Volver
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Movie Reviews of Volver
Movie Review: You can't go wrong with an Almodovar film
Summary: 5 Stars
Almodovar makes women's pieces better than anyone working today, including all the women who come to mind immediately. He's as good as Bergman or Serf or Cukor or Minnelli or De Sica or Rossellini or Visconti or Renoir at telling women's stories. Yes, those are all men, but I hold that when a man makes a movie about women, that captures that feeling of awe and wonderment, tinged with fear that all men have when faced with the closed world of women, together, they make films that communicate to both men and women that very starry-eyed amazement, which makes for truly interesting film. Men see groups of women from the outside, and that's a powerful stance to take when making observations. Those observations may be completely wrong, but they are often fused with the mystery that makes great art.
A lot of viewers seems to be focusing on Penelope Cruz's performance (which is great), but I do found every one of the women in this film to be extremely fabulous, and I utterly believed the completely absurd story they all are truly living. Carmen Maura, Lola Dueñas, Blanca Portillo, Yohana Cobo, and Chus Lampreave should all be receiving rave notices equally. My favorite spice in the film was "Gorda Regina," Maria Isabel Diaz, who was as real as anyone has ever been on film. The shot of her sleeping, exhausted, in the cab of the truck, by the drying riverbed, after having done heavy labor and incriminating herself for her neighbor and friend is pure cinematic poetry. I want to know how Almodovar made that shot. The subtle colors in that one picture are stellar in their quality. I think I would actually hang a still of that on my wall. Friends like that are true angels.
Once again, Pedro has told us a story from the hermetic world of the harem. The women take care of one another, and practice their own special kind of private justice, based on a code which seems to come right out of their "Y" chromosome. They are unfathomable. Their reasoning inchoate, but rational, the key to its understanding just out of reach to those of us without the same cellular chemistry. As a friend, with whom I saw the film, said, "Men are unnecessary." For Pedro's women, that seems true. Men are bumbling, thoughtless oppressors, who are of little more use than to offer sperm for procreation. It's not a new message, but one that's handed us most stylishly and palatably by this amazing director which I, for one, am glad that I've not only seen and but also own.
Movie Review: A Jewel of a Film!
Summary: 5 Stars
A truly beautiful film! I was mesmerized throughout by the great writing, directing, cinematography, and above all the outstanding performances of all the wonderful actresses. One of the legendary grand dames of Spanish cinema Carmen Maura (the Judy Dench of Spain) gives a brilliant performance in a supporting role as Irene, the tortured matriarch trying to reconcile with her long, lost daughters. Penelope Cruz gives a performance that in almost any other year would have reaped her not only the Academy Award for Best Actress, but every other award known to man-kind as well (however, having seen the movie "The Queen" it was no doubt Helen Mirren's year). I have never seen Ms. Cruz even come close to being as great as she is in this fine film. She is not only breathtakingly beautiful as our main heroine Raimunda (ala Sophia Loren and Anna Magnani) but she seems to glide across the screen with such balletic grace and effortlessness that you can't take your eyes off of her for a second. The scenes between her and Maura in particular are simply sublime beyond words. The other three main actresses also give outstanding performances in supporting roles - Yohana Cobo (Paula, Raimunda's teenage daughter), Blanca Portillo (Agustina), and in particular Lola Duenas (Sole, Raimunda's loyal and lonely younger sister).
This is not a 'chick flick'. This is not one of those boring, esoteric, foreign films that you need to be of European descent to truly understand and appreciate. Pedro Almodar truly weaves together an absolutely wonderful story with a great message as well. These women exude such strength and inner beauty that it is almost impossible to not empathize with each one of them. I was pleasantly suprised when I walked out of the movie theatre and I am planning on purchasing this DVD soon. Also, anyone who has been to Spain and fell in love with the people and culture (as I did) will truly love this film! It is such an enchanting, charming land full of benevolent and passionate souls.
It is definitely a five star movie in my opinion and one of the finest films of it's kind that I have seen in years.
Movie Review: Just as beautiful as...
Summary: 5 Stars
...the petite but glorious Penelope Cruz! Whom I've always admired, though she does tend to land some rather cheesy roles in rather cheesy Hollywood films these days, hence many people are very surprised to see her true acting skills come out as they do here.
