Review of Miss Bala (2011) by B Y — 31 Mar 2012

Naranjo, for all the credit he's been given, simply once again takes from the masters and doesn't contribute anything of his own mark to his "craft:. Was Katz aware of how he was regurgitating something that had already been done? I believe so.

For anyone who's seen MARIA FULL OF GRACE, the film is quite familiar. I realize it was based on a true story, but could that have used another model for making it work? I would have rather watched JULES ET JIM (or y tu mama tambien) or REPRISE over his last feature, which everyone hailed as some great original talent.

It almost feels contrived in comparison to what he steals from. Most people have reviewed the film are easily taken. The trailer is actually much more exciting than the actual film. I was quite disappointed.

Had the film been given a bit more layering, the character a bit more complexity than vulnerability I would have been a bit more moved. Instead, I was simply sitting through long takes, unmotivated, in order to get to the next tragic event.

This film isn't an example auteurism, it is plagiaristic, and someone should have brought this to attention out to the writer, MAURICIO KATZ and the director by now.