SummaryA story about the friendship between two men, about loneliness and the long convalescence of wounds provoked by passion. (Sony Pictures Classics)
SummaryA story about the friendship between two men, about loneliness and the long convalescence of wounds provoked by passion. (Sony Pictures Classics)
Like everything else in this superb work of art, ''Shrinking Lover'' is exquisitely Almodóvarian. It's funny, tender, a little shocking, and it pays homage to what we know about movies: that they can move us beyond words.
Going through Almodovar movies chronologically is like watching evolution. Each one is more polished, incisive and interesting than the last. This has more developed characters and chemistry than I have seen. A female bullfighter with a phobia of snakes should be corny but it is endearing, like Indiana Jones. Even a girl in a coma is developed. The photography has more layers and blends with the music nicely. By not using high profile actors, the focus is on the broader image. Definitely his best movie up to that point.
Almodovar loves the human flesh -- indeed, one of his films is titled "Live Flesh" -- and with the quietly subversive Talk to Her, he utilizes it not just as mere decoration but weaves with it textured themes of powerlessness, love and obsession.
Isn't quite as accessible or as deeply moving as his masterpiece, "All About My Mother." It's a tad too self-consciously a work of art for that. But it's still a must-see for anyone who's halfway serious about film.
The movie is occasionally funny, always very colorful and enjoyably overblown in the traditional Almodóvar style; and the performances -- especially Javier Cámara as the gentle, sweet-spirited Benigno -- are exquisitely tender and moving.
It is a film of magic - whether it is diabolism or wonder, I can't say, but it is there, and it will captivate you. Almodovar has created an unmined dramatic space for us to dwell in, and knocks any preconceived notions of morality and certainty out of his twisted world, and carries us along into it.
En esta ocasión Almodóvar explora al mismo tiempo la mentalidad masculina y la femenina, teniendo como conexión una tragedia irreversible, y un lazo profundo de amistad sin posibilidad de una salida feliz. La corta secuencia de cine mudo es de antología y prácticamente, el corazón de la película.
This is my third favourite Almodovar movie. Marco is a journalist specializing in tourist guides, Benigno a generous, perfect nurse. The latter has been taking care of Alicia, a (former) dancer, in a coma for four years. Marco has an affair with Lidya, a torera, who soon reaches Alicia in the same hospital, reduced in turn to a coma. Benigno talks to his patient as if he were conscious, he tells her everything, daily life, thoughts, shows. Marco, less imaginative, just watches crying. Benigno (never had women, perhaps ****), teaches him to "talk to her", in fact.
The film takes unpredictable, disconcerting, alarming paths that I won't spoiler. This movie has a great melodrama power inside, all Almodovar poetry is evident here and his style is so clear and beautifully shown. One of his best, whitout a doubt.
This is a horror movie starring a Spanish Norman Bates. Look out. This is a horror movie starring a Spanish Norman Bates. Look out. This is a horror movie starring a Spanish Norman Bates. Look out.
This one is flawless. Personally I didn't watch much out of Hollywood movies but this certainly can convince that the best stuff is not only Hollywood, The underlying messages of loneliness, of friendship tends to take you by surprise sometime. Certainly can see why it's so critically acclaimed. And my score reminds me that I'm not that much of a critic.