Live Flesh details
| Format: | 18 DVD |
|---|---|
| Starring: | Angela Molina, Liberto Rabal, Jose Sancho, Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Francesca Neri |
| Director: | Pedro Almodovar |
| Genres: | Thriller - General, World Cinema |
| Studio: | PATHE DISTRIBUTION |
| Original title | Carne Tremula |
| Name | Discs | |
|---|---|---|
Live Flesh |
18 Feature |
DVD Information
| Run time: | 1 hour 37 minutes |
|---|---|
| Rental release: | 05 Aug 2004 |
| Main languages: | Spanish |
| Subtitles: | English |
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Most helpful review
Excellent, and typical Almodovar.
By Bruce M from Oxford, England , 16 Jun 2004[Highly rated reviewer]
Spain, 1997
U.S. Release Date: 2/13/98 (limited)
Running Length: 1:40
MPAA Classification: R (Sex, profanity, nudity, drugs)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Cast: Liberto Rabal, Francesca Neri, Javier Bardem, Angela Molina, Jose Sancho, Penelope Cruz
Director: Pedro Almodovar
Producer: Agust?n Almodovar
Screenplay: Pedro Almodovar, Jorge Guerricaechevarria, Ray Loriga based on the novel by Ruth Rendell
Cinematography: Affonso Beato
Music: Alberto Iglesias
U.S. Distributor: Goldwyn Pictures
In Spanish with subtitles
Summary of movie from James Berardinelli:
'The five principals come together on one fateful night in 1992 Madrid. Victor (Liberto Rabal) has fallen for a woman, Elena (Francesca Neri), whom he had sex with a week ago. Elena, however, wants nothing more to do with Victor, and, when he shows up at her apartment, she uses a gun to scare him away. A shot is fired and the cops are called. Arriving at Elena's apartment are two partners, David (Javier Bardem) and Sancho (Jose Sancho), who are in the midst of a crisis in their friendship. Sancho, a chronic, abusive drunk, believes that his wife, Clara (Angela Molina), is having an affair, and he suspects David of being Clara's lover. What happens when the police break down the door to Elena's apartment sets off a chain of events that reverberate through time to a period four years later, when circumstances bring the characters together once again, albeit in a vastly different situation.'
Movie is typical Almodovar, excellent to watch from beginning to end, with firmly 'fleshed' out characters and wonderful cinamotography.- Was this review helpful to you?
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All reviews
(45)Tought it was better
By sigulin (2 reviews) from London , 13 Feb 2012It was OK, nothing special. Having Francesca Neri and Javier Bardem as main actors I expected more. Good work from Almodovar, but definately not his best movie- Was this review helpful to you?
- (1) Yes |
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it's okay
By Layla0056 (7 reviews) , 25 Sep 2011The acting was good, was a bit strange though and the ending wasn't entirely convincing. It was very slow to start with and wasn't especially gripping.- Was this review helpful to you?
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Inspector Wexford was never like this!
By a customer from Isle of Skye, Scotland , 05 Jul 2011Fascinating departure for Almodovar, adapting a Ruth Rendell story. As you might guess, we're a very - very - long way from Inspector Wexford here. Some Almodovars are better than others - and this is one of the best, for me.- Was this review helpful to you?
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The director at his best
By Mountfalcon (77 reviews) from Ilford, England , 07 May 2011This is a tightly constructed film, making use of Hitchcock's premise that the visuals should always advance the story, so there is no padding and the viewer's attention is demanded throughout. It's clear that Almodovar was given the cast he wanted (something that Hitchcock was usually denied - see the Truffaut interviews) and they act - and interact - perfectly. We are presented with a series of interlocking relationships and motives which involve us to the end, and the climax, when it arrives, is only seen as inevitable after we have seen it - if only other directors could learn how to do this. There is the usual openness towards sexual activity, but again, it always has a purpose, and the last such scene is lyrically beautiful. The title is rather misleading, as it is motive - especially revenge - which drives the plot, but this is the only flaw as far as I am concerned.- Was this review helpful to you?
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Ruth rendered in Madrid
By Stephen from North Cornelly, South Wales , 04 Sep 2010Pedro Almodóvar and Ruth Rendell a film maker that I’ve tried my best to like, but who doesn’t really inspire me and a writer I’ve never read nor have any intention to read.....so I suppose you have to have some discipline to sit down and sit through this one.
Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz were the main points of interest for me in this one - the first collaboration between Almodóvar and Cruz and a second outing for Bardem in a starring role.
Compare and contrast with Woody Allen’s use of the same materials - although with the action set in Barcelona rather than Madrid - and the shortcomings of this film are very evident - soapy, and an odd juxtaposition of broad comedy with an overly melodramatic dénouement.
Much as it was interesting enough, I was disappointed overall and still have not found anything really to rave about in respect of Almodóvar - better luck next time- Was this review helpful to you?
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