La comunidad/The Common Wealth

I could not help but have a sense of deja-vu during the whole time I was watching "La comunidad". I don't know if it is just because the movie plays with so many past films referents or because I have seen it before and I was not aware of it. I have mixed feelings about this movie. It is in a way what I expected, since I have seen previous De la Iglesia movies, so I certainly knew I was in for some extreme parody, but in a way it just seemed too exaggerated, too purposely comic. I don't, I can't say I that I did not like it completely, is just that it became too predictable. And predictability is always really bad for a joke.  

Talk to her/Hable con ella

This is my favorite movie from Spaniard Director Almodovar. In general, I like his movies, but with this film I got more emotionally involved. I think that his comedies are really good, but this quirky drama really moved me. I think the implications of Benigno's actions are very disturbing, but you can't help to care about their tragic outcome. I think this film is so well made precisely because even though you are really aware of the awfulness of what Benigno has done you can't avoid caring and suffering because of his sad destiny.

The Sea Inside/Mar adentro

Javier Bardem has a great performance in this movie, and he builds such a moving character. The topic might be controversial for some, but the movie is so well made that you would like it even if you don't agree with its topic. I liked it because I thought it made for a really good example of why I agree with euthanasia in cases like this. I did not know Amenabar was the director or I had seen it earlier!! I guess I thought he was always a thriller guy and I did not expect him to be so good at directing a drama.

Thesis

This was one of my first Spaniard movies ever. I really thought it was well written and acted. I also liked the way the director built the tension through out the whole movie. I think the topic is hard, but makes for a really good thriller. And I enjoyed the music too. I was so completely upset when some years later I went to see 8mm and I realized they had taken this movie and made a big Hollywood boring, nonsensical mess. I am glad that I got to see Amenabar's original first, because if I had to see it after that 8mm disaster I would have never seen it.