Very well executed

The Worst Film Ever

hyped garbage

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

A group of people from a neighborhood come together in the midst of their many troubles in order to attempt saving a sports and social club which they have been a part of for most of their lives. Things get complicated as the economy takes a hit and people fight through their own struggles on the side. Juan Jose Campanella places us, the viewers, right in the middle of the many problems which exist in the lives of all the people who share the commonality of being on the board of the CLA. Each one of the characters is both emotionally torn due to family or relationship issues, and in big financial need. Although the club is a large part of the reason for so much financial instability, it also seems to serve as the fountain of energy and inspiration for all of the characters. The story demonstrates clearly how society has changed and how difficult it is to move past economical issues, even when it means throwing a lifelong tradition to the side. Furthermore, it does paint a beautiful picture of finding hope and passion in the memory of how things used to be and how they could be once again with some time investment and sacrifice.

I just watched this movie as part of a screening organized by the Vancouver Latin American Film Festival organizers."How?", I ask, that Argentinians (well, Juan Jose Campanella & co.) keep making these amazing little movies with almost no budget? I'm Mexican, and proud as I may be about the very, very few recent successes Mexican cinema may have, I do think (and, oh, please, don't let nationalisms rise, this is TRUE) Argentinian cinema has a thing or two to teach the entire Latin American movie industry.For starters: the story is so simple, the budget issue is leveled. And no, there's no bank robberies, no kidnappings, no killings, no raping and even curse words are used with such cleverness that they recover their meaning.Second, the script itself, its dialog: it rings true and alive throughout the whole story. Granted: I don't get many of the South American jargon, but I still get the point.Third, the cast. What a marvelous ensemble.Fourth: it's damn funny (check the 'dental retarded' line) and heartwarming as well (without being it preachy; reality smacks down any attempt from "preachines").What gets me is that this movie was released in 2004. It took me 4 years to find out about it. Four years! Why? Why do smart/polished productions like these get the short end of the stick? They're good stories and they're PROFITABLE stories as well! The movie was bringing down the house in the Anglosaxon-filled theater it was shown.I guess it all comes down to numbers. There's too much competition and distributors don't have faith in contemporary gems like these. That's probably what forces its directors to leave for better work fields and put their hands on NorthAmerican TV series like "30 Rock", "House M.D." or "Law and Order: SVU".Hopefully, we'll see more of these Latin American (thank you, Argentina) movies in the future.Did you liked this movie? Try "El hijo de la novia (The Bride's Son, 2001)" or "Valentin (2002)".

DON'T MISS THIS BEAUTY! This is, first of all, a first-rate film and probably one of the best movies to be remembered in the 21th Century. On the other hand, it certainly is Juan Jose Campanella's BEST film till now (his last of three). You simply cannot get any better than the acting (absolutely everyone!). The film is, true, very local. It depicts a very special segment of a nearby Buenos Aires (Argentina's Capital)city, the city of Avellaneda. The perfect dosage of drama and comedy (up to the hilarious, at times) mixed by Campanella is stunning. Probably, this film will be much more felt and appreciated by those living around the "Cuenca del Plata" ("River Plate Basin"), i.e. Montevideo (Uruguay), Bs.As. (Argentina) and Asuncion (Paraguay) where I was born and live. Ricardo Darin is simply put, one of the around eight best actors in the world, just like that. Some of the best moments are just a close-up of his face switching from doubt to joy with a smile and eyes getting wet. Furtheremore, I strongly recommend the DVD since with the Director Commentary on, Campanella talks profusely about his film, all along, with every possible technical detail of both his director and his writing. I wouldn't know whether the Director's Commentary is included in a USA or non-Latin America issue.

This movie is not an easy one. The succor and illusion of the previous Campanella seems to have gone the same way as the Argentine industry, education, sense of security, that is gone for good,at least for now. This is a suburb city, Avellaneda, in decay just as the whole society. Crossing the bridge into B.Aires, where Darin goes to reflect, will not change the situation. Argentina and Argentines are trapped, and must figure out ways to come out of yet another crisis, and as Jesse Jackson would say,¨"Keep Hope Alive". Darin asks his friend Amadeo, in a great performance by Eduardo Blanco, when he decides to stay in the country "How do you create a new social club". Amadeo responds: "We will research it and figure it out", which is what almost anyone in Buenos Aires is trying to figure out. The social crisis affects not only the economics of a country but its social and human relations, with couples breaking up, cheaters cheating friends and ex-lovers or spouses, and yet there is the hope AA gives to one of the characters, stubbornness in others who refuse to accept friends'leaving the country, and the biggest symbol of hope, the dance teacher's being pregnant, being the ultimate symbol of survival and hope. Acting is uniformly good, although Darin is getting a little stagnant in the role of the wet-eyed sensitive guy. The production is superb, well beyond Argentine standards. And as remarked above, Campanella did not sweeten the reality of this film (as I felt he did with Son of the bride). Must see to understand Greater Buenos Aires and its people.