Mexican Challenge (Official, November 2020)

[Mario Gaborović]

01. La momia azteca contra el robot humano (1958)

[Traveller]

17. Missing Young Woman (2001) - 5/10
18. Macario (1960) - 8/10
19. Naufragio (1978) - 6/10

[Mario Gaborović]

02. El callejón de los milagros (1995)

Spoiler

01. La momia azteca contra el robot humano (1958)

[blueboybob]

6. Susana (1951)
7. The Offended (2016) <--- a sad but good documentary
8. Alsino and the Condor (1982) <--- decent
9. The Black Pit of Dr. M (1959)
10. The Champions of Justice (1971) <--- this is on the bad movie list for a reason. But its crazy how big a star Blue Mask was (and is) in Mexico
11. Dos monjes (1934)
12. The Woman of the Port (1934)
13. La Maldad (2015)
14. The Night Watchman (2011)
15. Casa Roshell (2017)

[weirdboy]

1. El infierno (2010) - Luis Estrada


I really enjoyed this film. Great dark comedy with interesting social commentary.

[blocho]

1. El Incidente (2014)
An intriguing movie about two groups of people stuck in a ... I'm not sure what to call it ... a space-loop? A Mobius strip? A hyperspace? I really enjoyed the first two-thirds of the movie, which details how these groups became stuck and how they react to their situation. I found the final act, which explains why this is all happening, a bit disappointing.

2. El Infierno (2010)
The cinematic version of a Narcocorrido. The movie is most enjoyable as a dark comedy, but in its more philosophical moments (the discussion about the titular Infierno, for example), it also has quite an impact

3. Simon del Desierto (1965)
Nobody mocks the excessively pious more gleefully or more successfully than Bunuel.

[flavo5000]

13. El libro de piedra a.k.a. The Book of Stone (1969)
14. Mary, Mary, Bloody Mary (1975)

Spoiler

1. Las luchadoras contra el médico asesino a.k.a. Doctor of Doom (1963)
2. Santo contra los zombies a.k.a. Santo vs the Zombies (1962)
3. Las luchadoras contra la momia a.k.a. Wrestling Women vs the Aztec Mummy (1963)
4. Cilantro y perejil (1998)
5. No se aceptan devoluciones a.k.a. Instructions Not Included (2013)
6. The Bees (1978)
7. Demonoid: Messenger of Death (1981)
8. Atroz (Atrocious) (2015)
9. La barraca (1945)
10. El pecado de Adán y Eva a.k.a. Sin of Adam & Eve (1969)
11. Museo del horror (1964)
12. The Black Scorpion (1957)
13. El libro de piedra a.k.a. The Book of Stone (1969)
14. Mary, Mary, Bloody Mary (1975)

[jeroeno]

18. Viento negro (Servando González, 1965) ****
19. La puerta y la mujer del carnicero ( Ismael Rodríguez, Luis Alcoriza, 1969) ***1/2
20. Carmín Tropical (Rigoberto Pérezcano, 2014) **1/2

Spoiler

01. Pueblerina (Emilio Fernández, 1949) ***1/2
02. El camino de la vida (Alfonso Corona Blake, 1956) ****
03. Ya no estoy aqui (Fernando Frias, 2019) ***1/2
04. Fausto (Andrea Bussmann, 2018) ***1/2
05. La noche avanza (Roberto Gavaldón, 1952) ****
06. La diosa arrodillada (Roberto Gavaldón, 1947) ***1/2
07. Aventurera (Alberto Gout, 1950) ***
08. Titixe (Tania Hernandez Velasco, 2018) ***1/2
09. Intimidades de Shakespeare y Víctor Hugo (Yulene Olaizola, 2008) ***
10. Calabacitas tiernas (Gilberto Martínez Solares, 1949) ***
11. La Libertad del Diablo (Everardo González, 2017) ***1/2
12. El esqueleto de la señora Morales (Rogelio A. González, 1960) ****
13. La región salvaje (Amat Escalante, 2016) **** 1/2
14. Santa Teresa Y Otras Historias (Nelson Carlo de Los Santos Arias, 2015) ***
15. Distinto amanecer (Julio Bracho, 1943) ***
16. Las niñas bien (Alejandra Marquez Abella, 2018) **1/2
17. Danzón (María Novaro, 1991) ***
18. Viento negro (Servando González, 1965) ****
19. La puerta y la mujer del carnicero ( Ismael Rodríguez, Luis Alcoriza, 1969) ***1/2
20. Carmín Tropical (Rigoberto Pérezcano, 2014) **1/2

[ororama]

1. Vuelven/ Tigers Are Not Afraid (2017) * 84 min.

Grim but beautiful.

*First time viewing.

[filmbantha]

1. El Incidente (2014)
An intriguing movie about two groups of people stuck in a ... I'm not sure what to call it ... a space-loop? A Mobius strip? A hyperspace? I really enjoyed the first two-thirds of the movie, which details how these groups became stuck and how they react to their situation. I found the final act, which explains why this is all happening, a bit disappointing.

