out of painful events in people's lives. "Talk to Her" uses decidedly unconventional and roundabout means to describe how relationships form out of life's tragedies: Two women in comas and the men who care for them. This is a beautifully photographed movie, and director Pedro Almodovar has masterfully crafted the film in such a way as to keep our interest in characters and a story that actually do very little. "Talk to Her" has elicited some strong reactions from viewers who object to how Benigno's behavior towards Alicia is portrayed in the film. Some members of the audience are left with the impression that the film condones his treatment of Alicia. I don't think that it does. It simply does not directly comment on the issue. Almodovar allows the characters in the film to comment on Benigno's conduct, but refrains from doing so himself. "Talk to Her" asserts that hurtful events in life often serve as a catalyst for the formation and discontinuation of relationships. Benigno's eventual abuse of Alicia is one of those events. As for the character of Benigno, himself, Almodovar goes out of his way to include scenes which call into question Benigno's mental health, as well as scenes which draw attention to Benigno's homosexuality. "Talk to Her" is not a morality play, and it is even less a social diatribe. It is a thought-provoking film about relationships. If that sounds interesting to you, I highly recommend this film. Spanish with English subtitles.
Rating:
Summary: "Tell her everything."
Review: The films of Spanish director Pedro Almodovar usually focus on women, but "Talk To Her" concerns the relationship between two very different men--Marco Zuluaga (Davio Grandinetti) and Benigno Martin (Javier Camara). Marco, a travel writer, who possesses a burning intensity, begins a tempestuous relationship with troubled female matador, Lydia Gonzalez (Rosario Flores) after she suffers a painful break-up with her long-time lover. Shy, vague Benigno longs and obsesses over dancer, Alicia (Leonor Watling), but years spent caring for his mother have left him socially unprepared to establish a normal relationship. Coincidence is a phenomenon that occurs in most of Almodovar films--in "High Heels," for example, both mother and daughter marry the same man. Coincidence is the method by which Almodovar weaves his characters into his stories--they are in the same place at the same time, and so there is a story to be told. Of course, coincidence is just the term given to events that are connected by some unnameable undercurrent. But for want of a better word, it is a coincidence that both Lydia and Alicia end up in the same hospital--both young women are in comas. Benigno becomes Alicia's nurse, and he thrives at the job--taking additional shifts, exercising her body--but above all, he talks to her--endlessly. Alicia's devoted dance teacher, Katerina Bilova, played by Geraldine Chaplin also haunts Alicia's bedside. She holds entire (but one-sided) conversations with Alicia discussing dance, and Benigno even discusses films he's seen with Alicia. Marco meets Benigno at the hospital and Marco is at once both fascinated and frustrated by Benigno's ability to nurse and care for the comatose Alicia. Marco is experiencing difficulty with Lydia's current state, and he is unable and incapable of taking Benigno's advice to talk to Lydia. Marco simply cannot communicate with Lydia, and he's rather impatient with the notion--although he's at a loss to explain why. Admiration for Benigno's apparent absorption and devotion leads to a deep bond between the two men. Past Almodovar films have possessed a certain degree of dark humour. There is none to be found here, but the film--in spite of its subject matter--is not depressing either. Fans of "Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down" will remember one highly controversial scene that excited censors. A very similar scene is found in "Talk to Her," and it may be offensive to some viewers. "Talk to Her" is a rather odd film, and it certainly does not contain conventional morality, heroes, villains, or those who are punished for deeds viewed as evil. This is a story--that's all--no judgement strings attached, but it is simply beautiful. As always, Almodovar carries an optimistic message of acceptance of those who perhaps do not quite fall within the definitions of good or bad behaviour. Almodovar is one of my very favourite directors, and "Talk To Her" is yet another Almodovar masterpiece which will not disappoint Almodovar fans--displacedhuman.
|
