Written & Directed By: Pedro Almodovar
Based on the novel "Trantula" Written by: Thierry Jonquet
Cinematography By: Jose Luis Alcaine
Editor: Jose Salcedo
Cast: Antonio Banderas, Elena Ayana, Blanca Suarez, Marisa Parades, Jan Cornet, Robert Alamo, Barbara Lennie
A brilliant plastic surgeon, haunted by past tragedies, creates a type of synthetic skin that withstands any kind of damage. His guinea pig: a mysterious and volatile woman who holds the key to his obsession.
The first half hour of this film. Each shot looks so beautiful like painitings. Oneof the first things i will say about this film is that The film is as beautiful as it is disturbing. Which automatically endears itself to me at least. it mixes them both with the sublime. The film is more of a thriller. Which is not a rare genre for Almodovar to inhabit, here though it is a little more dark then we are used to seeing. IT is still earthy but more clinical. His touches are still here as well as his homages to classic cinema that are obvious influences on him and his work. This film is a little more scary then his usual fare. It is a film i wish i could have made myself, But i think in the masterful hands of an Artist such as Pedro Almodovar. He brings out the best in the material and makes a near masterpiece.
To tell the truth i Believe Pedro Almodovar is definately in my top 10 of living directors, maybe even top 10 directors of all time.
Pedro Almodovar always seems to bring out the best in his cast Especially the lead actresses. Then again he isone of the few directors who continously offers Actresses suchpowerful roles no matter what age and he always gives them a certain amount of glamour. Which i think is missing from films these days. I admire the fact that when he writes his own original work he writes from a place where he knows the actress he wants to cast and uses them and what he knows about them to help him write so that in effect they are his muses. Wheneverheseems to work with someone new there seems to be a collaboration. Where they give him input yet he still manages to mold them into his ideal.
The film reveals itself slowly. It begins with the middle then fills us in on the beginning until finally we get to an end. One of the reasons i love froeign films is that while watching them they slowly pull you in with story and character that seems to get more interesting the longer you stay with the film. It soon becomes enriched with culture and atmosphere once you truly understand what is going on. The films seems to have time to tell their stories and details without coming to a main point within the first 30 minutes and going straight to the action. There doesn't seem tobe a formula at owrk. It is more freestlye, At least to me. in other words it takes it's time and draws you in the longer the film goes on, until it has you fully in it's grasp and knows you will follow it anywhere.
Here he is reunited with one of his old stars Antonio Banderas. Banderas is like Hugh Jackman to me. They both have Classic leading man looks and charm. Handome Gentlemen, Charisma. The thing is that Jackman seems onlyto be believable in hollywood type films. Where banderas and maybe because he started out playing in low budget indies. Can be both hollywood leading man and character actor in indie films. He is getting older but he still has the looks and that star quality. he has just added debonair to the list.He should work more. In this film he is more scary and disturbed slowly drivenmad but not in an obvious way.
The film truly shows the beauty and talents of Elena Ayana whose career i have followed since the great film SEX AND LUCIA With Paz Vega. Finally has gotten a role worthy of her talents and gives her a chance to show off. Which she does and i mean everything. She is certainly a Silver screen scorching siren. Who i have had a Film crush on for quite awhile. I watched VAN HELSING just because i knew she had a role in it. Which i paid for dearly as it was very bad,
The film doesn't any gore or as much violence as you might expect with this type of tale. It is sexualy graphic though and as always colorful. Whichyou can imagine my enjoyment as when i saw it. it was mostly with senior citizens. So seeing graphic sexuality and sex scenes with them felt more then a little perverted.
A film like this is definately better enjoyed on the big screen. One of thebest films i have seen all year. A MUST SEE
GRADE: A
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