I didn't realise there was a thread for this, i'm sure quite a few international members must have caught this by now??

A very strong 'A' movie for me, i don't have enough time to write a lot now, but the story is strong and engrossing and the acting first class. This film has everything from dark humour to bittersweet tears, excellent direction and an amzing multi-layered oscar (nomination) worthy performance from Penélope Cruz (which was even more impressive on a second viewing). Probably the biggest compliment i can give this film is that it's inspired me to see all Pedro Almodóvar's previous work, it's really that good.

The best of the year so far.

Fantastic.

Second best of the year, falling only behind The Departed. Almodovar is definitely in his prime - as stylish, vibrant, and true to the heart as ever.

A

That was expected. Heh.

What can I say? He never disappoints. It isn't perfect (I think All About My Mother might be, though) but it sure is close. Penelope is so radiant. When she "sings" Volver... it's just amazing. She deserves Oscar recognition. Great stuff, per usual.

Brilliant! Loved it. It all fits together in the end. Won't write a full review now - but I give this a solid "A"

A-

Best import of the year.

For further commentary: http://www.worldofkj.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=26317

C'mon guys, Pedro needs extra attention down the WoKJ Nomination rounds homestretch...

A

Wonderful. I can't believe I've had 13 As this year... I'm turning into Loyal/Jmart.

This is one of the best movies of the year though, I haven't decided on a place, but it's in the top 10. To echo the first response in this thread, it's inspired me to go through the Pedro collection fully.

Pedro Almodover, director of Talk to Her, All About My Mother, and Bad Education, over the years has grown a particular fanbase and following for his work. As an auteur, his films always feature a lovely use of visuals and colors, and are usually fully female-centered, as a feminist he enjoys showing their power and strength. For that reason, he has grown to be one of the most regarded foreign film directors of this generation. Volver doesn't stray from his strengths, and with all the hype coming from Cannes and Toronto last year, despite a brutal Best Foreign film snubbing at the Oscars this year, Volver lives up to his name and reputation completely as a complete winner.

The film centers around 2 sisters, Raimunda(played by a beautiful Penelope Cruz) and Sole(Lola Duenas), the two are close and frequently interact. As well, it tells the story of a cancer-ridden friend from across the street, Agustina(Blanca Portillo). At the beginning of the story, Raimunda has a 14 year old daughter in Paula, and a drinking and foul mouthed husband, Paco. After a series of events, Paco ends up dead by the hand of the daughter in self-defense, and on that moment Raimunda has to find a way to hide the body, concealing any sign that he is dead. At the same time, sister Sole receives a visit from her mother(Carmen Maura), a seemingly dead woman who has been 'appearing' to people throughout the town, first helping her blind and dieing sister manage, and then approaching Sole herself once she passed. She wants forgiveness from Raimunda, for they had previously had a bad relationship. Soon, a web of secrets and history of the family is revealed, and the story takes a twist.

While Volver missed out on a Foreign nomination at the Oscars, Penelope Cruz has been one of the headlining actresses of the year, and she cruised to a nomination. It is true that she is nearly brilliant in the role, showing in her beauty the emotion, stress, and tears of the character easily, creating a full blooded woman out of Raimunda. In perhaps her greatest skilled scene of the film and possibly of her career, she sings the song Volver, from which the title of the film comes from. The song combined with her facial performance while singing it, rang chills up and down my body unlike any scene I have seen all year, and cinematic-ally it will remain one of the very best scenes that the year of 2006 has given us. While Helen Mirren is indeed excellent in her film, if I was an Oscar voter, I'd almost feel inclined to mark off Cruz's name on the ballot, on account of that scene being the very best from a female given all year. Of course likewise with any great film, there are plenty of nearly magnificent scenes, such as in another one of the films highlights, a scene where she takes a truck and a hired prostitute, and buries the frozen Paco, in a grave by the river he loved most. It is a beautifully shot scene, and the power of the casket going the grave, is just a pure highlight.

The acting is uniformly strong among the ensemble spanish cast. Aside from Cruz, Lola Duena as Sole brings solid comic relief as the sister with a visitor, creating chemistry with Cruz and her mother, as if they were a real family. Blanca Portillo's Agustine as a tragic and insecure woman, particularly in the last scene of the film, where she receives a certain visit herself, nails it and creates sadness in this tale. Carmen Maura playing the mother anchoring the web of the story, and playing the woman who only wants her children to love her, suits the role very well. The rest of the Spanish community around these characters, including Yohano Cobo playing daughter Paula and Antonio de la Torre as Paco, all do their jobs fully, creating an excellent overall cast. As well, the score ranks among the finest of the year. Almodover with Volver has created a world and a community for this film, bringing it to life in a delight, in all his capacity.

