"O Crime do Padre Amaro" (the original title of the Portuguese novel) is one of my all-time favorite books, written by Eça de Queirós in 1875, one of the stalwarts of realism in literature, along with Flaubert or Zola. If you read this novel today, besides being marveled by its iconoclast wit, powerful story-telling, sharply drawn multi-layered characters and magnificent style, you will no doubt be startled by Eça's volcanic attacks on the Catholic clergy's corrupt morals and behavior in late 1800s Portugal.
Well, this Mexican adaptation is a total waste of the novel's story and shocking power, beginning with the bad idea to transpose it to modern times -- how can anyone relate to the impact of Eça's novel when sex scandals in the Catholic Church have become daily news? Anyhow, this is no excuse for the film's soap-opera approach, lame adaptation, cardboard characters, unimaginative direction, bland acting (Bernal, Talacón, though they make a beautiful couple) or sheer overacting (most of the cast, excepting the good jobs by Damián Alcázar and Angélica Aragón).
A major disappointment from director Carrera, writer Leñeros, and actor García Bernal, who was very interesting in "Amores Perros" and "Y Tu Mamá También" (and since then progressively déjà vu), but is totally lost here, his expression telling us he didn't get the first idea about Amaro's cynicism, passion, ambition and growing immorality. Amaro is NOT about standing there wide-eyed and being pretty!
If you want to be thrilled and overwhelmed by a real masterpiece, forget about this movie and read the magnificent novel instead. The book - 10/10 the film - 1/10.
Well, this Mexican adaptation is a total waste of the novel's story and shocking power, beginning with the bad idea to transpose it to modern times -- how can anyone relate to the impact of Eça's novel when sex scandals in the Catholic Church have become daily news? Anyhow, this is no excuse for the film's soap-opera approach, lame adaptation, cardboard characters, unimaginative direction, bland acting (Bernal, Talacón, though they make a beautiful couple) or sheer overacting (most of the cast, excepting the good jobs by Damián Alcázar and Angélica Aragón).
A major disappointment from director Carrera, writer Leñeros, and actor García Bernal, who was very interesting in "Amores Perros" and "Y Tu Mamá También" (and since then progressively déjà vu), but is totally lost here, his expression telling us he didn't get the first idea about Amaro's cynicism, passion, ambition and growing immorality. Amaro is NOT about standing there wide-eyed and being pretty!
If you want to be thrilled and overwhelmed by a real masterpiece, forget about this movie and read the magnificent novel instead. The book - 10/10 the film - 1/10.