Pleased to see you took a punt on El Incidente. I totally understand your thoughts on the third act which I also find slightly underwhelming in comparison to the build up. The setup is so intriguing though and it is such a fascinating mystery that I still love El Incidente despite its flaws. There aren't many films that explore the possibilities of time loops and this has enough originality to stand out as one of the best (at least for me anyway).

[sol]

Once Upon a Time in Mexico

1. The Book of Stone (1969)
2. Chosen Survivors (1974)
3. The Devil's Rain (1975)
4. Darker Than Night (1975)
5. Come Out and Play (2012)
6. Tigers Are Not Afraid (2017)
7. Here Comes the Devil (2012)
8. The Young One (1960)
9. Miss Bala (2011)
10. La Otra (1946)
11. The Pearl (1947)

12. The Castle of Purity (1973)



Along similar lines to Dogtooth, this much earlier Mexican movie focuses on a manufacturer of rat poisons and traps who keeps his family locked up. It is an intriguing premise, yet one that grows old quickly as we see the patriarch torture and abuse his family time and time again. It is also clear that he is mentally unbalanced with crazy mood swings - and an over-the-top performance from Claudio Brook. The parents in Dogtooth seemed more.... sane.

[Traveller]

20. Like Water for Chocolate (1992) - 5/10
21. Life Sentence (1979) - 5/10

[jeroeno]

21. Club sándwich (Fernando Eimbcke, 2013) ***1/2
22. Tempestad (Tatiana Huezo, 2016) ***
23. Dos tipos de cuidado (Ismael Rodríguez, 1953) ***

Spoiler

01. Pueblerina (Emilio Fernández, 1949) ***1/2
02. El camino de la vida (Alfonso Corona Blake, 1956) ****
03. Ya no estoy aqui (Fernando Frias, 2019) ***1/2
04. Fausto (Andrea Bussmann, 2018) ***1/2
05. La noche avanza (Roberto Gavaldón, 1952) ****
06. La diosa arrodillada (Roberto Gavaldón, 1947) ***1/2
07. Aventurera (Alberto Gout, 1950) ***
08. Titixe (Tania Hernandez Velasco, 2018) ***1/2
09. Intimidades de Shakespeare y Víctor Hugo (Yulene Olaizola, 2008) ***
10. Calabacitas tiernas (Gilberto Martínez Solares, 1949) ***
11. La Libertad del Diablo (Everardo González, 2017) ***1/2
12. El esqueleto de la señora Morales (Rogelio A. González, 1960) ****
13. La región salvaje (Amat Escalante, 2016) **** 1/2
14. Santa Teresa Y Otras Historias (Nelson Carlo de Los Santos Arias, 2015) ***
15. Distinto amanecer (Julio Bracho, 1943) ***
16. Las niñas bien (Alejandra Marquez Abella, 2018) **1/2
17. Danzón (María Novaro, 1991) ***
18. Viento negro (Servando González, 1965) ****
19. La puerta y la mujer del carnicero ( Ismael Rodríguez, Luis Alcoriza, 1969) ***1/2
20. Carmín Tropical (Rigoberto Pérezcano, 2014) **1/2
21. Club sándwich (Fernando Eimbcke, 2013) ***1/2
22. Tempestad (Tatiana Huezo, 2016) ***
23. Dos tipos de cuidado (Ismael Rodríguez, 1953) ***

[Traveller]

22. Love in the Time of Hysteria (1991) - 6/10
23. Night Falls (1952) - 7/10

[peeptoad]

5. Susana (1951) 7

películas vistas

1. Más negro que la noche (1975) Darker Than Night 7
2. Solo con tu Pareja (1991) 6
3. Dos monjes (1934) 7
4. Pafnucio santo (1977) 8+

[sol]

Once Upon a Time in Mexico

1. The Book of Stone (1969)
2. Chosen Survivors (1974)
3. The Devil's Rain (1975)
4. Darker Than Night (1975)
5. Come Out and Play (2012)
6. Tigers Are Not Afraid (2017)
7. Here Comes the Devil (2012)
8. The Young One (1960)
9. Miss Bala (2011)
10. La Otra (1946)
11. The Pearl (1947)
12. The Castle of Purity (1973)

13. We Are What We Are (2010)



With some strikingly gory parts, a spine-tingling music score and the occasional bit of dark humour, this is a film that definitely has its moments, but which almost collapses due to the filmmakers leaving everything murky and unexplained. We never learn what drew the family to cannibalism, what the mysterious ritual is that they keep going on about, or even how they managed to keep such nefarious activities under wraps for so long.

