Review of Che: Part One (2008) by Tony P — 13 Oct 2009

A beast of a film. Soderbergh's movies are becoming even more unique and expansive. In Che, the technique behind the camera is particularly odd, especially for a biopic. The wide lens always keeps its distance from the action, from the title character, even.

Also, nearly every scene of exposition is executed with one or two shots of busy, visually stimulating compositons. Del Toro's performance is potent, but not monumental. It's as honest, subtle, and nuanced as any of his performances, but the distance of the camera thins it out.

This distance is a necessary refrain from human emotion to communicate his influential legacy on the whole. A well-structured and fascinating work.