Rating: 
Summary: just as I would imagine as best film
Review: I consider it as one of the best examples of perfect filmmaking.
Rating: 
Summary: Not the old Aldomovar
Review: I hadn't seen a Aldomovar film (Tie me up ,tie me down) in a few years after seeming much of his work in the eighties. I was looking forwrd to his style, known for bizarre characters and twisted tales I was ready for more. I was a little let down as it seems one of Spain's major film makers has tempered his outrageousness and almost gone Hollywood. I enjoyed this movie very much but it was different from what I'd experienced with his earlier efforts. The tale does not have the Aldomovar flare for strange characters , they are too ordinary. The story evolves around love affairs, combined with suspense over who's doing who(it's easy to figure out), a plot that intrigues but doesn't blow your mind. There are some pretty good performances, most notably by Francesca Neri as Elena, the sultry, primary woman of the movie, and Victor as played by Libertu Ratal, Elena and her husband's nemisis, or so it seems. I was a little disappointed with the early exit of Peneolupe Cruz as the mother of Victor, but she was good while she lasted. The characters are believeable for the most part but I had troubles with the parapalegic husband of Elena. The story follows the troubled life of a young man, Victor, who gets caught up in the wrong place at the wrong time and serves some jail time. Upon his release he becomes involved in the lives of those most responsible for his time in jail. He gets involved with a married woman who wants to teach him to be the best lover ever, he believes it. It is not the usual tale of revenge, retribution can be sweet. The twists and turns are here but it is easy to see the oncoming traffic. The music to the movie is fantastic. Plenty of Spanish music that further laments the story. The only problem I had was trying to read the credits so I could seek out some of the performing artists. Great soundtrack of tradional Spanish songs. All in all this is a stylish movie, unlike his earlier works, a pretty good plot and very entertaining. A good movie with a limited amount of violence and nudity, done in good taste. I prefer his older movies but this is still pretty good.
Rating:
Summary: Sad, Sexy, worth watching
Review: I really liked this movie. I was expecting all sex and no story line and was pleasently surprised to be mistaken. The only problem is that the version available at Amazon is dubbed in english. It would be much better with sub-titles. Almodovar has done a fine job with this one.
Rating:
Summary: Check Out Bardem pre-"Before Night Falls"
Review: I've seen all of Aldomovar's films, and I'd have to put this one right behind "All About My Mother." It has the typical Aldomovar intersecting characters & some of his trademark campiness, but the polish and professionalism that burst out in "All About My Mother" really started in "Live Flesh," his work prior to that Oscar-winning breakthrough.Not mentioned in any of the other reviews here is the reason I rented the film: a chance to see Javier Bardem before his triumph as Reinaldo Arenas in Julian Schnabel's "Before Night Falls." That alone is worth your checking out this movie. Watching Live Flesh," you gain even more respect for his depiction of Arenas. He demonstrates amazing range. There is a gaping chasm between these two characters. Just incredible acting. [Trivia note: You can check out one of Bardem's first film appearances in an earlier Aldomovar picture called "High Heels." He's on screen for no more than seven seconds as a TV stage technician.]
Rating:
Summary: Almodovar's Transition from "Kika" to "All About My Mother"
Review: If you have never seen an Almodovar film, try watching some of his earlier work first... "High Heels," "Labyrinth of Passions" or "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown." Live Flesh is definetely the glossiest film that Almodovar has ever done (that is before "All About My Mother"). He looses the "campy style" that characterizes most of his previous work and the film is tedious at times but still highly original. His latest film "All About My Mother" achieves what "Live Flesh" failed to do... combine Almodovar's picaresque/campy style with mainstream gloss, resulting in a masterpiece that ANYONE can enjoy. I'm sure that any Almodovar fan will like this film. However if your just getting to know his work... Remember, start with his early works.
Rating:
Summary: One of Javier Bardem's finest films.
Review: If you have never seen any film with javier bardem, this is the one to see and many others I could recommend. The story: a young woman gives birth to a baby boy on the bus at night in Madrid, Spain. Twenty years later, Victor, played by Liberto Rabel, is walking the streets being of service to women. He goes to see one woman as he just looked upon her from the window out on the street. Inside the apartment, she points a gun at Victor. A neighbor hears a gunshot. So the police are on their way. Javier Bardem plays "David" and he is one of the cops on the call. The police finally get into the apartment, but a deal has to be made to end this hostage situation. The other cop, Sancho, out of the blue, goes after Victor holding the gun and are wrestling with it. The gun is pointed right at David. The gun goes off, shooting David. It is not clear if Victor or Sancho shot the gun. Now it is 1992. We see that David was paralyzed and wheel-chair bound. I will not say anything else about the plot. This film has many twists and turns. It is called a film noir. Liberto Rabel looks handsome with his hair shaved. I wish this film on DVD where available in Stanard Frame or Full Frame instead of Widescreen.