[sol]

Once Upon a Time in Mexico

1. The Book of Stone (1969)
2. Chosen Survivors (1974)
3. The Devil's Rain (1975)
4. Darker Than Night (1975)
5. Come Out and Play (2012)
6. Tigers Are Not Afraid (2017)
7. Here Comes the Devil (2012)
8. The Young One (1960)
9. Miss Bala (2011)
10. La Otra (1946)
11. The Pearl (1947)
12. The Castle of Purity (1973)
13. We Are What We Are (2010)

14. The Secret Formula (1965)



With the alternative title of "Coca Cola in the Blood", this sounded so intriguing: a film about unsuspecting individuals who receive cola rather than blood during an urgent transfusion. Alas, the transfusion is mostly metaphorical (we do see a large sausage-like hose pumped full of Coca Cola but not connected to anyone) with the film instead consisting of political poetry read aloud in a seeming echo-chamber and random scenes of animal violence.

[peeptoad]

13. We Are What We Are (2010)



With some strikingly gory parts, a spine-tingling music score and the occasional bit of dark humour, this is a film that definitely has its moments, but which almost collapses due to the filmmakers leaving everything murky and unexplained. We never learn what drew the family to cannibalism, what the mysterious ritual is that they keep going on about, or even how they managed to keep such nefarious activities under wraps for so long.

I saw this close to the time of its release and really liked it (and it's far better than the American remake imo). True, there is much unexplained, but the way the film is constructed it plays out more like a family, "slice of life" drama of sorts, and I didn't feel that much explaining was needed, when viewing the film in that light.

[sol]

13. We Are What We Are (2010)



With some strikingly gory parts, a spine-tingling music score and the occasional bit of dark humour, this is a film that definitely has its moments, but which almost collapses due to the filmmakers leaving everything murky and unexplained. We never learn what drew the family to cannibalism, what the mysterious ritual is that they keep going on about, or even how they managed to keep such nefarious activities under wraps for so long.

I saw this close to the time of its release and really liked it (and it's far better than the American remake imo). True, there is much unexplained, but the way the film is constructed it plays out more like a family, "slice of life" drama of sorts, and I didn't feel that much explaining was needed, when viewing the film in that light.

From what little I have read about the American version, it sounds much more up my alleyway (an explanation given; younger and female children doing the hunting, not nearly 20-year-old teens). Not eligible for me to watch in any Official Challenge this month, but I would like to check it out at some point. I really liked the basic idea of We Are What We Are, but the whole thing was a bit 'eh' for me.

And yeah, I guess if I wasn't expecting a horror film (and a just weird family film), maybe it would have worked better for me. I didn't find any of the characters particularly interesting though, and their interactions were a little goofy to me most of the time, so I was definitely far more heavily invested in what the ritual was meant to be and the ins-and-outs of cannibalism.

As a weird family drama, the film does go well with The Castle of Purity at least though - which was my previous Mexican viewing.

[blueboybob]

16. Sand Dollars (2014)
17. Duck Season (2004)

[St. Gloede]

Spoiler

1. Dos Monjes / Two Monks (1934, Juan Bustillo Oro)
2. El compadre Mendoza / Godfather Mendoza(1934, Juan Bustillo Oro, Fernando de Fuentes)

-


3. Tiburoneros / Shark Hunters (1963, Luis Alcoriza)



I love the neo-realist look, that evokes a kind of soft social conscience into a poverty-stricken village in this surprisingly, at least for the time, amoral tale of belonging, power, lust and, well, sharks. What is really interesting here is just how simultaneously dispassionate, yet intimate it feel. 

We follow a man from the city, down on his luck, but who still has enough money to come off as a big shot in a faraway fishing village. Here he essentially trades stakes in a boat for sex and power - while all around him call him "Don". He comes into his own fishing for sharks, and forms genuine relationships, even with the woman he is trading favours with (it should also be mentioned that he is married with children at home).

It is never explicit, but it feels dirty - and it has a rawness to it - and for all this, it is never judgmental - nor interested in glorification. There is a degree of sympathy for all involves - and a degree of distance. There is a degree of minimalism and a degree of intuition that is rare - and makes us flow through the storytelling in a way that it seems to say more about the place and lifestyle - than about the people themselves. 8/10.



4. Deseos / Desires (1977, Rafael Corkidi)



Ready for iconoclastic madness? Explore the surreal, stylized and theatrical world of Rafael Corkidi - Jodorowksy's cinematographer - and a man who may just like style just a bit more than content (though aren't they really the same thing?). Stunningly shot, and freshly restored for blu-ray, this surreal trip may just be a little too sexualized - though it has a half-decent excuse: sin.

You will need to look for a story - yes, there are recurring characters - but above all there are vignettes of sin - and by sin I mean sexual sins. Made the very same year Corkidi created his equally mad, revolutionary and surreal (though less sexual) Pafnucio Santo, it is clear that he is an extremely underrated surrealist who knows how to build up mood and make all who care about pretty or trippy images happy - and while a little too vacuous and sleazy, I don't know, I just can't help it - I like trippy and pretty images - oh, what am I saying, I love them. 8/10.


