"ChÃ©:" like Guernica or the war paintings of Goya, high art

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Posted by tinear (A) on March 21, 2009 at 08:58:56

occasionally can make very powerful political and social statements.
Last night, I saw both parts of the film and yes, Benicio Del Toro is magnificent: not at all like Scott in "Patton" or O'Toole in "Lawrence of Arabia" both of whom portrayed their larger-than-life characters well, larger than life. Del Toro's portrait is far more approachable, more personal, and realistic--- art without ANY discernible artifice. Here is a man that has charisma but who leads with his heart, not his ego (actor and character).
What is it that would lead a young man, a doctor that came from a comfortable upper-class existence in Argentina, to risk his life helping a small group of soldiers in a tiny country fight its brutal dictator?
And, when the unlikely victory was achieved, to then travel to Africa and S. America similarly to spearhead revolts?
It would be fair to say Del Toro carries the 4-hour film quite easily, maintaining our interest in the character through no discernible arsenal of a modern actor's tricks: it is eerily similar to watching a documentary.
The direction, by Soderbergh, is all but invisible. He too eschews clichÃ©. There is none of the action trickery or bravura camerawork and editing we've come to expect since "Private Ryan." None of the stock secondary military figures with their personal stories to endear them. There is nothing to soften what so skillfully is shown: the feeling of what it must be like to subsist in primitive conditions and to be, on a daily basis, remorselessly hunted with very little chance of survival.
The effect of the film is mystifying, disorienting, and bewildering: it is so different from what a film goer expects from a "war" or "action" or even a "biographic" film.

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Topic - "ChÃ©:" like Guernica or the war paintings of Goya, high art - tinear 08:58:56 03/21/09 (14)

Looking forward to finding it to see, but a question... - mpathus 02:09:01 03/22/09 (2)

it really is two films, Parts 1 and 2, but in some venues (art houses) - tinear 08:53:08 03/22/09 (1)

Great; 4 hours can pass very quickly when in capable hands. ~t - mpathus 02:29:18 03/24/09 (0)

RE: "ChÃ©:" A politician who were a murderer by ideal. - patrickU 12:49:33 03/21/09 (10)

There is no such thing as a bloodless revolution; those in power who - tinear 17:27:08 03/21/09 (9)

RE: Yes yes a doctor who turned out to be a killer... - patrickU 03:09:40 03/22/09 (7)

Yet you find no problem when it's the IDF? - tinear 09:53:32 03/22/09 (1)

RE: It may be " common " for you. - patrickU 10:32:03 03/22/09 (0)

Some people deserve to die... - ElDragon 08:14:21 03/22/09 (4)

RE: What has the movie to do with Che?..... - patrickU 08:15:36 03/22/09 (3)

It is a faithful recreation of his book. nt - tinear 10:01:32 03/22/09 (0)

what anything has to do with anything? - ElDragon 09:09:02 03/22/09 (1)

RE: You are not following the Line! nt - patrickU 09:18:02 03/22/09 (0)

Excellent movie. The long running time . . . - townsend 18:00:53 03/21/09 (0)

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