vhs video: Carmen Maura

vhs video: Carmen Maura

vhs video:

Carmen Maura

Agustín Almodóvar, Antonio Banderas

Cinevista Inc., 1989

celluloid eroticism
The Law of Desire was the first of Almodovar's films to be released in the U.S. although it is not his first film. And what an introduction. The film is sleek and sexy and captures Antonio Banderas in all his sexual beauty. What one has to know about Almodovar is ...

Pact of Silence (Sub Dol)

Gérard Depardieu, Élodie Bouchez

Sony Pictures, 2003

Solid b-list entertainment
For an obscure European drama this is actually pretty entertaining. I wish there was more disclosure in the beginning, because each time you have identical twins, without introducing some sort of background, you are bound to cause confusion. The movie was not about ...

Matador

Assumpta Serna, Antonio Banderas

Cinevista Inc., 1989

one of Almodovar's absolute BEST!
This was the first Almodovar film I'd ever seen, and it's made me a lifelong fan of his. Lately he's become a bit too serious, overreaching and melodramatic---"Bad Education" was especially disappointing---in contrast to the fascinating, gorgeous and hilarious black ...

Baton Rouge

Victoria Abril, Carmen Maura

Mirada, 1996

well-done film noir with spanish accent
An unusual film noir plot -- this one kept me guessing up to the end. A young man, desperate for money to help his mute younger brother, becomes a gigolo to an older, wealthy woman. The woman is tormented by horrible nightmares, and finally seeks help. Who is using ...

Dark Habits

Lina Canalejas, Mary Carrillo

Cinevista Inc., 1989

Old School Almodovar
Seeing that Almodovar's new movie (La Mala Educacion) has to do with the catholic church, I felt it appropriate to go back and see this old one. Glad I did. Very funny film. Though the dvd quality is not that great (and several scenes have been deleted), the film still ...

Pepi Luci Bom

José Luis Aguirre, James Contrares

Cinevista Inc., 1992

Mock advertisement and crazy women
Wonderful performances are a characteristic of Pedro Almodovars films Set in Madrid, as usual, Pepi is a young and "inocent" girl who gets raped by a policeman. As payback, she seduces his wife and leads her into a life of watersports and sadomasochism. Early work. ...

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

Carmen Maura, Antonio Banderas

Mgm Entertainment, 2001

What's up with Almodovar's DVD releases???
This is a great movie....Why isn't it available on DVD in the US? There's a festival of Pedro's movies in the theaters around the country right now....but can you buy his DVDs...for most of them, NO! So, what's the story? Is there a re-release in the works? A boxed set ...

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

Carmen Maura, Antonio Banderas

What's up with Almodovar's DVD releases???
This is a great movie....Why isn't it available on DVD in the US? There's a festival of Pedro's movies in the theaters around the country right now....but can you buy his DVDs...for most of them, NO! So, what's the story? Is there a re-release in the works? A boxed set ...

Alice and Martin

Juliette Binoche, Alexis Loret

Polygram USA Video, 2001

Simple Review
I do not have to use fancy or intelligent words to give my review to such an enjoyable romantic film like so many foreign film buffs love to do. Quite simply I would like to say this was a charged psychological drama that I think the actors did a fine job playing their ...

"Ay, Carmela!"

Carmen Maura, Andrés Pajares

Hbo Home Video, 1998

Novios de la muerte.
The Spanish Civil War seen as a vaudeville show for the brutal Franco troops, where the terrified performers try to save their skins and their conscience, knowing they can't have both. Carmen Maura shines (what else is new?) as the outspoken partner in a sing-and-dance ...

Matador

Assumpta Serna, Antonio Banderas

one of Almodovar's absolute BEST!
This was the first Almodovar film I'd ever seen, and it's made me a lifelong fan of his. Lately he's become a bit too serious, overreaching and melodramatic---"Bad Education" was especially disappointing---in contrast to the fascinating, gorgeous and hilarious black ...

Lisboa (Spanish) (Blpk)

Juanjo Bermúdez de Castro, María Bermúdez de Castro

Vanguard Cinema, 2002

THANK GOD for a DVD publisher with taste
When I saw this as part of a Lincoln Center festival of films from Spain, I was convinced I would never see it again and focussed on the acting of the players with whom I was familiar, Carmen Maura and Federico Luppi giving a staggeringly menacing preformance. I also ...

How to Be a Woman and Not Die in the Attempt

Carmen Maura, Antonio Resines

First Look Pictures, 2002

How to be a woman without penis envy
This movie, that is actually based on a novel by Carmen Rico Godoy, is the personal view of the life of an independent woman that has to face the fact that in the 90s the world is still ruled by men, just because their men. Keep in mind that this movie and the novel ...

Sombras En Una Batalla (Sub)
Carmen Maura, Joaquim de Almeida

Vanguard Cinema, 2003

Extramuros

Carmen Maura, Mercedes Sampietro

Wolfe Video, 2000

Self Inrpisonment and suffering
Extramuros is a captivating movie that depicts the imprisonment of women in a social-financial and religious class system. This servitude for religion, purity and society become a compelling story that presents the boundaries of a human being. Strong characters, a ...