-


Arturo Ripstein trio



I think I am sensing a common theme in Ripsteins work - a depiction of life in the face of relentless and absolute doom. The exact same can be said of Castle of Purity, The Place Without Limits, and to an extent even his horror film Aunt Anjelica. In each of these films there is a surreal mix of normalcy and a threat both abstract and real - and simply observing our characters living with the same knowledge we, the viewer, share: that it will not end well. This slow-brooding pace places us in hell with the characters - and we observe wondering if there will ever be any release.


5. Tiempo de morir / Time to Die (1966)



Ripstein's debut is a remarkably adult and sophisticated look at the concept of honour in Mexican society - as well as being something as rare as a Mexican "western". We follow an ageing man, a gentle shadow of a past self - returning from 14 years in prison, hoping to be able to pick up his life. 

However, everything has changed - the people he knew are mostly dead or changed - and the children of the man he killed are out for revenge.

If American this would clearly be called revisionist. Our hero is far from threatening and needs his small glasses to read. There is no sense of violence or bravery in his eyes - just a mournful sorrow. He does not walk tall, he does not talk back when turned away, but he can withstand the taunts and pushes to duel - and he shows a strength of character in understanding that the ways of his past were not the way to live.

Yet, at every step he is taunted, threatened - or worse - regardless of how kindly or resilient he seems to be - and yet - he does not wish to leave. All beg him to go - yet he wishes to stay. He does not want to lose more years, though there are also clear signs he struggles to live with himself.

Gently shot, with no visual bravados - yet certainly competent and well done in every way - the film's expression is almost as the man himself. Slower and more sombre than you'd expect - but with a clear edge of danger underneath. It lives and breaths in conversations and thoughts. It wants us to spend as much time as possible experiencing the situation - live and breath it - and perhaps above all - feel it - to its very last moments. 8/10.



6. El santo oficio / The Holy Inquisition (1974)



Even more slow-brooding and restrained, The Holy Inquistion focuses in on the frighteningly matter of fact and normalized way giving up anyone you know to torture and even execution is entirely normalised, and how far someone can go into submission while retaining their personal beliefs.

We follow a Jewish family as they attempt to live and act as Christians, in all the indignation - while still practicing their beliefs. It is distanced, yet cuts deep and touches something remarkably intimate in all its bleakest details. 8/10.



7. Cadena perpetua / Life Sentence (1979)



This is, unfortunately, the first Ripstein film I did not find great. It fits itself nicely in with the overall theme, showcasing an ex-criminal attempting to reform - but not quite managing to get out. However, the tension is undercut by flashbacks - and the flashbacks in question are more about clarifying his past life and actions than truly heightening the dilemma our lead is in. It also feels a little cheaper than the rest, but a perfectly good film. 6/10.

[flavo5000]

15. Santo vs. las mujeres vampiro a.k.a. Santo vs the Vampire Women (1962)
16. Dos abrazos (2007)
17. La momia azteca contra el robot humano a.k.a. The Robot vs the Aztec Mummy (1958)

Spoiler

1. Las luchadoras contra el médico asesino a.k.a. Doctor of Doom (1963)
2. Santo contra los zombies a.k.a. Santo vs the Zombies (1962)
3. Las luchadoras contra la momia a.k.a. Wrestling Women vs the Aztec Mummy (1963)
4. Cilantro y perejil (1998)
5. No se aceptan devoluciones a.k.a. Instructions Not Included (2013)
6. The Bees (1978)
7. Demonoid: Messenger of Death (1981)
8. Atroz (Atrocious) (2015)
9. La barraca (1945)
10. El pecado de Adán y Eva a.k.a. Sin of Adam & Eve (1969)
11. Museo del horror (1964)
12. The Black Scorpion (1957)
13. El libro de piedra a.k.a. The Book of Stone (1969)
14. Mary, Mary, Bloody Mary (1975)
15. Santo vs. las mujeres vampiro a.k.a. Santo vs the Vampire Women (1962)
16. Dos abrazos (2007)
17. La momia azteca contra el robot humano a.k.a. The Robot vs the Aztec Mummy (1958)

[jdidaco]

(Screenshots from 'Foxtrot' & 'Fogo'),



17. En este pueblo no hay ladrones (There Are No Thieves in This Village, Alberto Isaac, 1965) 8/10
18. El juez de la soga (The Hanging Judge, Alberto Mariscal, 1973) 6.5/10
19. Foxtrot/The Far Side of Paradise (Arturo Ripstein, 1976) 7.5/10
20. Los placeres ocultos (Playback, René Cardona Jr., 1989) 5.5/10
21. El chico temido de la vecindad (Enrique Gómez Vadillo, 1989) 7.5/10
22. Fogo (Yulene Olaizola, 2012) 7.5/10

