Review of Nesio (2008) by Ali G — 30 Jan 2009

Nothing extraordinary, but not bad.

The movie doesn't stand out as good or bad, and that's not something you want from a movie these days.

Also, I'm quite disappointed as I saw this in a gay film festival and it was advertised as a gay movie, even taking advantage from Jorge Adrián Espíndola's greatest hit, the gay short film David. But this is not a gay movie. There is one same sex relationship through the plotline but it is a subplot from a supporting character and by any means that makes this movie gay. I didn't hate it for that but it was quite lame.

A great surprise: Tenoch Huerta, a rising actor in mexican cinema nowadays, gives a tour-de-force performance (he is the one with the gay plotline, actually) in a character we have seen zillions of times in local films (downtown small time crook with nothing better to do than crime) but breathes fresh air into it and you can't help but love him.

Jorge Adrián Espíndola, usually an amazing actor, feels bored and stiff all the time and Claudette Maille, an old-school actress in her comeback (she's the mother of the lead characters in 2008's Quemar las naves), steals the show all the time as a prostitute/wrestler (holy crap...) with a heart of gold (apparently), probably the best character in the movie.

I think the issue with this film is that there was virtually no direction. The so-called director doesn't pull the guts from his actors and they all feel confused and weird in a movie they probably didn't understand. It could've been a movie full of great moments and interesting characters but it just feels like... whatever.

You just don't care about anything on the screen, except for Tenoch Huerta's character.