By Magdaleen Duvenage
Viewing: Sterkinekor
Release Date: 11 September 2009 (Cinema Nouveau)Rudo Y Cursi.
Directed By Carlos Cuaron
Screenplay By Carlos Cuaron
Cast:
Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna, Guillermo Francella, Dolores Heredia, Adriana Paz,
Jessica Mas, Salvador Zerboni, Tania Esmeralda Aguilar, Joaquín Cosio
This is a movie that one would describe as realistic and honest – in some ways brutally so. Carlos shows the true poverty situation in Mexico. The battle to be seen and heard. The hard physical labour of the countrymen, which makes this story very intriguing. Everyone, in some way or another, can relate to their struggle to get to the top. Beto and Tata are brothers, they grew up in a very poor neighbourhood in Mexico. As expected, they are ill educated, ill mannered and lets just say, you wont look at the movie and think they will survive in a prison break scene – definitely not the smartest pencils in the packet. His brother, Luna is even worse off. Luna is married, with kids and he has a nasty gamble habit. Tata is nicknamed “Cursi” because of his adorable innocence and romantic looks, he has a dance when ever he scores a goal – which is exactly what it means: “tacky but kind of cute.” He is a dreamer and a artist. Beto gets the nickname “Rudo” because of his hot tempered behaviour on and of the field. They are discovered by a sport agent “Batuta,” (Guillermo Francella), his car tyre got a flat, in the middle of Mexico, they help him to get it fixed and he watched their game. This is the part where the film becomes predicable – some where in the film there will be a celebrity girlfriend, money, drugs, sex and finally the pressure of fame and power will destroy their life's.
Cursi gets the first opportunity. He climbs the ladder of success very quick. I believe this is where the trouble and the action start – you wait in anticipation to see what is he going to do wrong, like so many before him. He then gets the celebrity girlfriend (Jessica Mas), the house, car, etc. True to what he wants, he pushes for a music career. He records the song: “I want you to want me”; a very bad Spanish version – but the cherry on top is the music video which is as common as pink grass. This becomes the movie's irritating trait. It causes toe curling laughter! When Cursi lost his “mojo”, his love life takes a toll – not that there was any love from the start though. One can not believe how naïve he is. Rudo gambles all his money away, among other possessions. The plot boils down to the last game, when Rudo and Cursi play against each other. Both the brothers reputation is on the line. The director takes the story back to the beginning, which provides the movie with excitement and drama. In this movie, losing is the trophy, and wining, the lost. The difference the director bring is to keep the cameras off the field, but he classically revolves the story around the game. The soccer ball, is the girlfriend, who wins every time a goal is reached and instantly disappears to the next guy. Every guy wants it. The fans are like the brothers relationship with their mother Elvira (Dolores Heredia) . Each fan believes he is soccer's/teams biggest and most valued fan; as each boy believes he is his mothers favourite and most worthy son, and he would do almost anything to prove it. The narrators role is done subtly, as I am not a favourite of this style of filming, it gives the film a philosophical angle and it provides depth.
Both the brothers end up working for their sisters drug lord husband, who build their mothers dream house. They seem to be back where they started with miner improvements. This movie is an amazing preparation for South Africans regarding the FIFA 2010. One walks away with a feeling of excitement mixed with nostalgic emotions. This sport incorporates all cultures; and everyone, on and off the field, feels invited and part of the game. The theme in my opinion is that everyone wants fame and power, but rarely has the knowledge for a lifestyle of meaningless existence created by a world dominated media circle. The movie was a great laugh, you walk away wondering: What if? For my personal taste the language was very foul and the brutality of certain scenes is not at all the kind of movie that I would declare as a must see; In the context of the movie it definitely worked, and it was even funny. A realistically good story, great telling, yet it lacks a depth that is not mentioned. It deserves a lovely 6. See you at the movie's!
Directed By Carlos Cuaron
Screenplay By Carlos Cuaron
Cast:
Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna, Guillermo Francella, Dolores Heredia, Adriana Paz,
Jessica Mas, Salvador Zerboni, Tania Esmeralda Aguilar, Joaquín Cosio
This is a movie that one would describe as realistic and honest – in some ways brutally so. Carlos shows the true poverty situation in Mexico. The battle to be seen and heard. The hard physical labour of the countrymen, which makes this story very intriguing. Everyone, in some way or another, can relate to their struggle to get to the top. Beto and Tata are brothers, they grew up in a very poor neighbourhood in Mexico. As expected, they are ill educated, ill mannered and lets just say, you wont look at the movie and think they will survive in a prison break scene – definitely not the smartest pencils in the packet. His brother, Luna is even worse off. Luna is married, with kids and he has a nasty gamble habit. Tata is nicknamed “Cursi” because of his adorable innocence and romantic looks, he has a dance when ever he scores a goal – which is exactly what it means: “tacky but kind of cute.” He is a dreamer and a artist. Beto gets the nickname “Rudo” because of his hot tempered behaviour on and of the field. They are discovered by a sport agent “Batuta,” (Guillermo Francella), his car tyre got a flat, in the middle of Mexico, they help him to get it fixed and he watched their game. This is the part where the film becomes predicable – some where in the film there will be a celebrity girlfriend, money, drugs, sex and finally the pressure of fame and power will destroy their life's.
Cursi gets the first opportunity. He climbs the ladder of success very quick. I believe this is where the trouble and the action start – you wait in anticipation to see what is he going to do wrong, like so many before him. He then gets the celebrity girlfriend (Jessica Mas), the house, car, etc. True to what he wants, he pushes for a music career. He records the song: “I want you to want me”; a very bad Spanish version – but the cherry on top is the music video which is as common as pink grass. This becomes the movie's irritating trait. It causes toe curling laughter! When Cursi lost his “mojo”, his love life takes a toll – not that there was any love from the start though. One can not believe how naïve he is. Rudo gambles all his money away, among other possessions. The plot boils down to the last game, when Rudo and Cursi play against each other. Both the brothers reputation is on the line. The director takes the story back to the beginning, which provides the movie with excitement and drama. In this movie, losing is the trophy, and wining, the lost. The difference the director bring is to keep the cameras off the field, but he classically revolves the story around the game. The soccer ball, is the girlfriend, who wins every time a goal is reached and instantly disappears to the next guy. Every guy wants it. The fans are like the brothers relationship with their mother Elvira (Dolores Heredia) . Each fan believes he is soccer's/teams biggest and most valued fan; as each boy believes he is his mothers favourite and most worthy son, and he would do almost anything to prove it. The narrators role is done subtly, as I am not a favourite of this style of filming, it gives the film a philosophical angle and it provides depth.
Both the brothers end up working for their sisters drug lord husband, who build their mothers dream house. They seem to be back where they started with miner improvements. This movie is an amazing preparation for South Africans regarding the FIFA 2010. One walks away with a feeling of excitement mixed with nostalgic emotions. This sport incorporates all cultures; and everyone, on and off the field, feels invited and part of the game. The theme in my opinion is that everyone wants fame and power, but rarely has the knowledge for a lifestyle of meaningless existence created by a world dominated media circle. The movie was a great laugh, you walk away wondering: What if? For my personal taste the language was very foul and the brutality of certain scenes is not at all the kind of movie that I would declare as a must see; In the context of the movie it definitely worked, and it was even funny. A realistically good story, great telling, yet it lacks a depth that is not mentioned. It deserves a lovely 6. See you at the movie's!