Spoiler

1. Que Dios me perdone (May God Forgive Me, Tito Davison, 1948) 8/10
2. La noche avanza (Night Falls, Roberto Gavaldón, 1952) 8/10
3. La isla de los hombres solos (Island of Lost Souls, René Cardona, 1974) 7/10
4. ¡Tintorera! (Tintorera: Killer Shark, René Cardona Jr., 1977) 6/10
5. ¿Cómo ves? (What Do You Think?, Paul Leduc, 1986) 8.5/10
6. Dollar Mambo (Paul Leduc, 1993) 8/10
7. Verano de Goliat (Summer of Goliath, Nicolás Pereda, 2010) 8/10
8. Minotauro (Minotaur, Nicolás Pereda, 2015) 7/10
9. Cuando levanta la niebla (When the Fog Lifts, Emilio Fernández, 1952) 9/10
10. Los nuestros (Jaime Humberto Hermosillo, 1970) 7.5/10
11. Cyclone (Terror Storm, René Cardona Jr., 1978) 5.5/10
12. Tras el horizonte (Mitl Valdez, 1984) 7/10
13. Los confines (Mitl Valdez, 1987) 8/10
14. Juventud (Youth, Jaime Humberto Hermosillo, 2010) 7.5/10
15. Rencor tatuado (Tattoo of Revenge, Julián Hernández, 2018) 7/10
16. Fausto (Andrea Bussmann, 2018) 8.5/10

[jeroeno]

24. La camarista (Lila Avilés, 2018) ***1/2
25. Doña Herlinda y su hijo (Jaime Humberto Hermosillo, 1985) **

Spoiler

01. Pueblerina (Emilio Fernández, 1949) ***1/2
02. El camino de la vida (Alfonso Corona Blake, 1956) ****
03. Ya no estoy aqui (Fernando Frias, 2019) ***1/2
04. Fausto (Andrea Bussmann, 2018) ***1/2
05. La noche avanza (Roberto Gavaldón, 1952) ****
06. La diosa arrodillada (Roberto Gavaldón, 1947) ***1/2
07. Aventurera (Alberto Gout, 1950) ***
08. Titixe (Tania Hernandez Velasco, 2018) ***1/2
09. Intimidades de Shakespeare y Víctor Hugo (Yulene Olaizola, 2008) ***
10. Calabacitas tiernas (Gilberto Martínez Solares, 1949) ***
11. La Libertad del Diablo (Everardo González, 2017) ***1/2
12. El esqueleto de la señora Morales (Rogelio A. González, 1960) ****
13. La región salvaje (Amat Escalante, 2016) **** 1/2
14. Santa Teresa Y Otras Historias (Nelson Carlo de Los Santos Arias, 2015) ***
15. Distinto amanecer (Julio Bracho, 1943) ***
16. Las niñas bien (Alejandra Marquez Abella, 2018) **1/2
17. Danzón (María Novaro, 1991) ***
18. Viento negro (Servando González, 1965) ****
19. La puerta y la mujer del carnicero ( Ismael Rodríguez, Luis Alcoriza, 1969) ***1/2
20. Carmín Tropical (Rigoberto Pérezcano, 2014) **1/2
21. Club sándwich (Fernando Eimbcke, 2013) ***1/2
22. Tempestad (Tatiana Huezo, 2016) ***
23. Dos tipos de cuidado (Ismael Rodríguez, 1953) ***
24. La camarista (Lila Avilés, 2018) ***1/2
25. Doña Herlinda y su hijo (Jaime Humberto Hermosillo, 1985) **

[zuma]

06 - The Castle of Purity/El castillo de la pureza (Arturo Ripstein, 1973) 7.5/10

07 - Salón México (Emilio Fernández, 1949) 6.5/10

08 - The Good Girls/Las niñas bien (Alejandra Marquez Abella, 2018) 7.5/10

09 - I'm No Longer Here/Ya no estoy aqui (Fernando Frias, 2019) 6.5/10

10 - The Other One/La otra (Roberto Gavaldón, 1946) 6.5/10

11 - Titixe (Tania Hernandez Velasco, 2018) 7.5/10

12 - The Chosen Ones/Las elegidas (David Pablos, 2015) 7/10

13 - Abel (Diego Luna, 2010) 5/10


This batch was not as exciting as the first group.

I watched another Arturo Ripstein which was excellent. As others have mentioned very strong resemblance to Dogtooth. I think this might have been a favourite had I not seen Dogtooth first.

Both Salón México and La otra started the same for me and ended the same. The initial 20ish minutes of both were excellent. Lots of mood, fine acting, beautiful cinematography, good pace. However both turned into melodramatic soap operas near the end. The pacing went to shit, the acting became histronic, etc. Really too bad.

The Good Girls and Titixe were the two standouts.

