FP4 entry 20071109

Allrightythen, FP4 pick of the week

PICK: “Amores Perros” Director, Alejandro González Iñárritu

Info & Trailer: http://www.blockbuster.com/catalog/movieDetails/155372

OR (for you netflix freak-a-delics)

http://www.netflix.com/Movie/60020243?trkid=73

ENTRY: I promised a pick for my blog visitors on a more earthy tone and to satisfy visually coarse viewers. Though it's not a horror or slasher movie, I got the perfect one for you. It is not so extreme that other profiles/viewers won’t enjoy it however. This is one of my personal flick favorites and it was given as a gift from my brother-in-law after his graduation from Brattleboro, VT Peace Corp Masters ESL program. Ironically, the movie is very un-peace-corp like but it does raise some interesting scenarios and how life can deal a lousy hand of cards once and a while. The story speaks for itself.

SYNOPSIS: The movie is SPANISH and can be watched with or without subtitles. However, I usually despise sub-titles but this film helped me get past that. As a viewer, most of the movie is about absorbing the action and character interaction on the screen anyway. Not a large amount of dialog is needed to be involved with the story. You could watch it with out knowing Spanish or reading subtitles and find it rewarding all the same. The movie is not your regular antagonistic plot approach (which is refreshing in itself). Another warning… it is however, visually disturbing at times. There are some scenes that Michael Vick may have been motivated by in his recent escapades. There is "suggested" scenes that portray animals in a painful situation. Animal lovers might cringe at this... a warning to my one friend that can't watch this type of movie :-) The creative elements of the movie are more about three intertwined character sketches. The characters themselves are where the common theme applies. “Amores Perros” means “life is a bitch” or the “love of a dog.” That translation is very true in the movie… the story has a raw and abrasive side all while maintaining “an almost-out-of-reach” potentially optimistic and romantic approach to life and relationships. The three stories all involve K9s... and that is the only thing the three characters have in common. I really can’t tell you more on the plot without killing the story. Also, Gael Garcia Bernal stars in this movie. He has been on several American commercials and also movies including “Babel,” “Motorcycle Dairies,” and “Bad Education.” He is a great actor. I hope you agree.

Scope: Don’t plan on being lightly entertained; it will suck up emotionally and visually. If you like Quenten Tarantino’s script and character profile approach in "Pulp Fiction," then you will love this movie. I don’t have a lot of personality profile info in the scope this time. It’s a hard one to peg because it spans a large spectrum of taste and culture. WARNING-You may need to be partially tolerant to sub-titles and some graphical scenes. I am going to only say a few words about animals (the movie may tie into dog ownership but it isn’t consumed in the plot, it's merely structure to the character development). If you have ever had a dog you loved, you will be taken by this movie. If you ever had the hard decision to have a dog put to sleep, you will connect with this movie. If you ever had your pet killed in an accidental situation or if your pet ran away and never came back, you will “click” with this movie. Also, be prepared for a bitter-sweet end to the story - it does serve up satisfying closure but not in a way you could ever anticipate. It is not a Cinderella, story-book ending. Watch the trailer and take a chance. Would love to hear your feedback since this movie has had a variety of reactions from friends. Please write and let me know!!!!

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