Overrated and overhyped

It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

I love Argentina, finally a film from that beautiful country discusses sad historical topics in a relaxed, humorous way, without making a pamphlet, or using so much suffering in a commercial way.In a time when cinema is violence, rape, drugs or narcissistic pose, to see people like Cusack and Pacino so close to us and themselves, talking politics and art, with no fear of being disconcert by our times, makes of this movie something very special.

Pacino's character was right in this film. It's lais·sez-faire approach makes it poignant, up close and real and makes modern feel modern all over again. It's nice to see American actors getting to be like in European movies, talking back about American politics like that, without being lazy-cynical or nihilistic, just saying what is, and keeping it playful-real. Friendly, like it's supposed to be, even though all the darkest themes are on the roster. This is the dialogue America needs to be having. I loved all the songs too. They sport classic pop/rock undertones, with some of Hipp's Philly cheese steak grease warps in just the right places. Lyrics! Melody! I feel like I got to hang with the boys on this one, and watch them play at life, however daunting the playground.

I watched this largely because I love Argentina. What a waste of 90 minutes. I stuck it out and watched the entire thing because I wanted it to be a decent movie. It wasn't. To say this movie is dull and dry is really being generous. There's no plot. Nothing of any significance happens. It's not even funny. This seems like a movie where someone was trying way too hard to be sophisticated and ended up producing garbage as a result.

I'm Argentine, so do not expect good English from me. But for US- AR relations and revisions looking for the true, Agresti's movie is without any doubt a milestone. He laugh about the problems that we ourselves create and keep creating in order to be good clowns, and keep using in order to give pity when things go wrong. For instance, the name of the first who tried to kill this unique, humorous work calling it here "A Miss" is Emiliano Basile, an Argentine mediocre critic, who sign as as being North American, and use the US flag in his comment… Woow!... Contrary to that, Agresti did a face to face between both cultures, showing himself in the film, instead of hiding like that pathetic moron. He performs Mr. Pesto, a wannabe director who admits that doesn't know what cinema is… "The work", i'm not sure to call it "A Film", is like a handkerchief that unfolds, many times looking if still is there a spot free of crap in this society. The subtle investigation between lines is calling to watch it many times. I saw it 4 so far, and I keep discovering juxtapositions between images and discourse that thrills me. Also I admire the participation of actors like JK and Pacino, working for no money, much more preoccupied to embrace the experimental trip of questioning, of which some blind local critics, like that coward ignorant pretending being from the US, are just envious. Once Again Agresti tries to show the Platonic Cavern that became our cultural parody. But like in any Platonic Cavern, Agresti goes back to his country and the ones who are on chains keep killing him, and denigrating him cowardly. They have an agenda with Agresti, and he knows that, but still produces some of the most interesting movies, and books on the Pampas. The most genuine and provocative reflections, without any concern about box office or any kind of conformism. Bravo!