Watched Mexican films

01 - The Chambermaid/La camarista (Lila Avilés, 2018) 7.5/10
02 - The Golden Dream/La jaula de oro (Diego Quemada-Diez, 2013) 7/10
03 - The Crime of Father Amaro/El crimen del Padre Amaro (Carlos Carrera, 2002) 6.5/10
04 - Leap Year/Año bisiesto (Michael Rowe, 2010) 7/10
05 - Time to Die/Tiempo de morir (Arturo Ripstein, 1966) 8/10
06 - The Castle of Purity/El castillo de la pureza (Arturo Ripstein, 1973) 7.5/10
07 - Salón México (Emilio Fernández, 1949) 6.5/10
08 - The Good Girls/Las niñas bien (Alejandra Marquez Abella, 2018) 7.5/10
09 - I'm No Longer Here/Ya no estoy aqui (Fernando Frias, 2019) 6.5/10
10 - The Other One/La otra (Roberto Gavaldón, 1946) 6.5/10
11 - Titixe (Tania Hernandez Velasco, 2018) 7.5/10
12 - The Chosen Ones/Las elegidas (David Pablos, 2015) 7/10
13 - Abel (Diego Luna, 2010) 5/10

[Traveller]

24. Leap Year (2010) - 4/10
25. Santa (1932) - 5/10

[max-scl]

3. The Summer of Goliath (2010, Nicolás Pereda)

Second Pereda I watch and after being gladly surprised by his previous effort Perpetuum Mobile (2009) I was expecting a good movie. I'm glad it was, but it certainly is a more expermiental film, with a lot going on, in a mix of docu and fiction The parts that I liked better were the fictional ones about Gabino and his mother, just like in Perpetuum Mobile (they are different characters here but played by the same actors and with a similar tone in the relationship: a solitary woman and a slacker son). Every scene was interesting and it leaves many things unanswered and it may look like it lacks cohesion, but I think that works here and you're left with a lot think about during or after the movie is finished.

[zuma]

3. The Summer of Goliath (2010, Nicolás Pereda)

Second Pereda I watch and after being gladly surprised by his previous effort Perpetuum Mobile (2009) I was expecting a good movie. I'm glad it was, but it certainly is a more expermiental film, with a lot going on, in a mix of docu and fiction The parts that I liked better were the fictional ones about Gabino and his mother, just like in Perpetuum Mobile (they are different characters here but played by the same actors and with a similar tone in the relationship: a solitary woman and a slacker son). Every scene was interesting and it leaves many things unanswered and it may look like it lacks cohesion, but I think that works here and you're left with a lot think about during or after the movie is finished.

Interesting. I was just going to watch Greatest Hits for the challenge, but now I may watch all three.

Always a good idea to watch a directors work in a short timeframe.

[max-scl]

3. The Summer of Goliath (2010, Nicolás Pereda)

Second Pereda I watch and after being gladly surprised by his previous effort Perpetuum Mobile (2009) I was expecting a good movie. I'm glad it was, but it certainly is a more expermiental film, with a lot going on, in a mix of docu and fiction The parts that I liked better were the fictional ones about Gabino and his mother, just like in Perpetuum Mobile (they are different characters here but played by the same actors and with a similar tone in the relationship: a solitary woman and a slacker son). Every scene was interesting and it leaves many things unanswered and it may look like it lacks cohesion, but I think that works here and you're left with a lot think about during or after the movie is finished.

Interesting. I was just going to watch Greatest Hits for the challenge, but now I may watch all three.

Always a good idea to watch a directors work in a short timeframe.

There is some continuity between Perpetuum Mobile and Summer of Goliath, so it was a good idea to see them back to back indeed. And from what I've read Gabino shows up again in Los Mejores temas and in some ways is also a continuation of Summer of Goliath, but I don't know to what extent this is.

[jeroeno]

26. Los insólitos peces gato (Claudia Sainte-Luce, 2013) ***1/2
27. El Grito (Leobardo López Aretche, 1968) ***1/2
28. Cabeza de Vaca (Nicolás Echevarría, 1990) ****

Spoiler

01. Pueblerina (Emilio Fernández, 1949) ***1/2
02. El camino de la vida (Alfonso Corona Blake, 1956) ****
03. Ya no estoy aqui (Fernando Frias, 2019) ***1/2
04. Fausto (Andrea Bussmann, 2018) ***1/2
05. La noche avanza (Roberto Gavaldón, 1952) ****
06. La diosa arrodillada (Roberto Gavaldón, 1947) ***1/2
07. Aventurera (Alberto Gout, 1950) ***
08. Titixe (Tania Hernandez Velasco, 2018) ***1/2
09. Intimidades de Shakespeare y Víctor Hugo (Yulene Olaizola, 2008) ***
10. Calabacitas tiernas (Gilberto Martínez Solares, 1949) ***
11. La Libertad del Diablo (Everardo González, 2017) ***1/2
12. El esqueleto de la señora Morales (Rogelio A. González, 1960) ****
13. La región salvaje (Amat Escalante, 2016) **** 1/2
14. Santa Teresa Y Otras Historias (Nelson Carlo de Los Santos Arias, 2015) ***
15. Distinto amanecer (Julio Bracho, 1943) ***
16. Las niñas bien (Alejandra Marquez Abella, 2018) **1/2
17. Danzón (María Novaro, 1991) ***
18. Viento negro (Servando González, 1965) ****
19. La puerta y la mujer del carnicero ( Ismael Rodríguez, Luis Alcoriza, 1969) ***1/2
20. Carmín Tropical (Rigoberto Pérezcano, 2014) **1/2
21. Club sándwich (Fernando Eimbcke, 2013) ***1/2
22. Tempestad (Tatiana Huezo, 2016) ***
23. Dos tipos de cuidado (Ismael Rodríguez, 1953) ***
24. La camarista (Lila Avilés, 2018) ***1/2
25. Doña Herlinda y su hijo (Jaime Humberto Hermosillo, 1985) **
26. Los insólitos peces gato (Claudia Sainte-Luce, 2013) ***1/2
27. El Grito (Leobardo López Aretche, 1968) ***1/2
28. Cabeza de Vaca (Nicolás Echevarría, 1990) ****

