All About My Mother Reviews

Foreign Film at its finest

I can't speak a word of Spanish, and usually hate subtitles, but All About My Mother has made me overcome my fears and watch other foreign films. Almodovar has made this such a watchable and enjoyable film. I would highly recommend it to everyone just so you can see how completely different it is to american blockbusters. It opens your eyes to just how bad most of them are! Rent it NOW!

Wow Wow WOW!

What a stunning film, it has just about the best of everything.

Almodovar is a genius, and this is his best..................... I am blown away...........

Fabulous

Become a major fan of the work of Pedro Almodovar of late and this is one his best....an everyday story of trans-sexual hookers,heroin addicted lesbian actresses and pregnant Nuns.....

We meet Manuala(Cecelia Roth) who fled Barcalona for Madrid 17 years ago to give birth to her son Estoban....its now the night of his 17th birthday and she takes him to see a production of A Streetcare Named Desire......they hang around waiting to get the lead actesses Huma's autograph(Marisa Parades) but Estoban gets run over by a hit and run driver and is killed.

Manuala returns to Barcalona and re-establishes contact with trans-sexual hooker Agrado(Antonao San Juan) to discover that the third member of the old gang Lola(Toni Canto) has ripped off Agrado and legged it......we also discover than Lola was also the father of Estoban(although Manuala never revealed this) - Agrado has taken refuge with a local convent where she is looked after by Sister Rosa(Penelope Cruz) but Rosa reveals that she is pregnant.....also by Lola........

Meanwhile Manuala gets a job working for Huma and ends more than under-studying for the role of Stella in Steetcar.....

In the hands of a lesser director this would be quite ridiculous,lurid and sleazy but Almodovar invests his characters with such sympathy and colour that you find yourself getting more and more engrossed in their difficulties - fine performances all round especialy from Roth and Juan - although it is very serious at times there is a fair amount of comic relief and the way Almodovar has actresses playing characters who are also actresses(and even woman playing men playing woman) is very well done - you really care what happens to all of them - its also an almost totally female movie(in a manner of speaking) and its great to see so many great female characters.....

As always with Almodovar it looks great with throbbing vibtrant primary colours where costumes and sets reflect each other........one of the great mans's finest....

Thin soapy stuff, avoid...

I’ve enjoyed many of Almodovars films- but this stinks.

An overlong soap opera played out in Barcelona for our un-enjoyment, the tired old themes ground out again on Pedro’s spanish organ; Trannies, death, blowjobs, trannies, death etc etc... It’s all so ludicrous and pompous, and he thinks we’re going to sit there and applaud while these two-dimensional lisping beauties fall for draculas ugly older brother. No we’re not. Not when we can see what's coming next- like a damn great giraffe on the plains of the Serenghetti.

Barcelona revisited

Not your usual Almodovar: more tears this time than laughter. Yet excellent filming and solid performances from all actors. A pity the usual comedy is thin on the ground. Some conpensation in the director's deep charactersisation of all leads, lively Barcelona (and Barcelonetta!) shots and a lasting feeling in the endurance of hope and the kindness of strangers.

[Highly rated reviewer]

I can't believe it!

I have watched some rubbish in my time but this took the biscuit. What an unbelievable script and storyline. Must remember to choose more carefully.

Stunning

An emotional, heart-touching film which remains firmly lodged on 'cool' territory, "All About My Mother" is a seriously sophisticated number.

Despite several over-dramatic moments, the film passes over important issues and digs into complex and mostly unpleasant emotions with seamless fluidity and grace - and all with such Spanish gusto.

Certainly a winner here from Almodovar - very much better than the numerous bland American equivalents boasting a sort of simplification of all things interesting, and a resolve to the 'happy ending'. A highly enjoyable and warming film

All about women

This extraordinary piece of art is one of the most touching and truthful movies ever made. It basically represents the animal instincts of women: motherhood, protection, love for every living creature, understanding.. It is such a masterpiece because through the eyes of Almodovar we can observe in this colourful film that despite the 'non-natural' sexual preferences of most characters, the mistakes, the lies, the pain, one thing prevails: the undoubted, flawless, pure love of a mother for her child, which makes her take under her protection every other human in despair. The most unbelievable and sensitive scene, in my opinion, is the monologue of Garcia Lorca, performed by the theater actress towards the end of the film. This masterpiece must not be missed because it is an overwhelming experience that will open your eyes.

A new fan

This is the first time I've seen an Almodovar film and I want to see them all now. I didn't realize that Penelope Cruz was more than a pretty face and can really act, although to be fair, she has a minor role.

This is a brilliant film. You could not tell anyone the story because it would just put them off seeing the film, but watching it, you believe the plot and in all the characters. It's warm, sympathetic and loving; funny and heart-breaking all at the same time. If you like unusual quirky films (e.g. films by the Coen Brothers), you'll love this. I can't imagine a film like this being made in mainstream Hollywood without dripping in sentimentality.

Quality Movie

I cannot recommend this movie enough, just got in after a stressful day at work, often sad, often funny, take a chance and order it. I doubt you will be disappointed.