Volver is a film that is all at once dark, humorous, tragic, enlightening, and entertaining, a full package that shows the beauty of cinema, in Cruz's character and the cinematography itself. It is one of the very best films of the year, sucking you into Pedro's world of emotion and family love, and the betrayals that can sometimes haunt us until we make them better. It deserves to be seen.

A

An average film that is lifted a great deal by the leading performance...Cruz is wonderful and has been rightfully rewarded with an Oscar nod.

B+

C


Terribly mediocre and I think I should stop watching Pedro Almodóvar's movies. After All about my Mother, Bad Education and this, I have yet to see a movie by him that I found more than simply average/mediocre. Now this was slightly better than the aforementioned Bad Education, but on the whole it was another throughly boring effort. It never caught my interest whatsoever and remained mostly blad throughout. Only the final (partly predictable) "twist" redeemed the film somewhat. The acting is solid, but Penelope Cruz does not really stand out. The entire female ensemble is equally good, though none is Oscar-worthy IMO. After having seen Mirren's, Cruz' and Streep's performances, it is safe to say that Mirren's acclaim is the most deserved of the three.

A

my number two of last year (second to Pan's). I'm a sucker for Almodovar, so that might be a bit biased.

Very good movie with a great cast although I don't understand the "one of the best of the year" type love for it. B+

Never gave my thoughts.

It's not as passionate or emotional a project as Bad Education or All About My Mother, but I nonetheless think it's an infectious, highly enjoyable film that retains that Almodovar off-kilter quality and eroticism, albeit in a much lighter manner.

And Penelope Cruz. Has any female looked so beautiful on screen? She is unbelievably gorgeous in this film.

It's just an enjoyable film, top to bottom. And it improves with repeated viewings. A-

It was a wonderful little film.

A-

I found this to be a deeply moving, beautiful film. I don't know what else there is to say. Just incredible.


A

Have you seen Bad Education?

Perhaps I'll watch this in bed before I retire. It's so charming.

No, this is the first Almodovar film I've seen in full. Needless to say, this won't be the last.


I guess I'll join the chorus of those praising Cruz. Her performance was stunning.

Indeed, doesn't she glow on the screen?

As pleasant as it is, it's one of Almodovar's weaker efforts in recent years - Bad Education and All About My Mother (yknow, the films that nearly everyone have been exulting to no end) are far superior. I really do enjoy this one, though - it's one of those pleasant experiences that you love to revisit.

You really love to revisit it? I don't know if I can say that. For one, the world Almodovar creates is so hostile to men. The two major male figures in the film are rapists...

I can already tell, from this movie alone, that Almodovar approaches the topic of men gloomily. I remember seeing parts of Matador and noting how dark the film was. It's such a contrast to this one.




The last scene with Raimunda coming over and saying that she always needed her mother is so beautiful it hurts. I was pretty near to tears. Also, when Raimunda sings. Oh my, it takes some genius to move us so.

Men are vile. Haven't you caught on?

I'm not sure I agree... well, perhaps... not all of his male characters are vile. Often, it's the female ones that at the very least appear the most vile. I suppose I'll have to think about that... he's presented many sympathetic male characters in All About My Mother and The Flower of My Secret, and to a lesser extent in Talk to Her (debatable). His obsession with the female perspective is interesting..... definitely apparent.

I love the scene in which Raimunda sings. I show it to all of my friends. They never speak to me again, but nonetheless... I flaunt it. Who knew a melodramatic moment like that could be so touching?

... and yes, this film is like a valentine compared to his others, which tax the viewer heavily. If I can muster the power to watch Bad Education once every other day ( ) then this is fluff.

I knew I'd be in a vast minority...

Terrific film... a fun story, well acted, and very well shot. A

7/10 -> B-

Not all that magical as I've listened to for these past two years. Also I'm not all that impressed with Almodovar in general, so that might be a part of the problem. A good film nevertheless.

Those flashes of Mildred Pierce and the set up during the first 30 minutes of the movie are incredible. Penélope shines but the entire cast is really spot on and perfect. Almodóvar is a beast and can do anything in my book. That shot of Cruz washing the dishes and the glorious view of her breasts! He can bring me to laughter in the weierdest of ways but he also weaves a beautiful story here. Who else can reference Chinatown the way he does and still have you cry tears of joy by the film's end?


A+x100 or 10/10