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Bella
Roadside Attractions

Bella reviews
Critic Score
Metascore: 47 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
7.8 out of 10
based on 18 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 24 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

MPAA RATING: PG-13 for thematic elements and brief disturbing images

Starring Eduardo Verástegui, Tammy Blanchard, Manny Perez, Ali Landry, Angélica Aragón, Jaime Tirelli, and Ramon Rodriguez

Bella is a love story that goes much deeper than romance. A story about a man who gave up his life to save the girl he loved, Bella is a heartwarming story that celebrates life, love, family, and relationships. Starring Mexican superstar Eduardo Verastegui (Chasing Papi), who is known as the "Brad Pitt of Latin America," and Emmy Award-winning actress Tammy Blanchard (The Good Shepherd), Bella is inspired by a true story that shows how one day in New York City changed three people’'s lives forever. (Metanoia Films)


GENRE(S): Drama  
WRITTEN BY: Leo Severino
Patrick Million
Alejandro Gomez Monteverde
 
DIRECTED BY: Alejandro Gomez Monteverde  
RELEASE DATE: DVD: May 6, 2008 
Theatrical: October 26, 2007 
RUNNING TIME: 91 minutes, Color 
ORIGIN: Mexico / USA 
LANGUAGE(S): English / Spanish 

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

75
Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert
The movie is a little more lightweight than the usual People's Choice Award winner at Toronto, but why not? It was the best-liked film at the 2006 festival, and I can understand that.
Read Full Review
75
New York Post Lou Lumenick
Cynics need not apply, but I found Bella a real heart tugger.
Read Full Review
75
San Francisco Chronicle Ruthe Stein
A tearjerker that earns its sobs with heartfelt emotions.
Read Full Review
70
Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum
May have more heart than head, but it's also just as interesting for what it leaves out of its romantic story as for what it retains.
Read Full Review
67
Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov
Bella is, indeed, a beautiful film. The bustling, cab-crowded thoroughfares of New York City have rarely looked as inviting and the coastline as momentously beachy as they do in this film.
Read Full Review
50
TV Guide Ken Fox
Well-acted first-feature.
Read Full Review
50
Variety Robert Koehler
Mexican-born helmer Alejandro Monteverde's debut will be remembered as a curious case of a mediocre film that wows crowds.
Read Full Review
50
Chicago Tribune Tasha Robinson
The melodrama and cheap theatrics of the story’s off-center segments drag the whole thing down.
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50
Los Angeles Times Gary Goldstein
Certainly a sweet, life-affirming picture, but it's just not authentic or captivating enough to justify its wildly concocted scenario.
Read Full Review
50
Philadelphia Inquirer Steven Rea
What are you going to do when your lead actress offers a performance that's as unlikable as the woman she's portraying? Maybe it's the script (flimsy, formulaic), or filmmaker Alejandro Gomez Monteverde's conspicuous direction, but Tammy Blanchard's Nina, a waitress with a dour disposition and an unwanted pregnancy, pretty much sucks the life out of this well-meaning melodrama.
Read Full Review
50
Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum
In stories like this defiantly unsubtle, structurally clunky specimen, causes women who are considering abortion to think again, and self-selecting audiences to enjoy a light, luxurious weep.
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50
The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Rick Groen
If you have an appetite for well-made treacle, then Bella should go down a treat.
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40
Village Voice Julia Wallace
Manages to be utterly predictable without making any sense at all.
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40
The New York Times Stephen Holden
If Bella (the title doesn’t make sense until the last scene) is a mediocre cup of mush, the response to it suggests how desperate some people are for an urban fairy tale with a happy ending, no matter how ludicrous.
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38
Boston Globe Erin Meister
In this bilingual morality movie about love, family, and fate, however, the unpredictability turns out to be highly predictable.
Read Full Review
38
Miami Herald Connie Ogle
The film is more of an exercise in pandering and propaganda -- give your baby up for adoption, you selfish pig! -- than the heartfelt drama it aims to be.
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33
The Onion (A.V. Club) Scott Tobias
The emotions at play in Bella are no doubt heartfelt--and must have resonated with a few hundred people, anyway--but they're so cut-and-dried that the mawkish script virtually writes itself.
Read Full Review
30
Washington Post Desson Thomson
A Mexican movie in which the outcome is never in doubt, the scenes are endless -- sorry, we meant poetic-- and the false beard on the central character's face looks as though it could use a little extra gum.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now!The average user rating for this movie is 7.8 (out of 10) based on 24 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Wendy H. gave it a2:
I do not like the movie at all! I don't even like the name of the actual movie! Bella?! Come on!

Chris R. gave it a10:
This is one of the best movies of 2007. It acheives a level of naturalness and simplicity that few other movies I have seen are able to. The strength of the movie is the acting, which is exemplary. I didn't find it unrealistic in the least, everything which happens in this movie could happen every day. The main thrust of this movie is redemption, pure and simple. How each of us striving to be more loving and reaching out to each other inevitably heal our own hurts by doing so. The butterfly symbolism is touching, mystical and artistic, the music was exemplary, camera shots and angles were unique. My favorite scene is the one on the beach where Tammy Blanchard does some of the most convincing emotional acting I have seen on screen to date. A positive message for a jaded modern world. The only reason the critics bashed this movie was because of its message which they eskew to be religious or pro-life. It offers that message to be sure, but in a very subtle way. It handles the subject matter with heart and concern, its prime focus being the message of redeeming love, family and friendship. It takes both sides into account and is neither condescending or preachy in the least. Listen to the peoples choice on this one, pay no mind to the critics whom rate for political correctness and enjoy a beautiful movie!

Joyce B gave it a9:
I loved the characters, I wanted to meet them. The movies raised a lot of issues which make for interesting conversation.

Kasia S. gave it a10:
One of the best i have seen in very long time, in ages... true, down to earth , reality hits right to the heart, spiritual battle over live and death! very good photography, great script, over all don't miss on a blessing...

Elmo G. gave it a9:
A great family film, it has a positive message. I am amazed how much a small film tells a refreshing story about the value of family and life.

Tom W. gave it a10:
awesome movie with a positive message about family and children. A rare movie that usually never makes it through to the viewer to value and appreciate.

Tony C. gave it a10:
I loved this movie! Had me from start to finish.

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