Review of Amores Perros (2000) by Aaron M — 03 Jan 2011

Man...what....a....movie. This is an absolute masterpiece. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu can direct the hell out of a movie. This is the second film of his that I have seen, but to learn that THIS was his debut film is beyond impressive.

I mean, holy crap. First of all this is a foreign film, so unless you know Spanish or can deal with subtitles this is probably not for you. I personally love finding foreign gems but I recognize that movies like this are not for everyone.

But you are SERIOUSLY missing out if you at all love the movies and skip out on this one. I could not be more impressed. The title, for the language challenged, is called "Love's a Bitch." Which is appropriate to this film on several levels, not the least of which is that all the characters whose lives are oddly intertwined in brilliant ways throughout are all dog owners and dog lovers, and their animals are very significant in their individual stories.

One story arc involves dog fighting, and it is almost too realistic at times. It literally gave me chills in some scenes, and others I couldn't even watch. Powerful stuff. Of course, seeing it at this time makes for an interesting social commentary on one Mike Vick.

(Yes, this is only a movie, but watching it definitely makes me shake my head as I think about the willingness of our society to hand the world back to someone who is capable of that sort of involvement just b/c he can throw a football.

I digress.....) Anyhow, the script is absolutely magnificent, the performances top notch, the realism absolutely in your face, and the overall film making superb and beautiful it it's own sordid way.

Like Babel, this is part of a trilogy of films (This being the first film. Babel being the last. I wish I had known that from the get go. I would have started here, and that is my recommendation if you are unfamiliar.

) The final (and middle) film in the trilogy is 21 Grams, and I am beyond eager to watch it. Although, I'm not sure that the movies are actually tied to each other in any way other than thematically, they have both been two of the most interesting films I have seen in a long long time.

This will make you laugh, make you shudder, make you feel love, make you cringe, and will probably surprise you in many ways. I know it did for me. This is what movies are all about. This director is supremely talented and I give it my highest recommendation.