Pedro Almodovar's new film, Julieta

To the flicks to see a preview screening of the new Pedro Almodovar film, Julieta. 

I'm a big Pedro fan, it has to be said, and jumped at the chance of being one of the first to see his new film. It didn't disappoint. 

It's a magnificent film that goes straight into my top 3 all-time favourite Almodovar films. 

These are, if you're interested:

1. Volver
2. Julieta
3. Broken Embraces

Almodovar's signature flash of red appears often in the film, it's there at every turn.

At the end of the film, as the credits rolled and the music played, people stood up to leave and walk out. I was stuck in my seat from the emotion and drama, unable to move. How could these other cinema-goers just get up and go? Had they not been watching the same film that I had? 

It's a truly magnificent film - emotional, involving, mature and grown-up. 

Fortunately, my husband loves these films too. He even wrote a blog post about them.

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Review: Pedro Almodóvar - I’m So Excited

I’m a big fan of Pedro Almodóvar films. Since being blown away by Volver at the flicks a few years ago I’ve gone through this director’s back catalogue, now own all his films on DVD box-sets, and have watched most of his films more than once.

Since Volver, I’ve seen all his new films at the flicks and last night I was one of around 4,000 fans in independent cinemas up and down the country to watch his new film, I’m So Excited, in advance of its official UK release on Friday 3 May.

It’s good, it’s camp, it’s funny and in parts it’s rude. I’d see it again, and recommend it highly.

But it doesn’t make it into my Almodóvar Top 5 because, perhaps it’s too camp and too funny, if that makes any sense? There’s the wonderful Almodóvar use of colour, of cartoonish-reality that you find in his other films and in this one there are air stewards miming along to a Pointer Sisters song.

It’s a film that could easily be transferred to the stage, the set of the aeroplane interior was theatrical rather than cinematic.

Bits of the film had me giggling in a way that no other Almodóvar film has done, but yet I didn’t have that sense of awe watching this film, like I had with some of his other films.  Don’t get me wrong, the film is great and I’m not criticising it, but for this fan I prefer some of his other work.

In the Q&A with Almodóvar which followed the film, he talked about his work with some of Spain’s best actresses. His passion and dedication shone through and I did an intake of breath when he said this: “I love these actresses. I don’t just dedicate my time to them. I dedicate my life.”

Wonderful stuff. 

You can also check out Sunny Jim’s appreciation of Almodóvar films here.

See also: Pedro Almodovar's The Skin I Live In

Pedro Almodovar's The Skin I Live In

To the flicks this week to see the new Pedro Almodovar film, The Skin I Live In.  I'm a  huge fan of Almodovar and have seen all of his films either at the cinema or on DVD.  The new film is fantastic, absolutely wonderful and I can't rate it highly enough. My lovely man has blogged about Almodovar on his own blog here and it's most definitely worth a read.

All About My Mother

To The Old Vic last night to see the stage version of Pedro Almodóvar’s film All About My Mother. A truly fantastic performance from the sparkling cast which included Diana Rigg, Lesley Manville, Joanne Froggatt and Mark Gattis (from The League of Gentleman), pictured here from the play as the transvestite whore. A truly wonderful night.

I might just have to watch the movie now to see if it's as good as this other Almodóvar film, which I adored.