Review of Che: Part One (2008) by Nick G — 19 Aug 2010

The first thing to say about Che part one is thank god the man split the film into two parts because this first part was too long on its own at something like an hour and 20 minutes, we had to break it into two halves to finish watching it.

The next thing worth mentioning which is obvious really but I'll say it anyway - Benicio del Toro was fantastic. He probably only missed out on he Oscar nod because this film was almost entirely in Spanish. I read that he had spent something like 7 years preparing for this film and it shows, he was magnificent and this might just be the role he is remembered for most when his career is all said and done.

The story follows the revolution of a Guevara led motley crue of an army that fights against a Cuban army that doesnt want to fight back. He befriends the peasants along the way and writes the history of Cuba by his relatively bloodless takeover of the country in the name of Fidel Castro.

The film is shot through a sort of real life lens at times which added an interesting air to it. There are times when you forget that you are watching a film but others when you sit back and realise this is really good. The cinematography which is a word I apply to all things I don't understand, was excellent. I will watch part 2 but I will wait until I have a bunch of spare time to watch it.