Bad Education Reviews

(NX) Tres estrellas y media es poco para Almodóvar. Aquí trata de explorar lo noir -todas las películas hablan de nosotros, le dice el ex cura a su querido Gael, saliendo de una película que no sabemos, cuando ya han decidido matar a Ignacio- pero ahí se queda, en un crimen cuyos resultados quedan sepultados casi sugeridos en una coda final. Pedro no sabe bien qué hacer con Gael...

I already saw this movie, but since it was ages ago, I thought I might as well check it out again. First of all, Pedro Almodovar is one of those directors that I have always admired but, to be honest, he never became a personal favorite of mine. Basically, he is what you could call a real author who has created his own style and, therefore, he always got my respect but, honestly, I always had a hard time to connect with his work. Still, he did make a few movies which really did impress me and this one was definitely one of them. Eventually, I'm really glad I gave it another shot because I was, this time, much more able to enjoy the damned thing. Indeed, the acting, especially by Gael Garcia Bernal who was at the time probably one of the most interesting actors at work, was quite strong. It was really neat to see this Mexican actor in a Spanish production and it is a real pity the guy never really broke through like I was hoping for. On top of that, Almodovar definitely knows how to direct a movie and the whole thing was certainly interesting to behold. Above all, after all these years, I was finally able to enjoy this fascinating story which definitely belongs among the best delivered by the Spanish master, no less than that. Sure, he gave us his usual convoluted twists and some over-the-top characters which have always been some of his most famous trademarks but, here, it didn't bother me, in the contrary. Eventually, all the characters involved were complex and flawed but still relatable which is not always the case with this director. Anyway, to conclude, it really deserves its stellar reputation and it is definitely worth a look, especially if you are interested in Pedro Almodovar's work.

Pedro Almodavar's 'Bad Education' provides a spellbinding insight into how reality is transformed by fantasy. The film takes a little time to find it's stride, but WOW does it hit you for six when it does. The cinematography here is equally breath-taking, the use of vibrant colours framed by typical film noir neutrals. The performances are great all-round, especially Garcia-Bernal who impressively juggles multiple roles. Bad Education will be one of those films that's never far away from my DVD player.