Rating: 
Summary: His Best Ever!
Review: It's really a compelling and dramatic movie. One of the best I've seen. It's definetely Almodovar's best film ever. I recommended to anyone who really loves good storytelling and extraordinary filmmaking.
Rating:
Summary: All about Pedro
Review: Due to many years of Franco dictatorship, Spain missed most of the revolutionary youth culture of the 60's and 70's. Just like magic, Spain flourished after the tyrant died, however, there were many voices and issues kept underground after all those shocking years. All around the country artists chose to express themselves in a very unique fashion and while the 80's are generally regarded as a cheesy period by the English and the Americans, for the Spaniards, "la movida" meant that they were finally free to be the colorful and magnificent country that they have always been without any self imposed restrictions. Pedro Almodovar, tested their much cherished freedom of speech like no other, giving a voice to an underworld of travesties, gays and outcasts with much more intelligence and humor than say John Waters. Matador and the Law of Desire are easily two of funniest and more influential films of the 80's that stretched the standards of a narrow minded movie industry, not only Spain but all around the world. His early films don't offer any sings of formal training but the barroque-kitch imagery and his absurdist, witty and often obnoxious dialogues, could easily make you forget the amateurish shooting. The problem was that by "Women on the verge of a nervous breakdown" he seemed dry out of any new ideas, hence he spent most of the nineties filming mediocre stuff like Kika. Just when every one was writing him off, he filmed "Live flesh" which showed hints of a rebirth. He dropped the kitsch, he used a more logical plot and the characters were given room to say something by avoiding the cheap jokes of the previous shallow efforts. Still these were no sings that he would come with such a masterpiece as "All about my mother". Now a really accomplished director, Almodovar used again some of his surreal characters but this time he shows them with a warmer view, specially Cecilia Roth who displays so much compassion and love, that she immediately became one of my favorite characters in any movie ever. "All about my mother is about death, birth, love and loss, and everything is addressed in an optimistic way and with a charming sense of humor. Almodovar has always been good at creating drama by showing confused characters, but on all his previous efforts he buried them with surreal situations that distract the viewer form the real internal conflict. This time, Cecilila is surrounded by a travesty, a lesbian actress whose lover is a junkie and a former nun pregnant from a junkie travesty, yet the outcome is deadly touching and that is the magic of the film, that it combines early Almodovar wilderness with a strong narrative and great performances from all actors. The cast is great and they are given a wide space to shine. This time around the dialogues are very well chosen mixing the tragic and the comic with an ease that only "American Beauty" has matched in recent times. The whole cinematography is stunning, from costumes to tapestries, there is a strange mixing of colors and different angles that make the movie as delightful to eye as much as it is to the mind.It is great to see that after 20 years, Almodovar is still around actually getting better, I eagerly wait for his next step..
Rating:
Summary: Sad and Beautiful and Unforgettable Masterpiece
Review: In this extraordinary motion picture, Senor Almodovar has taken quirky characters and screwball situations and not played them for cheap laughs. This is one of the most beautiful films I've ever experienced. I know a few filmmakers out in Hollywood who could learn a few things from this unpredictable and superbly acted masterpiece. Great! 1999 produced a lot of outstanding motion pictures, but only a few managed to bring tears to my bleary eyes. This was one of them. Don't you dare miss it.
Rating:
Summary: Almodovar's Greatest work! The pinnacle of Foregin Films.
Review: A director has reached the top of his profession when he is referred to by one name alone (Ex: Spielberg, Coppola, and Scorcesse). Pedro Almodovar has reached that point in his career and his latest film, All About My Mother, has secured his place among the greatest directors of his generation; not only in his native Spain but also all over the world. A splendid cast headed by Argentinean actress Cecilia Roth, legendary Spanish actress Marissa Paredes and younger stars Penelope Cruz and Candela Peña turns this film into the meeting of two era's of the Spanish cinema. Manuela, a single young mother (Cecilia Roth) loses her son to an auto accident after seeing a production of A Street Car Named Desire starring Huma Rojo (Marissa Paredes) on his birthday. Destroyed by the death of her son, Manuela travels from Madrid to Barcelona to find the boy's father and tell him that when she left him nearly two decades before she was pregnant with his child who was now dead. Upon arriving in Barcelona, Manuela accidentally reunites with La Agrado (Antonia San Juan), a transsexual friend who she left behind when she fled from Barcelona so many years ago. La Agrado in turn introduces her to Sister Rosa (Penelope Cruz), a nun who becomes very close to Manuela. When Sister Rosa is taken ill it is Manuela who cares for her, and becomes somewhat her surrogate mother while still trying to deal with the loss of her own son. While in Barcelona she goes to see A Streetcar Named Desire starring Huma Rojo, the actress who had left her son so impressed when they saw it Madrid. One thing leads to another and Manuela starts working as Huma's personal assistant, trying to keep her life in order and trying to keep Nina (Huma's Lesbian heroine addict lover) under control. Add to the pot the birth of a baby, a funeral, AIDS, and a dear old man with Alzheimer's and you have one of the greatest Spanish language films ever made, portraying subjects that only American Directors like Quentin Tarantino may be brave enough to tackle. The most Humorous scenes involve the transsexual La Agrado as she recalls her days of prostitution and the expenses of her cosmetic surgery. Cecilia Roth's performance as Manuela is extraordinary and Penelope Cruz's portrayal of Sister Rosa makes it obvious as to why Vanity Fair chose her as one of the hottest youngest actresses of her generation. I would be remiss and an out right idiot if I did not mention Marissa Paredes as Huma Rojo. Paredes is not a classic beauty but has the legendary quality and glamour that made Bette Davis, Marlene Dietrich, and Joan Crawford stars. When on the screen she steals the show. Fans of Almodovar will be elated by his latest offering. I recommend the film if only for the scenery of Barcelona. Offering the best mix of Drama and Comedy, Almodovar has out done himself once again. It is easy to see why the film received Best film at The Cannes Film Festival as well as The Academy Award's Oscar for Best Foreign Film. Also by Almodovar I recommend High Heels (also with Marissa Paredes) and Women on the Verge of A Nervous Breakdown.
