MovieChat Forums > Todo sobre mi madre (2000) Discussion > This sucks

This sucks

posted 20 years ago by jubinell
28 replies | jump to latest

This movie blows...Maybe cuz I saw Hable Con Ella and I thought that was quite something so I watched this movie with high anticipation. Turns out there's hardly any character development, the women's relationships are loosely supported, the whole noeud is based entirely on alligator's tears, no introduction into the central plot is supplied...Constantly throughout the movie I have to ask myself these questions: "Ok, so her son died in a car crash, so what???" "She got AIDS, so what??" "The husband turned into some freak, so what???" etc etc...the whole idea is that I never got introduced to these characters and their miserable lives in the first place so how am I supposed to sympathize for them?? Just as long as the director tells me that there loved ones died, that they got AIDS etc?? Come'on, you can do better than that...

If at all, this is like a beggar begging for money of you on the street...you're thinking: ok he looks poor and sad and all that, but if I don't know his miseries and his sadness, how can I feel for him?? Just because I see him in torn-to-shred clothes would that suffice in my giving him a buck or two??? Because there are millions of miserable people like him in all 4 corners of the earth who are complete strangers to me, am I supposed to sympathize for them all??

Another movie that I was immediately reminded of while watching this movie is "House of Sand and Fog." Same situation: a good plot, good noeud and denouement and all that, and plenty of tears to go around, but I feel helplessly isolated from these characters whom I am supposed to feel closeness with...What a shame.

Just for reference these are my all-time favorite movies: Irreversible, Good bye Lenin!, Lolita (both versions), Labyrinth, Leon, Lucia y el Sexo, Clerks, Bound, the Usual Suspects, se7en, and the Crow.

After all, this is just my critique of the film, so go easy with your counter-attack (no personal insults, please, be a good sport). I have only seen Hable Con Ella as this director's other work, and I find that treading on the same line as well. Luckily, there's just enough character development to get us acquainted, our shoes muddy and our cheeks wet.

Danorma
I'm devotion, not obsession.

[–] creepy_craig 19 years ago

having been a fan of Almodovar since the beginning of his career (including his novellas) I can see you falling into "the trap"...obviously this movie had you thinking. That's the trap. His movies are a peek into his life experiences. He's not asking for your approval or sympathy. He is merely showing you a slice of life. Provoking thought and dialog through a vision captured on celluloid. You can look at his movies from various socio-political angles, but in the end Almodovar just wants to tell HIS story, usually to great effect. Try his earlier films: women on the verge...matador (if someone will put it on DVD!!)...dark habits....

if nothing else it got you scratching your head!

[–] rahbe 19 years ago

“This sucks” sucks as a critique, because this movie really does not suck. Having said that though, I agree with most of the original poster’s remarks. I saw this film for the first time about 3 years ago, and did not think it was terrible but did not enjoy it as much as other Almodovar –who I greatly admire- films. A few days ago it was showing on IFC, so I decided to give it another go, sometimes a film work much better with a second viewing. Unfortunatly, it still does not work for me largely for the same reasons stated in the very first post. I did not care for ANY of these characters, thought they were caricatures/cliches in a serious movie. Maybe some people do behave like Rosa, but I just found her behavior ridiculous to say the least. She is a nun who wants to take on the responsibility of going to central America and work with people in need, yet she screws a disease-infested trans-sexual who she was helping! Oh and she gets pregnant.
Maybe I did not get this movie or what story it is telling, bottom line is it just did not work for me. Certainly doesn’t suck, but it did not blow me away either ;-)

[–] mars_nr1 19 years ago

I think you are right, this is the most horrible movie ever made. When I saw this in the cinema, I thought it was a comedy. All the emotion was so overdone, I thought it must 've been on purpose. Then I suddenly realized people were annoyed with me, because I was the only person laughing.

Fake and overdramatized. Watch this movie only when you like really fake emotions and characters you couldn't care less about in a movie.

Follow the white rabbit....

[–] piratesandcigarettes 19 years ago

ive got to say that i was disapponted.I just saw this film and i think it definitely deserves a second viewing.My feelings are mixed. The movie did not blow me away. some of the acting i felt was wooden but some of it I believed. The only relationship that I felt something for was the relationship between the mother and son.I cant put my finger on it. Im left with questions. But still I think that pedro has a certain element in his films that are compelling and magnetic. I will watch it again and having read everyones comments I have looked at it in another point of view but still I didnt feel I loved it.I loved the mother and son relationship but thats as far is went.for now anyway. But maybe we dont have to love or even like a film to appreciate fully it.