An Avi Movie Review : Amores Perros

I watched this movie on DVD last night. It is a Spanish spoken movie that I watched with subtitles, and it was nominated for an Academy Award a couple of years ago. It basically follows three separate stories that are all connected through a single tragedy. It is absolutely genius that the film actually begins with this tragedy, and then tells the three separate stories leading up to and following the event.

The first story is Tarantino-like. It involves brothers in love with the same woman, and best friends trying to make easy (illegal) cash through dog fighting and bank robbery.
The second story shows a successful family man, who leaves his wife and children for the love of a beautiful model, only to find tragedy and hardship.
The final, and key story, follows a divorced man, who longs for the love of his daughter, and whom has become a hitman to make ends meet.
You may notice that all three involve failed love, and broken families.

The acting is extremely good, and the movie takes on a very realistic and gritty tone. Some of the performances are so good, that you could swear you were watching real people in real situations. It is also worth noting, that Amores Perros displays many graphic scenes that contain dog fighting. It is stated that no dogs were actually harmed during the filming of the movie, but that seems extremely hard to believe whilst watching it. The death toll grows drastically as the movie goes on, so if you're a lover of dogs, you may want to avoid this one.

Anyone who enjoyed Magnolia and the way that it entangled the lives of complete strangers, will enjoy Amores Perros. The main difference is that whereas Magnolia relied upon a miracle (the raining of frogs) to disrupt and effect the meaning of it's characters, Amores Perros relies upon the tragedy, and experiences gained through it, to change lives.

This is not a happy film. It is thoroughly difficult to watch at times, but I believe it to be worth it. I've certainly found something special held within it. 8.5 out of 10.

Avi.

[johnny]

Usually i'm not that crazy about none English spoken movies, but i have to agree on this one with you Avi. Amores perros was a great movie. I saw it last month on a pay per view movie channel and i was quite impressed (and not only by that gorgeous Mexican lady that ended up in a wheelchair ) If it's a movie in the style of Tarantino i'm all for it anyway (see Foxy Brown btw ?) I'm just curious.... the dogfights... do you think they were real ?

Apparently, animal activists got on their back straight away about the graphic dog fighting scenes, but they mad an official statement suggesting they were all fake.

Either they're lying, or the director is brilliant, as they certainly seem real. Maybe they should get him to organise Wrestling matches. Then they might even seem real!

Personally, I can't see how the actors and other people involved in the movie would allow real animals to be hurt, so I think it's fake.