However, Pedro Almodovar is neither Hollywood nor cheesy, in fact he is easily one of the most accomplished and interesting directors of the past 25 years. His earlier films were admittedly wilder and loonier ("Matador" and "Tie Me Up Tie Me Down" among my faves), his previous 3-5 films like this one reflect a much more mature, restrained and masterful artist---similar to Clint Eastwood's evolution from Mr. Macho Gunslinger to the thoughtful and powerful director that he is today.
Like all of Almodovar's films, "Volver" is primarily about women and his profound love of women. Which is rather interesting considering that Almodovar is a gay man, especially the times when his camera lovingly caresses his actresses' luscious cleavage.
Other reviewers will rehash and/or summarize the plot to no end, so I'll just say that if you are a plot-obsessed viewer, you probably won't like most of Almodovar's films. They are all driven by the originality, depth and fascinating unpredictability of his characters, and also by the lush and lyrical beauty of his visuals---every frame, every moment is beautiful, there are no throw-away, push-the-buttons-of-the-focus-group-audience scenes as we too often get ad nauseum in mainstream commercial films especially the Hollywood variety. There are no predictable, safe, feel-good earnest happy endings calculated to sell movie tickets and hideously overpriced concessions.
As a result you can watch an Almodovar film over and over again without ever getting sick of it, because there are always more things to notice and appreciate, because the whole thing doesn't hinge around some stupid special effects or by-the-numbers dumbed-down plotline. Definitely worth owning!
Being a Netflix junkie, this was my first trip to the cinema in almost a year, and boy am I glad I chose this one.
Movie Review: From the Great Beyond
Summary: 5 Stars
Pedro Almodo`var`s `Volver' is a tale of incest, murder, family ties, and death. Perhaps one of the most surprising and original films of the year, 'Volver' is able to switch from pathos to tenderness, laughter to tears, and intrigue to revelation skillfully and with such smooth transition, it is difficult to find any fault. The movie is a women's tale, mostly seen from relatives of a family grieving over a mother's, then an aunt's, deaths. But it is also a tale of men who are an incidental part in the movie. Mostly a plot devise, the men seem more absent than the women.
Centering around Raimunda (Penelope Cruz), the family is first seen sprucing up her mother's cemetery plot. Then, there are family get-togethers with her aunt Agustina (Blanca Portillo), sister Irene (Carmen Marna), a beautician, and sister Sole (Lola Duenas). At home she must manage her teenage daughter, Paula (Yohana Cobo) and her drunken louse of a husband, Paco. A peeping Tom with a debased incestuous interest, he comes on to Paula, who doesn't believe him when he says he is not her real father. The situation escalates, but then the rest of the movie gradually fits the family pieces together: The mother's life and death, faithless relationships, and how Raimundo is going to manage between picking up employment and finishing her chapter with Paco.
Much of 'Volver' ('To Return') rings true. It's developments are very unique. I sometimes thought this movie was like a Spanish 'Terms of Endearment,' 'Secrets and Lies,' and 'Ponette' all wrapped up into one, but this film refuses to be pigeon-holed. It is not unlike putting a rewarding jigsaw puzzle together with myriads of scenes and colors. I found my jar dropping slightly from the changes and revelations that occur. Marvelous acting and expert plot development make 'Volver' a testament to cinematic beauty and artful story telling.
Movie Review: The vast endless possibilities of the female heart
Summary: 5 Stars
Volver is extremely well done. It is an exploration of the world of women; a world that Almodovar has demonstrated he can represent as few artists have done before. There are few men in this film and those that are present are soon gone, leaving us with a film about the vast complexity of human relationships, especially relationships between women. I rank this film equal to "All About My Mother" and "Talk to Her", two other Almodovar masterpieces.
When viewing an Almodovar film, you feel that there is exploration taking place, that the director and actors may go in places that no one expects. The viewer can feel the force of creativity in his films because they hint at multiple plot directions and character development possibilities. This is so very different from highly polished, highly producted, highly directed American action films that have been developed and charted out to the last minute detail before the cameras start to film. These slick constructs are impressive but Almodovar is an artist of the possible, the random, the spontaneous and unexpected change in direction.
The cast is superb with the only possible drawback being that all the actresses in the film look like normal everyday women with the exception of Penelope Cruz, playing the lead role of Raimunda. Cruz's beauty is breath-taking, reminding me of rare beauty of Elizabeth Taylor in the 1950s.
I loved the plot, full of wierd twists and coincidences. I loved the women, living in the special world of empathy, love, wisdom, and emotional support that women are able to create. Almodovar pays a tribute to the feminine in his films for he understands the vast and endless possibilities of the female heart.