Jamie passion and passionfruit!

The latest Almodóvar.  Good?  Yes.  Great?  Maybe not, but you get a good two hours slice of Spanish life and philosophy from their number one director.  I liked the film for the  quality of it`s making and for the entertainment it gives us weaving thriller, melodrama and all sorts of references to life, love and women into a coherent whole.  Almodovar no longer has the same hysterical vein in his films – although there are moments of pure hilarity like the wake and the hairdressers.  What he does now, apart from sprinkle his trademark visual feasts is to lighten up on the dialogue a bit, focus on the faces and add poignancy and wisdom to his work.  You have to make a little effort to interpret all the strands as he leaves some things suitably ambiguous but that is all the fun.  Jose Luis Alcaine is at his best with the photography, there is more good music from Alberto Iglesias (only the best), the direction is that of a master and Almodovar’s script picks up all the nuances of his characters.  But it is the performance of his girls that most people want to see and they are great here.  Penelope Cruz nails another great characterization of a sultry mum whose life starts to change dramatically, Carmen Maura is almost unrecognisable as her mother, Lola Dueñas does great as the sister Sole, Blanca Portillo is also excellent as the aunt’s neighbour, Agustina and even Chus Lampreave has a cameo. And there are even more!  A most enjoyable film with plenty to remember and to brighten up this cold dreary winter.

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