Review of Amores Perros (2000) by Joe C — 27 Jun 2015

Alejandro González Iñárritu's debut and his first entry in the so-called "Trilogy of Death" (21 Grams and Babel followed) is a brutally commanding, red raw, multi-stranded drama about a horrific car accident that brings together a hobo turned rouge hitman, a model who's career is marred by her injuries, and a young delinquent entering his dog in fights so he can run off with his sister-in-law.

Death, violence, desperation and Mexico's seedy underbelly is a major theme, so don't expect any silver-lining. On the surface Amores Perros is a desolate film that revels in going to war with you comfort zone, and while most of the time the bleakness does threaten to overwhelm the film, under the vileness Ameros Perros is a captivating character study about the domino-effect of our actions that hooks you like an aircraft carrier's arrestor wire.

Just don't expect to feel good after watching it.