Review of Che: Part One (2008) by John M — 08 Jun 2009

Imagine traveling to a country and trying to start a revolution but no one was interested. Such is the tragic year in the life of "Che" Ernesto Guevara, the Argentinian who helped Fidel Castro in the 1959 Cuban revolution and believed all Latin Americans needed liberation but was assassinated in Bolivia.

His biography is told in 2 movies (parts) and is about 4.5 hours long altogether. I'm reviewing both movies as one. My blockbuster clerk told me that no staff bothered to watch the promotional copy so he's waiting for my review (lol). Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh does an under-stated job in telling the story and Benicio Del Toro is equally up to the task by portraying Che as a good-hearted idealist. The movie works more on an emotional level than an intellectual one. You feel for the guy but don't quite understand his motives as well. Che was triained as a doctor who decided his life would be better helping poor families escape the confines of US-lead immoral governments. I recommend "The Motorcycle Dairies" which portrays the young Che to fully understand his conviction.

Part One deals with the Cuban revolution and Che's success with Fidel. It's probably the more successful part of the two, not only because of what he accomplished but as a dramatic piece, it is more forceful. However, I didn't like the black-and-white scenes of him addressing the UN as the Cuban rep because it slowed the action. Interestingly, Che smoking a cigar and wearing khaki is only philosophically different from the bureaucractic suits protecting their Caribbean interests despite the oppression of the masses.

Part two deals with the failed Bolivian revolution where Che is captured and killed. Too much screen time is dealt with gunfire and bullets flying left and right, causing too much confusion for the viewer. I wish director Soderbergh had ended the movie more forcefully, perhaps with a montage of this charismatic leader and why he's now an icon to many.

Is it worth watching? You betcha. Does it enlighten us? Not too much. The movie tries to portray Che as an ordinary rebel but I'm more interested in why he's a legend.