Review of Tetro (2009) by Thomas W — 04 May 2010

Nice to look at, beautifully shot with nice filming locations and great performances from the three lead actors all describe the film, Tetro -- Francis Ford Coppola's newest film in years. Coppola has proven to be a master of the craft (The Godfather Part I and II .

.. and Part III was still better than it got credit for and it is better than the crowning achievements of many lesser directors) and he is trying to return to form with this one (he did make the Robin Williams disaster, Jack [seriously], and also was responsible for the Keanu Reeves/Winona Ryder/Anthony Hopkins/Gary Oldman Bram Stoker's Dracula [which I actually appreciated but others did not]).

Tetro is the "new name" Vincent Gallo's (Buffalo '66, The Brown Bunny and House of the Spirits) character has taken when he is met up (finally again -- after 10 years or so) with his kid brother, Benny (a very good Alden Ehrenreich).

Tetro is now married and his wife and the kid brother, Benny, strike up a pretty close friendship (she is played by the awesome Maribel Verdu) -- which Tetro doesn't seem to be overly pleased with because he doesn't know what he wants.

While Tetro is crafted well, there are moments of tedious plodding that are horribly slow at times which made me wonder if the story knew where it was heading and what was actually going on with the characters and film.

In the end, the story DID know what it was doing because the film was just mirror-ing characters who's lives were messy as they were trying to find purpose in their own lives. It may be "pointless" to some who have everything already figured out and don't want to follow and/or worry about fictional characters trying to make sense of things.

Tetro isn't another Coppola masterpiece; but it is a nice addition to his filmography/canon -- it is nice to know his daughter isn't the only one making decent films in the 2000's. "There's only room for one genius in the family" is a quotation from the movie that most definitely does NOT apply to this filmmaker.

While I am not a normal fan of Vincent Gallo (The Brown Bunny was vile), I didn't mind his broodiness here and Coppola kept him in check (Gallo has vainly directed himself a few times). Tetro is a slow film and it might not have a payoff for everyone who watches it -- it is a toss-up and I'd have a hard time recommending it to just anybody.