Monday, November 14, 2011
TRUE GRIT
I watched the first half of Alejandro Gonzålez Inårritu's
starring Javier Bardem as a lower rung hustler and middle man for exploiting illegals. Not a sympathetic character but Bardem makes him so. Under all the chicanery, Bardem's character has two kids that he is raising and has just learned he will soon be dying of prostate cancer.
Sounds like fun, eh?
Well it is not. But there are a host of characters and this is a character driven screenplay and so, while gritty and seedy, the "talent" makes it also somehow redemptive.
Bardem is great as well as Maricel Alvarez as his schizoid ex wife who has given him custody of the kids. She is also an active alcoholic.
I could go on. There seems to be end to the misery and pain.
Why watch it? Because it rings of a certain truth and makes a hell of a movie. "Kitchen sink" theater at its best.
That said, I will look at the other half tomorrow.
Labels: films
