★ 7 / 10
There is something really quite gruesome about the
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There is something really quite gruesome about the task assigned to "Romeo" (Javier Bardem) by his gangster boss "Santos" (Don Stroud). He is to organise a…
There is something really quite gruesome about the task assigned to "Romeo" (Javier Bardem) by his gangster boss "Santos" (Don Stroud). He is to organise a smuggling operation to bring foetuses across the border so they can be used by the cosmetics industry. Before he can undertake his mission, though, he must obtain a suitable person to sacrifice to his voodoo like god and so now allied with the alluringly ruthless "Perdita" (Rosie Perez) they set off to essentially kidnap someone off the street. Unfortunately for them, "Estelle" (Aimee Graham) and her rather drippy boyfriend "Duane" (Harley Cross) are the couple they select and so, terrified, are taken back to the couple's lair for some sexual abuse, voyeurism and a good old feathering - before the knife is to be wielded. Naturally, the behaviour of "Romeo" and his boss hasn't escaped the authorities and so with the feds (Alex Cox), her dad (the scene stealing Roger Cudney) and one of his own former partners who's got debts coming from every pore also chasing down the couple is there any hope that the youngsters can avoid ending up like exhibits at Tenochtitlan? Now Álex de la Iglesia hasn't exactly worried about giving anyone here much depth to their character, indeed we know precious little about either "Perdita" or "Romeo" before fate and their libido threw them together for a turbulent relationship that proves almost as dangerous for them as it does for just about everyone they meet. I didn't think that really mattered though as this is really just a vehicle for some darkly comedic excess delivered entertainingly by a Bardem who really looks like he is enjoying himself as he shags and shoots his way through a life riddled with bloodthirstiness and (not terribly realistic looking) unborn babies. It's that very uncomfortableness that I enjoyed here. It's as far from politically correct as you can get and it studiously avoids turning this story of witchcraft and smeared sheep skulls into an other routine Hollywood tale of tempered debauchery. There are few holes barred here and the lithely charismatic Perez makes sure that "Perdita" gets her fair share of the spoils, too. It's gritty and grim, and by his sheer force of personality Bardem takes us on a road trip that can make you squirm at times and that isn't afraid to expose hypocrisies about sex and venalities of just what can be traded if there really is a market. No snakes, though...!
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★ 7 / 10
Devilishly entertaining thriller in which a violent couple kidnaps two teens and all of them become involved into incredible situations
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A psychotic criminal called Romeo Dolorosa (Javier Bardem) is a dangerous exponent of the Vodoo-like cult , Santeria , he meets his match in femme-fatal…
A psychotic criminal called Romeo Dolorosa (Javier Bardem) is a dangerous exponent of the Vodoo-like cult , Santeria , he meets his match in femme-fatal Tex-Mex , Perdita Durango (Rosie Perez) . The couple nevertheless finds time along the way and abducts a random teenager duo named Duane (Harley Cross) and Estelle (Aimee Graham) for a forced march on the wild side . The woman rapes the male captive, and lets him watch his lover being raped by the man. They then plan to sacrifice the couple . The story kicks in when Romeo has to transport a lorryload of live foetuses across the border , being relentlessly pursued by a stubborn officer ,Willie 'Woody' Dumas , (James Gandolfini) .This hallucinatory weirdness is a full-on surreal action movie with a wild ride that blends thrills , a lot of fun , sleazeball local color , suspense , tension as well as an intriguing script full of underlying seriousness , horror , comedy and embarrassing situations . Packed with scenes of disagreeable nature , this fantasy-fuelled is exciting as well as frightening , as we follow the strange situations of a peculiar couple and a pair of teens whose destination is dictated by terrible events . The picture is rated ¨R¨ for its crude violence , grisly killings , lashings of sexual abandon , lots of nudism , gore and guts . The narration is so filled with quirk characters , crazy violence mixed with diabolic elements and an underlying sense of horror and gore , and it is so excessive and plenty of surprises, one can't help but keep watching, much as it is over the top in many an occasion . In the picture there is a marvelous homage by inter-cutting of footage from Robert Aldrich's excellent Mexican Western ¨Veracruz¨ and its main actor , Burt Lancaster . Overacting and excessive acting by Javier Bardem as Santero Romeo Dolorosa and nice acting by Rosie Perez as Tex-Mex Perdita who was first incarnated by Isabella Rosselini at ¨David Lynch's Wild and heart¨ also based in a novel by Barry Gifford . Javier Bardem and Carlos Bardem got badly burnt due to excessive gunpowder and a badly synchronized explosion caused by a special effects technician ; another crew member got second and third degree burns in 80% of his body . Very good support cast plenty of familiar faces such as Don Stroud as Santos , Demian Bichir as Catalina , Carlos Bardem -Javier's brother- as Reggie San Pedro , Screamin' Jay Hawkins as Adolfo , Santiago Segura as Shorty Dee and special mention to recently deceased the great James Gandolfini . Good cinematography by Flabio Martinez Labiano , excellent cameraman of ¨Non-stop , Unknown , Day of Beast , Time crimes , 800 bullets¨ , among others ; he's Alex De La Iglesia's usual photographer . Thrilling and stirring musical score by Simon Boswell . Spanish filmmaker Alex De La Iglesia tackles efficiently the further adventures of Perdita , being compellingly directed and it barely quickens the pulse , though 'Bigas Luna' was first slated to direct the film . When Bigas was due to direct the film, Madonna, Javier Bardem and Dennis Hopper were his first choices to play the main roles . Alex De La Iglesia is a cool director who has got much success as ¨Accion Mutante¨ ,¨Dying of laughter¨ or ¨Muertos De Risa¨ , ¨Baby's room¨ , ¨Oxford murders¨ , ¨Balada Triste De Una Trompeta¨ and this ¨Perdita Durango¨ is probably the weirdest Javier Bardem film ever made , being De La Iglesia's English-language debut shot in USA . And of course 'La Comunidad' obtained the unanimous praise of both the critics and the public and results to be a lot of fun, especially for those who enjoy surrealist humor , it won several Goya prizes and a turning point in his meteoric career ; from then on he became his own producer, beginning with '800 bullets' (2002) through the Pánico Films company . Winner of several Goyas (Spanish Oscars), however his movies have not yet reached box office in USA, but he has strong followers , as his films have a kind of comic edge to them . In ¨Perdita Durango¨ there is nonsense, ridicule , violence , sex , absurdity , disturbing scenes and many other issues ; you can find everything in this flick . It captures the essence of the best Álex De La Iglesia, a filmmaker who, at this point in his own story, is respected and admired worldwide and has the most committed fans in the film universe . This is without a doubt a thrilling and enjoyable movie to be enjoyed for thriller buffs and Alex De Iglesia fans.
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uffff que aportazo!!, gracias!