Review of Broken Embraces (2009) by Carlos Z — 25 Mar 2010

Fine, twisty Almodovar melodrama with muse Penelope Cruz at the center of attention as a businessman's mistress who becomes an actress and falls in love with her director, told in a 14 year flashback gap that usually keeps the audience guessing, but begins to falter near the 100 minute mark.

Cruz is mesmerizing, as usual, and Lluis Homar is solid as the now blind (one of the mysteries) director telling the story, with Almodovar's familiar lush color palate to keep things interesting when the mystery feels like it's running out of surprises.