[sol]

Once Upon a Time in Mexico

1. The Book of Stone (1969)
2. Chosen Survivors (1974)
3. The Devil's Rain (1975)
4. Darker Than Night (1975)
5. Come Out and Play (2012)
6. Tigers Are Not Afraid (2017)
7. Here Comes the Devil (2012)
8. The Young One (1960)
9. Miss Bala (2011)
10. La Otra (1946)
11. The Pearl (1947)
12. The Castle of Purity (1973)
13. We Are What We Are (2010)
14. The Secret Formula (1965)

15. María Candelaria (1944)



Dolores del Rio is decent in the lead role and Gabriel Figueroa captures some great images here - most notably, mob torch flames at night in a bravura bit of tracking camerawork. For the most part though, I found this too melodramatic to resonate with soap opera-like plot turns and eh performances. The framing device (someone enquiring about a painting of the title character) also adds very little to the tale and actually feels like a distraction.

[shugs]

8. Temporada de patos [Duck Season] (Fernando Eimbcke, 2004) - 7/10
9. El Callejón de los Milagros [Midaq Alley] (Jorge Fons, 1995) - 8/10
10. Desierto (Jonás Cuarón, 2015) - 5/10

Spoiler

1. La 4ª Compañía [The 4th Company] (Mitzi Vanessa Arreola, Amir Galván Cervera, 2016) - 4/10
2. Vuelven [Tigers Are Not Afraid] (Issa López, 2017) - 7/10
3. La región salvaje [The Untamed] (Amat Escalante, 2016) - 6/10
4. El infierno (Luis Estrada, 2010) - 6/10
5. La jaula de oro [The Golden Dream] (Diego Quemada-Díez, 2013) - 10/10
6. Las elegidas [The Chosen Ones] (David Pablos, 2015) - 7/10
7. Sin nombre (Cary Joji Fukunaga, 2009) - 7/10

[Traveller]

26. The Castle of Purity (1973) - 7/10
27. The Man Who Saw Too Much (2016) - 8/10

Enjoyed The Man Who Saw Too Much very much.

[blueboybob]

18. Cochochi (2007) <--- this was a pretty good film
19. Blood (2005) <--- worht a watch
20. I Promise You Anarchy (2015) <--- not great

[zuma]

14 - Somos Mari Pepa (Samuel Kishi, 2013) 6/10

15 - Nora's Will/Cinco días sin Nora (Mariana Chenillo, 2008) 6/10

16 - The Last Christeros/Los últimos cristeros (Matias Meyer, 2011) 7.5/10

Watched Mexican films

01 - The Chambermaid/La camarista (Lila Avilés, 2018) 7.5/10
02 - The Golden Dream/La jaula de oro (Diego Quemada-Diez, 2013) 7/10
03 - The Crime of Father Amaro/El crimen del Padre Amaro (Carlos Carrera, 2002) 6.5/10
04 - Leap Year/Año bisiesto (Michael Rowe, 2010) 7/10
05 - Time to Die/Tiempo de morir (Arturo Ripstein, 1966) 8/10
06 - The Castle of Purity/El castillo de la pureza (Arturo Ripstein, 1973) 7.5/10
07 - Salón México (Emilio Fernández, 1949) 6.5/10
08 - The Good Girls/Las niñas bien (Alejandra Marquez Abella, 2018) 7.5/10
09 - I'm No Longer Here/Ya no estoy aqui (Fernando Frias, 2019) 6.5/10
10 - The Other One/La otra (Roberto Gavaldón, 1946) 6.5/10
11 - Titixe (Tania Hernandez Velasco, 2018) 7.5/10
12 - The Chosen Ones/Las elegidas (David Pablos, 2015) 7/10
13 - Abel (Diego Luna, 2010) 5/10
14 - Somos Mari Pepa (Samuel Kishi, 2013) 6/10
15 - Nora's Will/Cinco días sin Nora (Mariana Chenillo, 2008) 6/10
16 - The Last Christeros/Los últimos cristeros (Matias Meyer, 2011) 7.5/10

