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.

paul2001sw-1 You've got to give John Malkovich credit for his directorial debut: instead of making some corny, expositionary thriller, he instead made this stylised, impressionistic film that eschews conventional causality and contrivance in favour of showing us just a scattering of glimpses at an elusive story. And the piece definitely has an atmosphere, but watching it, one has the feeling one might have at an art gallery, the images are powerful but lack connections, and the closed characters also give little away. The fact that the drama takes place in an unnamed South American country, and one whose inhabitants speak English in a (presumably deliberate but still bewildering) variety of accents maybe doesn't help; that in the absence of specifics, this is a story taking place in a country of the mind. It's still an intelligent and occasionally beguiling film: but I'm not convinced of the substance behind the effect.

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.

Joker-26 (SOME SPOILERS AHEAD)Even though I realize that he is very right-wing, I still found this film intriguing. It took me a while to realize it was indeed the Shining Path movement that this was loosely based on. Even the leader of this movement looks a bit like Guzman. I have to say the settings were beautiful (filmed in Ecuador and Spain apparently). The opening scene where the lead detective meets his future nemesis was well constructed, and it instantly imbued the revolutionary leader with a mysterious edge when he talks of 'this country gives me a rash', which the policeman responds to with 'the countryside?' and the man replies with 'yes, that too'. As others have pointed out, there was a clichéd element to it (and the English speaking Spanish actors could have been speaking Spanish, but we all know how American producers and studios as well as cinema goers hate 'foreign movies with subtitles'!!!)....however, it is still original work as we get an insight into the bizarre displays of terrorism by this group (hanging dogs, child bombers, etc) and of course the panicky, paranoid response of the government and military who always demand to know 'are we in a revolution?'. The sub-plot of the relationship between the detective and the ballet dancer is a bit predictable and unnecessary I thought. Of course there is passion and love during political turmoil but this was over-the-top. Also, you're given the sense that the people involved in this group are all brainwashed automatons who 'fell prey to the charismatic leader', which is not true of the vast majority of rebel movements. The Shining Path had some legitimate grievances against state repression but unfortunately Malko ultimately portrays them as irrational murderers (with the suicide bombings into cafes, etc which plays to his rather violent and irrational pro-Israeli views on 'terrorism') Overall though, a stylish and watchable film, though tinged with some right wing propaganda that comes out during the middle and towards the end of the film. Homosexual reactionaries will enjoy it immensely as good looking male cops battle the evidently feminine world of the revolutionary movement.