El Secreto de Sus Ojos
This is a great movie. Here’s how I could tell: the version I saw had, bar none, the worst subtitling I’ve ever seen, and I have watched a fair amount of bootleg kung-fu in my life. I guess it’s nice to see the Chicago font getting some work, but good grief.
In spite of that, I was riveted, for many of the same reasons I loved Epitafios. It’s got the leading man who’s pretty average-looking, even lumpen, but is so charismatic that you want to make out with him after about an hour; it’s got the Taking! It! Personally! feel, but played effectively and relatably; it’s got the steady, but not spoon-fed, build of information that culminates in “what the…wow, holy shit” at the end; it stays with you for days afterwards. Is this a thing in Argentine culture, dark procedurals featuring obsessed paunchy guys who call everyone “motherfucker,” have tortured relationships with educated women with great hair, and put their indispensable sidekicks in grave peril? Because Argentina really does that well, and it happens to be Bunting-nip.
If you have seen it: Sandoval. Man. I felt like I knew him personally; pitch-perfect writing and rendition. If you haven’t seen it, please go; I’m sure you’ll get workable subtitles, but if you don’t, seriously, you won’t even need them.
Sarah 49, Death Race 9; 18 of 24 categories completed
Tags: Oscars 2010 Death Race
Well, I’m sold. I don’t know where I’d see this now, but it’ll probably come to one of the indie theatres near me within a few months. I’ll have to make sure to look for it.
I quite liked this movie when I saw it at TIFF, but no way should it have won against The White Ribbon.
However, if you enjoyed it, I really can recommend seeing more Argentinian films. They have such a diverse & strong field that there’s always something compelling to see. A few that I’ve seen that I recommend are La Mujer sin Cabeza, Cronica de una fuga, whatever you can track down by Lisandro Alonso, and for fun, pretty much anything written by Daniel Burman.