[flavo5000]

18. Perdita Durango a.k.a. Dance of the Devil (1997)
19. Brijes 3D a.k.a. Guardians of the Lost Code (2010)
20. For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada (2012)
21. Más negro que la noche a.k.a. Darker Than The Night (1975)

Spoiler

1. Las luchadoras contra el médico asesino a.k.a. Doctor of Doom (1963)
2. Santo contra los zombies a.k.a. Santo vs the Zombies (1962)
3. Las luchadoras contra la momia a.k.a. Wrestling Women vs the Aztec Mummy (1963)
4. Cilantro y perejil (1998)
5. No se aceptan devoluciones a.k.a. Instructions Not Included (2013)
6. The Bees (1978)
7. Demonoid: Messenger of Death (1981)
8. Atroz (Atrocious) (2015)
9. La barraca (1945)
10. El pecado de Adán y Eva a.k.a. Sin of Adam & Eve (1969)
11. Museo del horror (1964)
12. The Black Scorpion (1957)
13. El libro de piedra a.k.a. The Book of Stone (1969)
14. Mary, Mary, Bloody Mary (1975)
15. Santo vs. las mujeres vampiro a.k.a. Santo vs the Vampire Women (1962)
16. Dos abrazos (2007)
17. La momia azteca contra el robot humano a.k.a. The Robot vs the Aztec Mummy (1958)
18. Perdita Durango a.k.a. Dance of the Devil (1997)
19. Brijes 3D a.k.a. Guardians of the Lost Code (2010)
20. For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada (2012)
21. Más negro que la noche a.k.a. Darker Than The Night (1975)

[max-scl]

4. Abel (2010)
Didn't like this at all, it's about a kid that gets a psychiatric disorder after the father abandons the family. The way he copes with this is by acting like he's actually the father, taking his place. I don't like when kids in any context act like adults, and this movie is exactly that most of the time. Only recommended for Sector Cine completists.

[jeroeno]

29. Matinée (Jaime Humberto Hermosillo, 1977) ***1/2
30. Cascabel (Raúl Araiza, 1977) ***1/2

Spoiler

01. Pueblerina (Emilio Fernández, 1949) ***1/2
02. El camino de la vida (Alfonso Corona Blake, 1956) ****
03. Ya no estoy aqui (Fernando Frias, 2019) ***1/2
04. Fausto (Andrea Bussmann, 2018) ***1/2
05. La noche avanza (Roberto Gavaldón, 1952) ****
06. La diosa arrodillada (Roberto Gavaldón, 1947) ***1/2
07. Aventurera (Alberto Gout, 1950) ***
08. Titixe (Tania Hernandez Velasco, 2018) ***1/2
09. Intimidades de Shakespeare y Víctor Hugo (Yulene Olaizola, 2008) ***
10. Calabacitas tiernas (Gilberto Martínez Solares, 1949) ***
11. La Libertad del Diablo (Everardo González, 2017) ***1/2
12. El esqueleto de la señora Morales (Rogelio A. González, 1960) ****
13. La región salvaje (Amat Escalante, 2016) **** 1/2
14. Santa Teresa Y Otras Historias (Nelson Carlo de Los Santos Arias, 2015) ***
15. Distinto amanecer (Julio Bracho, 1943) ***
16. Las niñas bien (Alejandra Marquez Abella, 2018) **1/2
17. Danzón (María Novaro, 1991) ***
18. Viento negro (Servando González, 1965) ****
19. La puerta y la mujer del carnicero ( Ismael Rodríguez, Luis Alcoriza, 1969) ***1/2
20. Carmín Tropical (Rigoberto Pérezcano, 2014) **1/2
21. Club sándwich (Fernando Eimbcke, 2013) ***1/2
22. Tempestad (Tatiana Huezo, 2016) ***
23. Dos tipos de cuidado (Ismael Rodríguez, 1953) ***
24. La camarista (Lila Avilés, 2018) ***1/2
25. Doña Herlinda y su hijo (Jaime Humberto Hermosillo, 1985) **
26. Los insólitos peces gato (Claudia Sainte-Luce, 2013) ***1/2
27. El Grito (Leobardo López Aretche, 1968) ***1/2
28. Cabeza de Vaca (Nicolás Echevarría, 1990) ****
29. Matinée (Jaime Humberto Hermosillo, 1977) ***1/2
30. Cascabel (Raúl Araiza, 1977) ***1/2

[peeptoad]

6. El hombre sin rostro (1950) The Faceless Man 8
7. Misterios de la magia negra (1958) Mysteries of the Black Magic 6

películas vistas

1. Más negro que la noche (1975) Darker Than Night 7
2. Solo con tu Pareja (1991) 6
3. Dos monjes (1934) 7
4. Pafnucio santo (1977) 8+
5. Susana (1951) 7

[Traveller]

28. Time to Die (1966) - 7/10
29. The Good Girls (2018) - 5/10