Review of Dot the I (2003) by Kevin B — 23 Aug 2008

[i]Dot the I[/i] is a unique, comelling thriller that captured my attention and blew my mind. The plot twists are extremely surprising, and though unbelivable, this [i]is [/i]a movie, and I don't mind suspending my disbelief, especially when the various mechanisms are so well thought-out. The "explanation" scene had my mouth hanging open, and the short, sweet third act was icing on the already mouth-watering cake. Thanks to great performances by Gael Garcia Bernal and a feisty turn by Natalia Verbeke, [i]Dot the I[/i] joins the ranks of my personal favorite suspense thrillers. Don't let the negative reviews steer you away. This is an exciting, crisp movie that doesn't disappoint.

[i]Volver [/i]is a softer, comedic look at themes like forgiveness, death, and responsibility than Almovodar's masterpiece, [i]Bad Education[/i]. The movie has moments of gravity and poignancy, but overall it's a lighter take on dark subject matter. Penelope Cruz is a fiery force to be reckoned with, and her Oscar nomination was fully deserved. As expected, the screenplay is tight, and the subtle twists in the plot are engaging and help to keep your attention arrested. This isn't as mind-blowing as [i]Bad Education[/i], but it's still a very worthwhile movie about a group of women dealing with some extremely difficult times.