Penelope Cruz

 

ph: Ellen von Unwerth

Penelope Cruz

 

Penelope Cruz

 

ph: Mario Testino

Penelope Cruz

Penelope Cruz

ph: Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin

The Hi-Lo Country (1998)

Two cowboys have their friendship tested when they fall for the same girl.

Revisionist Western is beautifully made, especially concerning cinematography and score and the male lead performances, and the depiction of the buddy friendship works, but the romances don't convince at all.

Halliwell*: "Elegiac, overlong movie of the decline of Western traditions that occasionally hints at more complex matters, of men trapped by their own situation, before settling for nostalgia."

Maltin**1/2: "A paean to the cowboy way of life and the joys of true friendship, this film has so much going for it (including Harrelson's terrific performance and Oliver Stapleton's cinematography) that it's a shame it doesn't hit the bull's-eye...and Arquette is so dull."

Penelope Cruz

Los abrazos rotos (2009)

 

 

Harry Caine, a blind writer, reaches this moment in time when he has to heal his wounds from 14 years back, when he was then still known by his real name, Mateo Blanco, and directing his last movie. Although the story is complex, offered in multiple time leaps and film-in-film sequences, it is less original, but more a homage to the director's love of cinema; as usual with Pedro Almodóvar the movie thrills with its exuberant visual quality and the ensemble's interplay.

Maltin***1/2: "Sinuous, mesmerizing story plays out in two time frames; along the way Pedro Almodóvar pays homage to Audrey Hepburn, Roberto Rossellini, and film noir. He also fashioned another perfect vehicle for Cruz's talent and beauty."

The Counselor (2013)

A lawyer finds himself in over his head when he gets involved in drug trafficking.

Fascinating left-field (and downbeat) thriller plays out its plot like an ancient tragedy about guilt and fate; excellently directed with a stellar cast of characters.

Maltin*1/2: "Grimly fascinating train wreck of a movie. Novelist Cormac McCarthy, in his first screenplay, provides an all-star cast with dialogue so dense it's indecipherable...Opens with a sexy sequence under the bed-sheets with him [Michael Fassbender] and Cruz, but it's downhill from there. Fetishists might check out the scene where cold-blooded Diaz makes love to a Ferrari, but there's nothing else to recommend here, despite a formidable lineup of actors." 

[N.B.: I usually force myself to write my 'review' in a single sentence only, but in this case I might need to add some thoughrts. Before watching this movie I was aware that it had got quite a few negative reviews and it was rumored that the plot was impossible to follow. However, I found no problem following the story; maybe I was in advanatge, since I've read all of McCarthy's novels and knew what to expect of him. The script is indeed unusual as it is elliptical, but it is construed to enable you to connect the dots. Similarly, you needn't know the full background of the characters' motivations, since it is based on the one central motive: greed. That said I find this to be an amazing and excellent movie, but slightly inferior to No Country For Old Men, which you can comapre it with.]

Volver (2006)

After her death, a mother returns to her home town in order to fix the situations she couldn't resolve during her life.

A sometimes humorous, sometimes quite dark exploration of women's lives in Spain; the female ensemble is excellent, and Almodóvar manages to tell a complex tale in a very light tone without losing any depth.

On renewed viewing: I still agree with my initial opinion.

Maltin***1/2: "Lively, colorful Almodóvar mixture of comedy, drama, emotion, and mysticism clicks with its opening shot and never lets up. It also gives Cruz an extraordinary screen showcase."

Penelope Cruz

Head in the Clouds (2004)

Three young lovers must make choices as they find themselves surrounded by increasing political unrest in late-1930s.

The movie has all the ingredients to make this a sweeping historical melodrama, but somehow it doesn't have the sparkle to evoke great emotions.

Maltin**: "Duigan's screenplay bites off more than it can chew, spanning 20 years, the evolution of two relationships, and a character's ploitical awakening. WW2 section rings hollow; artificial backdrops don't help. Theron and Cruz are quite good, and very sexy."

Penelope Cruz

ph: Nico

Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

Two girlfriends on a summer holiday in Spain become enamored with the same painter, unaware that his ex-wife, with whom he has a tempestuous relationship, is about to re-enter the picture.

A light (and talkative) comedy of mores that - despite great performances and good dialogue - seemingly has something to say about romantic relationships, but in the end doesn't. But then that may just be the message in itself.