Kirpianuscus
a film about freedom. about art. about forms of resistance against a dictatorship. fascinating, dramatic, being more than an admirable biopic. because it has two great virtues - splendid performances and a director who see each detail of a large manifesto about values and about the need to be free. Javier Bardem does an impeccable role. not surprising. only fascinating exploration of a fight who seems be impossible. because "Before Night Falls" has the chance to propose not exactly a case but the essence of what defines an artist, the fear of a regime who understand the difference as danger, the force of friendship and the moral victory relevance. a splendid film. as useful testimony.
buiger
This is one of those films I like to call "pseudo intellectual".I disagree with Berardinelli here, and almost totally agree with Berge Garabedian's review. On one thing however I do disagree also with Garabedian: in my opinion the Direction was far from good. On the contrary, I believe the Direction to be one of the major shortfalls of this motion picture. And honestly, considering Schnabel is a painter, the cinematography, the visuals should have been much better as well.Having said that, now on to the main 'problem' with this film. As far as I can see, the material (the story) the director and producers had to work with here was first class (as were the actors). What they managed to do with it however is only to produce two hours of first class boredom. In more capable hands (maybe a good film maker instead of a painter, who would do better to stick to what he is allegedly good at...) this could (and should) have been a monumental motion picture, an epic to remember. Instead, what we got was an abstract canvas with randomly painted splashes of color that nobody (including those who praise the film, believe me) can understand. Oh well, if it so difficult to understand, it must be great doesn't it...?Art? Not in a thousand years! Skip this one if you can, it's a waste of time.
wes-connors
Julian Schnabel's "Before Night Falls" initially impresses as an extraordinarily photographed film, by Xavier Perez Grobet and Guillermo Rosas; their use of color is especially beautiful. For someone unaware of the subject (as I was), the narrative is sometimes confusing. The film is a biography of Cuban poet Reinaldo Arenas (1943-1990), who is played by Javier Bardem. Mr. Bardem's characterization is about as convincing as they come; he gradually "paints" his role into your viewing consciousness. And, he carries the story through some rough waters. His performance is definitive "Best Actor" material. Also, watch out for Sean Penn, under hat and make-up, as he gives young Reinaldo a lift, after the boy leaves home. Later on, during a prison sequence, Johnny Depp essays a couple of amazing characterizations, as "Bon Bon" and "Lieutenant Victor"; Mr. Depp's acting, and his decisions regarding his successful career, are quite admirable. Handsome Andrea Di Stefano (as Pepe) and handsome Oliver Martinez (as Lazaro) are among Bardem's "Best Supporting" boyfriends. In sum, Mr. Schnabel, Bardem, and the photographers deserve accolades for this good nightfall.Additionally, investigate writer Reinaldo Arenas (as I did): "I am that child of always / Before the panorama of imminent terror / Imminent leprosy, imminent fleas / Of offenses and the imminent crime / I am that repulsive child that improvises a bed / Out of an old cardboard box and waits / Certain that you will accompany me
" ******** Before Night Falls (2000) Julian Schnabel ~ Javier Bardem, Oliver Martinez, Johnny Depp
Carson Trent
Sorry to say that, because I admire Bardem in any movie, as is the case here, too, but in my opinion the movie grazing avoids being in the scabrous gay porn category. I haven't read the memoirs of Arenas, nor have I read any of his work, but this movie doesn't play on his artistic views, but on his personal experiences in a time of political and social turmoil, combined with perhaps what hurt him most, gay discrimination. It's hard, watching the kind of personal life he led, to be sympathetic to the character of Arenas, not because he was homosexual, but because judging by this screening of his memoirs, it looks like the only thing on his mind was sex. Kinky, uninhibited sex. Nothing wrong with that, basically, but I believe some aspects of the personal life, like sexual preferences and habits, should remain private. I really didn't understand anything about him as an artist by watching this movie. Instead I saw the sexual frustration that haunted him, and a tad of his political views. I saw great performances by all, especially Bardem, Wincott and Depp, although the latter put himself in a quite tasteless light. I know the part, required it, but couldn't get the point of the whole endeavor.
AD
