RSS 2.0 FeedJanuary 20, 2010, Film
"Broken Embraces"
With all the smoldering sexual energy of Sophia Loren and sophisticated elegance of Audrey Hepburn, Academy Award-winner Penelope Cruz delivers a brilliant, emotional performance in the well-paced Spanish drama "Broken Embraces."
Can a man whose sight, career, and love were stolen from him 14 years ago out of jealousy heal enough to resume his previous identity and forgive his betrayers? This premise is explored in the beautifully shot and well-paced Spanish drama Broken Embraces by acclaimed Academy Award-winning writer/director Pedro Almodóvar.
When successful filmmaker Mateo Blanco goes blind, he decides to leave his past life by adopting the pseudonym Harry Caine (played seamlessly by Lluís Homar). Fourteen years later he is a successful writer and is still able to make attractive women half his age swoon in his presence.
After Diego (Tamar Novas), the son of his agent Judit (Blanca Portillo), awakens from a brief coma caused by an accidental mixture of illicit drugs, Harry tells him the tragic story of his last film and the passionate relationship he had with his lead actress Lena (Penelope Cruz).
Through a series of flashbacks, we learn that Lena became trapped as a mistress to successful businessman Ernesto Martel (José Luis Gómez), whose unscrupulous practices are only matched by his all-consuming obsession with Lena.
Lena's beauty earns her the lead in Mateo's newest film, however, fearing he might lose her, Ernesto directs his gay son (Rubén Ochandiano) to follow her with a camera wherever she goes so he can keep tabs on her. Ernesto learns of Lena's romance with Mateo, causing him to lash out in act of jealously that causes pain, grief and years of guilt.
Nominated this year for a Golden Globe in the best foreign language film category, Broken Embraces is yet again another terrific collaboration between Almodóvar and Cruz who worked together on Live Flesh (1997) and All About My Mother (1999). Almodóvar's script is richly rewarding as it handles magnificently the risky maneuver of switching time periods without becoming a confusing mess. The multilayered story is peeled back slowly, causing an almost Hitchcock-like building of tension as we get to the core.
The 35-year-old Cruz alternately burns up the screen with the passion of Sophia Loren and the charm of Audrey Hepburn. The emotional range she displays as Lena is simply unmatched. Even though she won a 2009 Oscar for her supporting role in Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and most recently received a Golden Globe nomination for her work in the musical Nine, Cruz is probably still way too under appreciated by American audiences.
On a letter grade scale from A being excellent to F for failing, Broken Embraces receives an A.
Broken Embraces is rated R and has a running time of 127 minutes.
Now showing through January 28 @
Tivoli Cinemas
Westport Manor Square, 4050 Pennsylvania, KCMO
Visit www.tivolikc.com or call 913-383-7756 for show times.
Glenwood Arts
9575 Metcalf
Overland Park
Visit www.fineartsgroup.com or call 913-642-4404 for more information.
Indie Film Editor
Michael D. Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts in history at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri followed by a Master of Arts in history at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Inspired by such critics as Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, Michael started reviewing films in 1992 for College of the Ozarks's student-run newspaper. After returning to the Kansas City area in 1994, he continued film reviewing by writing for the Cass County Democrat Missourian in Harrisonville.
In 2000 Michael joined Sun Publications in Overland Park, Kansas where he served as its film critic and Arts and Entertainment Editor. During his tenure there, he was also the film critic for the "Fine Arts Radio Hour" and "Celebrity Scoop" radio shows on KXTR. After leaving the Sun in late 2002, he became the A&E writer for the Olathe News in Olathe, Kansas. He also worked as a freelance writer for The Squire in Leawood, Showcase Publishing in Lake Ozark, Missouri and the Kansas City Star.
Michael is currently a member of the Kansas City Film Critics Circle, a professional film critic organization established in 1966 by the late Dr. James Loutzenhiser.
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