Rating:
Summary: Almodovar at his best!
Review: Spanish directing sensation Pedro Almodovar is constantly changing and experimenting with the modes of modern cinema and his brillance can be seen in this picture. I was over in Madrid studying for four months and saw this picture almost 10 times! The story is both touching and hillarious and the actresses, especially Cecilia Roth, are outstanding! Each actress does their job in portraying the complex characters Almodovar has created. Anybody who is not touched by this film is not human!
Rating: 
Summary: Forget it's in spanish, watch it anyway!
Review: Even i can't stand watching a movie in spanish, and that's coming from a man who was born in South America. But i do recognize a fine movie, no matter what the language. "All About my Mother" is a comedy-drama about the mother who lost her only son, the way she manages to go on, and at the same time reviving her past with rare characters that have somehow affected her life. Pedro Almodovar adds his famous "underground sex-type style touch", making the movie much funnier and interesting. Really, if you just want to see a good movie, and perhaps one that differs from your average rentals, then don't think it twice. Besides, hey, it won Best Foreign Picture in the Academy Awards. Afterwords, if you liked watching a movie while reading the english subtitles, the I highly (*****) recommend the suspense thriller "Open Your Eyes" (Abre Los Ojos), another Spaniard movie...ole!
Rating:
Summary: Todo Sobre Mi Corazón, Todo Sobre Mi Madre
Review: Descubrí esta película cuando vino a los teatros en Canadá. Tristemente, tenía solamente uno el mostrar. Era afortunado, y tenía la ocasión de visión la dos veces, en otra ciudad. Era la primera vez que vi cualquier cosa de Perdo Almodóvar, y gocé de él mucho. Entonces miré otras películas que él dirigió. Él es el director más talentoso que he visto, y sus películas pintan imágenes hermosas de España y de sociedades hispánicas. Cecilia Roth es asombroso. Ella que actúa en esta película es también excepcional. ¡Mírela!
Rating:
Summary: Otra vez, de segunda lengua
Review: As much mainstream appeal as most foreign films about drag queens have, this probably won't reach the U.S. masses, and that's a real shame. This has all the makings of the really wacky blockbusters that do so well here, given that they've got big stars and don't go too far. This may just do that at times, and no one over here has heard of any of the fine actors in it. To stack the odds further, the film is smart, irreverent, and not the viewer-catering inspiration that we so prefer. In fact it's downright sad sometimes (i.e. getting killed by a taxi, aging, and dying of AIDS). Throughout it all, however, this emerges as an absolutely hilarious film. Buy it to scare some compassion into your closed-minded friends.
Rating:
Summary: truculencia que vale la pena
Review: Nunca he sido gran admiradora de la obra de Almodóvar; me parece que esta sobrevalorada y que después de "Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios" ninguna de sus películas ha valido la pena. ¿Por qué? Son melodrámaticas y efectistas. Por eso ví con cierto recelo "Todo sobre mi madre" ¿Cómo me iba a enfrentar con tanta truculencia Almodovariana? Una mujer pierde a su hermosísimo hijo adolescente en un accidente de tránsito y como única forma de consuelo resuelve buscar al padre de su hijo, un transformista, en la Barcelona de su juventud, reencontrándose con una amiga transformista quien a su vez la acerca a una bella monja embarazada afectada por el sida. Y como si no hubiera suficiente truculencia, en Barcelona conoce a la diva lesbiana, culpable indirecta de la muerte de su hijo. ¿Qué les puedo decir? Me encantó. Esta hermosa película sobre la solidaridad femenina es una de las mejores obras de su director donde todos los elementos parecen funcionar, principalmente impulsados por las tremendas actuaciones de todas y cada una de las estrellas, siendo Cecilia Roth en el papel de Helena la columna vertebral de la película. Esta película es más que un homenaje de Almodóvar a las mujeres de su vida, también es un homenaje al cine y al teatro y a todo lo hermoso que tiene la vida. Por eso a los escépticos como yo:Todo sobre mi madre, nos reconcilia con su autor.
Rating:
Summary: Todo sobre mi madre
Review: todo sobre mi madre (the real title) by Pedro almodovar is spectacular. It is filmed in barcelona and madrid. Its about love of the arts and many other things. Including the love of family and breaking down stereotypes and dealing with grief. There are many surprises and great acting. only those who are bigoted will not like the film. many thanks to Pedro almodovar. winner at the oscars and cannes film festival. I only wished Amazon would list best foreign film winners their due honor. Yes its in spanish but the subtitles are excelent for those who don't know spanish. (only a 2nd language for me and I'm not fluent)
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