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Reviews:
Food,
Brazilian Music and Penelope: Woman
on Top
by
Christian De Matteo
Solid
I like to think I’m not the romantic comedy type,
but the fact is that I’m a sucker for a good
romantic comedy.
What I don’t like is strict formula.
I realize that there has to be some
format to the film, because people go in
expecting one thing from a romantic comedy and
will be ticked if they don’t get it.
But some films don’t even try.
It gets to the point that you’re
staring at the screen seriously debating whether
you’ve already seen the movie, recognizing it
line for line.
Give me variations, intrigue and at least two new
twists!
Enter the Independent film industry, enter Woman
on Top. Make no mistake, this is romantic and this is a comedy (the
Indie film, less strict definition) but it’s
also beautiful, often unpredictable and manages
to make a claim and back it up.
The claim: Penelope
Cruz (All
the Pretty Horses) is mesmerizing.
Such a claim is difficult to make in a
film, because if the actress doesn’t mesmerize
the audience, they won’t believe the
characters are in the film.
Do they back it up?
110%.
The refreshingly differently beautiful
Cruz is hard to take your eyes from, but the
filmmakers don’t let this be the backbone of
the film. No
Cruz’s superior acting is key to the film that
is all about her, but not at all the only
ingredient.
The comedy of the film is very good, funny enough to
keep you laughing, but rarely stupid or cheap,
and, most important, all in keeping with the
tone of the film.
It’s also not always funny.
As all romantic comedies, it veers off
periodically into the serious, but not in the
mapped out ways others do.
Woman on Top will surprise you, make you forget what it’s about,
catch you up in what the characters get caught
up in and keep you interested and entertained
throughout.
It will also keep you tapping your feet and swaying.
With an incredible authentic Brazilian
soundtrack, greatly provided by Murilo Benicio,
one of the two male leads who sings through much
of the film, the music never seems anything but
an essential part of the movie.
Still have no idea what the movie is really about?
Good. Go in ignorant, come out surprised. This is one of the rare ones that both men and women can
enjoy, and goes wonderfully with low lights and
a bottle of wine.
In fact, buy the soundtrack and do the
same.
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