Navigating his later years, a health scare prompts filmmaker Salvador to examine the choices he has made in life leading him to try and recapture his creative spark and rekindle past relationships.
Antonio Banderas (Salvador), Asier Etxeandia (Crespo), Leonardo Sbaraglia (Delgado), Nora Navas (Mercedes), Julieta Serrano (old Jacinta), Cesar Vicenta (Eduardo), Asier Flores (Young Salvador), Penelope Cruz (Jacinta).
Pain and Glory begins with a bit of backstory before settling into a cycle of current day scenes woven with scenes from Salvador's past. When a health scare gets his attention, Salvador begins to examine choices made in his life leading him to try and restore past relationships. It also prompts him to try and recapture his creativity in rather interesting ways. The result is a drama heavy film that almost feels like a biography in the end. The story moves fairly well and with some interesting twits and turns, remains interesting through the end.
Acting was good with Banderas delivering very well in a variety of situations and working well with others. Cruz also did nicely with solid emotion throughout. Etxeandia was enjoyable and added some depth, as did Flores and Navas. The remainder of the supporting cast delivered nicely.
Camera work is good while sets and backgrounds included good variety and an authentic feel. Action scenes were mild but good. Dialogue has good depth and moves the story along at a nice pace. That said, be aware this is a foreign language film with captioning and narration. Sound and soundtrack are good.
In the end, Pain and Glory is a well presented story with solid emotion and intensity. Those who enjoy a drama with good depth or dramatic autobiographies should enjoy this one.
With some mild sexuality, mild violence, and drug use, save this one for older teens and above.
Released: 2019
Reviewed: 4.7.20
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Drama, Foreign Drama, Spanish Language
copyright ©2020 Dave Riedel
Antonio Banderas (Salvador), Asier Etxeandia (Crespo), Leonardo Sbaraglia (Delgado), Nora Navas (Mercedes), Julieta Serrano (old Jacinta), Cesar Vicenta (Eduardo), Asier Flores (Young Salvador), Penelope Cruz (Jacinta).
Pain and Glory begins with a bit of backstory before settling into a cycle of current day scenes woven with scenes from Salvador's past. When a health scare gets his attention, Salvador begins to examine choices made in his life leading him to try and restore past relationships. It also prompts him to try and recapture his creativity in rather interesting ways. The result is a drama heavy film that almost feels like a biography in the end. The story moves fairly well and with some interesting twits and turns, remains interesting through the end.
Acting was good with Banderas delivering very well in a variety of situations and working well with others. Cruz also did nicely with solid emotion throughout. Etxeandia was enjoyable and added some depth, as did Flores and Navas. The remainder of the supporting cast delivered nicely.
Camera work is good while sets and backgrounds included good variety and an authentic feel. Action scenes were mild but good. Dialogue has good depth and moves the story along at a nice pace. That said, be aware this is a foreign language film with captioning and narration. Sound and soundtrack are good.
In the end, Pain and Glory is a well presented story with solid emotion and intensity. Those who enjoy a drama with good depth or dramatic autobiographies should enjoy this one.
With some mild sexuality, mild violence, and drug use, save this one for older teens and above.
Released: 2019
Reviewed: 4.7.20
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Drama, Foreign Drama, Spanish Language
copyright ©2020 Dave Riedel
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