Micah Lloyd
Excellent characters with emotional depth. My wife, daughter and granddaughter all enjoyed it...and me, too! Very good movie! You won't be disappointed.
Roxie
The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;
Dana
An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.
chaswe-28402
Initially wanting to give this a higher mark, I seem to have settled for seven stars. I could have been influenced by some of the other reviews, although a number of them are exceedingly obtuse. Dogs die, and any city can supply a few dead dogs over the weeks it takes to shoot a film. Objections to the language seem equally misguided. Stories by English writers are written in English for their audience, even when set in different countries and different times. Should Gladiator have been acted in Latin, or Troy in Ancient Greek, The Duellists in French, Dracula in Transylvanian ? The DU is well-acted, and interestingly written, although somewhat predictable. Nevertheless it seems to need tightening, and this may be because of the relative functional inexperience of both director and script-writer. It wavers between corrupt politics and doomed romance. In essence it appears to be presenting the dilemma of the decent man, played by Javier Bardem, torn between living a moral life, an unsatisfactory marriage, and the everyday necessity of having a career sufficient to support his child. The artificial deal in the final scene about relinquishing the prospect of becoming president seems exceedingly unrealistic, although it also seems a convenient way of resolving this policeman's character. Ballet and cosmetics, the occupations of the two women in Bardem's life, are minimally brain-demanding.
cowboyerik
Easily a top 10 movie for any Javier Bardem fan, most incredible drama based on a true story. Incredibly well done movie on the part of John Makovich, should be a solid 8.5 rating. Suffers from 7.0 due to poor distribution network. Supporting roles are well cast, movie is well thought out and executed. Worthwhile addition to any Javier Bardem collection! I hope to get my copy autographed one day!While not really filmed on location in Peru due to security concerns, the producers and directors went thru great lengths to make the movie feel like it was shot on location in Peru. Choice of English for primary language and the native tongue Quecheun for key dialogues was GREAT!!!!
paolo_bf
The movie starts in a Garcia Marquez dreamy South America, or, for people versed in Italiana, like in a Fruttero and Lucentini Turin-based political thriller where esoteric philosophical notions mix with reality, but things soon hot up and, hey presto, we find ourselves in Graham Greene's 'Honorary Consul' territory. Where 'Ezechia' philosopher and revolutionary leader bear more than a little resemblance to Peru Sendero Luminoso's Abimael Guzman. It is John Malkovich's second time in the Director chair, and he deserves great credit for his decision to almost single-handedly bring Nicholas Shakespeare's novel to the silver screen. People may argue that this movie is stylistically and formally floored, I personally don't care, I loved this movie, it is absorbing with a complex, unconventional plot which makes you think. And by the end we all, like Xavier Bardem's Captain Rejas, will end up falling for vulnerable femme fatale Yolanda, beautifully played by Laura Morante. Purists may object to an English language movie set in South America and where the actors are mostly Spanish, but nowadays this seems to have became, alas, fairly common! On the whole, highly recommended!
lastliberal
This is John Malkovich's first feature length film as a director (he did a short). In fact, it is his only film as a director, and one wonders why, as it is clearly a great effort. Like Javier Bardem (Before Night Falls, No Country for Old Men), who stars in the film, the slow, almost monotonous tone of Malkovich is seen throughout. Perfect for the story being told.The film is a complex political mystery story based on the hunt for Abimael Guzmán, the founder of Perú's Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path), in the 1980s.Bardem never seems to change expression, whether he is hunting a terrorist, or romancing his daughter4's ballet teacher. He is pursuing something both times. He does that in his slow, manner method. Even when presented with the fact that illusions are just that, he keeps hoping and trying until he realizes that it will only be through his daughter's dance that he can have the teacher.If there is anything to criticize in the film, it is the teacher, Laura Morante's (The Empire of Wolves) complete lack of political interest or emotion. I suspect that may be Malkovich's doing, as he is not of the proper political thought to be making this type of movie.One could certainly understand Bardem's passion for something more meaningful in a relationship once meeting his wife, Alexandra Lencastre, who cared for nothing but looking better.An excellent performance by Bardem.