Rating:
Summary: One of Javier Bardem's finest films.
Review: If you have never seen any film with javier bardem, this is the one to see and many others I could recommend. The story: a young woman gives birth to a baby boy on the bus at night in Madrid, Spain. Twenty years later, Victor, played by Liberto Rabel, is walking the streets being of service to women. He goes to see one woman as he just looked upon her from the window out on the street. Inside the apartment, she points a gun at Victor. A neighbor hears a gunshot. So the police are on their way. Javier Bardem plays "David" and he is one of the cops on the call. The police finally get into the apartment, but a deal has to be made to end this hostage situation. The other cop, Sancho, out of the blue, goes after Victor holding the gun and are wrestling with it. The gun is pointed right at David. The gun goes off, shooting David. It is not clear if Victor or Sancho shot the gun. Now it is 1992. We see that David was paralyzed and wheel-chair bound. I will not say anything else about the plot. This film has many twists and turns. It is called a film noir. Liberto Rabel looks handsome with his hair shaved. I wish this film on DVD where available in Stanard Frame or Full Frame instead of Widescreen.
Rating:
Summary: "But I have no regrets."
Review: In "Live Flesh" police partners David (Javier Bardem) and Sancho (Jose Sancho) respond to a call that shots have been heard in an apartment building. They stumble into an argument between a wealthy young woman, Elena (Francesca Neri), and Victor (Liberto Rabal)--a man she's trying to brush off. Almodovar--the master storyteller of the bizarre twist of fate--picks up the tale 5 years later. Victor is released from prison, and David--now a paraplegic--is married to Elena. Elena has cleaned up her act and devotes herself--and her money--to an orphanage. Victor is bent on revenge, and David, although physically at a disadvantage, wants to protect his wife. In the midst of all this unfinished business between Victor, David, and Elena, are David's old partner, Sancho, and his beautiful wife, Clara (Angela Molina). Victor's passionate, erotic affair with Clara complicates matters. No one can begin to make a future until coming to terms with the past, and all five characters collide as blame and retribution exact a heavy cost. "Live Flesh" marks a departure for Almodovar from his usual comedies, and this film deals with some rather painful issues while subtly criticizing the Franco regime. "Live Flesh" is an extremely solid, unflawed Almodovar film--replete with excellent performances from each of the five main characters. Almodovar always creates the most intriguing female characters, and Clara was particularly complicated and interesting to watch. Victor's character was also extremely well done--when he's released from prison and returns to the abandoned hovel he calls 'home', he is immediately a much more sympathetic character. Almodovar films launched Antonio Banderas into Hollywood, and Javier Bardem was soon to follow the same career pattern. Penelope Cruz appears in a small role as Victor's prostitute mother. Nudity, adult themes, erotic sessions--in other words ... Almodovar--displacedhuman
Rating:
Summary: "But I have no regrets."
Review: In "Live Flesh" police partners David (Javier Bardem) and Sancho (Jose Sancho) respond to a call that shots have been heard in an apartment building. They stumble into an argument between a wealthy young woman, Elena (Francesca Neri), and Victor (Liberto Rabal)--a man she's trying to brush off. Almodovar--the master storyteller of the bizarre twist of fate--picks up the tale 5 years later. Victor is released from prison, and David--now a paraplegic--is married to Elena. Elena has cleaned up her act and devotes herself--and her money--to an orphanage. Victor is bent on revenge, and David, although physically at a disadvantage, wants to protect his wife. In the midst of all this unfinished business between Victor, David, and Elena, are David's old partner, Sancho, and his beautiful wife, Clara (Angela Molina). Victor's passionate, erotic affair with Clara complicates matters. No one can begin to make a future until coming to terms with the past, and all five characters collide as blame and retribution exact a heavy cost. "Live Flesh" marks a departure for Almodovar from his usual comedies, and this film deals with some rather painful issues while subtly criticizing the Franco regime. "Live Flesh" is an extremely solid, unflawed Almodovar film--replete with excellent performances from each of the five main characters. Almodovar always creates the most intriguing female characters, and Clara was particularly complicated and interesting to watch. Victor's character was also extremely well done--when he's released from prison and returns to the abandoned hovel he calls 'home', he is immediately a much more sympathetic character. Almodovar films launched Antonio Banderas into Hollywood, and Javier Bardem was soon to follow the same career pattern. Penelope Cruz appears in a small role as Victor's prostitute mother. Nudity, adult themes, erotic sessions--in other words ... Almodovar--displacedhuman
Rating:
Summary: quasi perfetto
Review: Lo ritengo dopo "Legami" e "MAtador" il miglior film di Almodovar. L'uso della cinepresa è come al solito geniale, l'incipit è meraviglioso e straziante, la recitazione è quasi perfetta. Unico problema, la sceneggiatura: le situazioni diventano all'improvviso troppo contorte per essere credibili e troppo realistiche per sembrare poetiche
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