Intacto

This Spanish film is a strange one, a hard one to follow story-wise, but visually striking and interesting most of the way. The fact is wasn't always easy to follow will help me want to watch this again to see if I can figure things out better.

The story involves people with th ability to steal "luck" from other people and then taking it away from fellow takers. Make sense? I didn't think so. Despite the difficulty following and understanding everything, I still enjoyed this film.

The DVD transfer is sharp, too, and has good sound. It's an intriguing film and, perhaps, I should have waited for a second viewing when I understood more things about the story. Suffice to say I thought enough of this film to buy it because I knew I'd be watching this multiple times.

A masterpiece of the new wave of Spanish cinema that is invading the world in this new millennium, this strange, fascinating thriller has one of the greatest ideas of all times used very well till the end of the movie: imagine someone who has the power to steal good luck from other people and using it he may become powerful, but bored in the end. So he uses his wealth to research other people who has the same power or a similar one (people who has survived all sort of terrible accidents) to challenge them in a sort of Russian roulette. Max Von Sydow is the old concentration camp survivor that establish this "game", while other interesting faces of the Spanish scenario are his comrades in this trade over each other destiny that is gripping, tense and full of surprise until the end, when all comes full circle and you exit from the cinema conscious that you have seen a gem, a rare, rare gem.

What is perhaps crucial about this movie is that it is shaped for a sophisticated cine-maniac,not so very keen about action and plot,rather willing to focus on the very atmosphere of the movie and the questions it puts in front of the viewer.

Whole idea of the movie is to find the real connection between love and luck,to investigate whether they are two sides of the same story. If one believes love could be a drug much more powerful than heroine , what to tell about luck - especially if one's life is all about taking advantage and satisfaction of luck possessed.

Slow,bit dream-like narration,avoiding obvious solutions,think-forcing movies and great photography makes Intacto my favorites.

To conclude I can quote Jill Scott:"gave me things to think about"

Spanish action/thriller story about desperate as well as enigmatic people intertwined by destiny are subject to the laws of luck and fate . But destiny is hard to care with the rules changing at any moment . The film contains suspenseful and hair rising images and a sinister, mysterious atmosphere . This mystery movie trips at the first hurdle with a staggeringly banal angle on fate . A weird tale of four people whose lives are mingled and they then discover that luck is something they cannot afford to be without as they gamble with the highest stakes possible in a deadly game from which only one of them will emerge intact , but not that incoherence is the main problem . It deals with four players , each the sole survivor a catastrophe , vie for supremacy in some dangerous deeds . There is Tomas (Leonardo Sbaraglia) , a stealer who survives a plane crash , Sam (Max Von Sidow) , a Holocaust survivor who lives in a casino in the desert ; Federico (Eusebio Poncela) who survived an earthquake and Sara (Monica Lopez) , a policewoman who walked away from a car crash that murdered her family and becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth behind a clandestine gambling ring where death and luck intermingle . As good fortune , we're asked to believe , not only exist , but can be transferred and robbed through physical contact , even with photographs . In the flick happens rare happenings , such as an insect lands on a treacle-smothered head , a sprint blindfold through the forest knocking themselves and many other things .

The picture displays thriller , mystery , suspense , shocks , grisly scenes and intriguing events when a motley group crosses ways until an amazing finale . Intriguing film contains thrills , chills , suspense , twists and turns , and results to be quite entertaining . The atmosphere and perverse intrigue enhance as well as the relationship among protagonist develops . From start to finish the intrigue and suspenseful scenes are continuous till a striking ending . The film plays with various concepts as Russian roulette , hooded faces , blessed survivors , casualty , luck , random and destiny . It has a couple of twists piled on top of one central twist concerning about a startling meeting and a strange quality which bears the misfit group who seems to be a supernatural deed . Attractive set pieces pass the time along with magnificent production design . Screenplay does something strange by the end : it actually removes the stakes of everything that came before with its trio of revelations that at first test and then demolish any credulity the movie had built up by that point . Nice performances from Leonardo Sbaraglia , a young thief and the sole survivor of a horrific plane crash ; Eusebio Poncela , who survived a massive earthquake and discovered he has the power to rob those around him of their good fortune with a touch and Max Von Sidow , a casino owner who is the ultimate survivor after losing everything but his own life in the terrible conflagration that enveloped Europe during the Second World War . Support cast is frankly well such as Paz Gomez , Guillermo Toledo and special mention to Antonuio Dechent .

Xavi Gimenez cinematography is excellent creating a frightening and scary atmosphere , he's expert on sombre photography (Fragile , Agora , Red lights , Nameless) . Being filmed on location in Las Cañadas del Teide, La Orotava, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain . The film crew could not get permission for filming from a helicopter in the National Park of "Las Cañadas del Teide", so they used a remote controlled mini-helicopter . Sensitive as well as thrilling musical score by Lucio Godoy (Blackthorn , Fin , All about my mother , Mataharis , Triage) . Director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (Intacto , 28 Weeks Later) isn't exactly a visionary director like the film bills him as, but he is good at approaching films with style and consistent moods . The director made an editing the film was a big challenge , it was a long, complex process because of the story's complex structure. The film will appeal to suspense buffs , as it gets some decent set pieces , though sometimes chaotic thriller , however , resulting to be a good flick .

INTACTO (INTACT) is the story of a group of `gamblers' whose ultimate bet is their own life (or others peoples life). Sam (Max Von Sydow) a Jewish only survivor of a concentration camp, runs a high class Hotel / Casino in the in a volcanic island. There; while normal people use money, others come to bet their possessions (which are not money) against Sam's wealth (the casino and other `things' he won over the years). The game, Russian roulette, one empty chamber, the challenger shoots first. Sam's protégé, Federico, concerned that Sam may someday lost, and moved by his own ambition, decides to go against him, but to avoid the confrontation, Sam `de-activate' Federico.

At this point you are probably questioning about what I am writing; well, basically these characters can control LUCK. Yes, they have plenty and are able to steal others people luck and use it for their own profit or as a possession to bet against others.

Federico is no longer able to control luck; so he must find his own protégé to play against Sam, and finds Tomas, a fugitive (only survivor of a plane crash) whose only interest is to run away. Three other characters emerge: a police woman, a bull fighter and Tomas ex-girlfriend; everyone is a part of the destiny of the others.

Harry Potter is nowhere around; there are no WIZARDS or enchantments. If you ever knew a gambler, you probably heard about their eccentricities, like do not touch them, do not take pictures a some other things many people believe and many others are afraid to confront.

The basic principle of atheism is that men control their own destiny; and that is precisely the question here. All these people believe in themselves; they are their own God, but also when their faith is lost, also are their powers. Are there really powers ?. The answer of these questions is absolutely metaphysical because faith in itself has no logical explanation.

Fresnadillo's movie is not for everyone. There are no likable heroes (every character is moved by selfishness or ambition), and the premise is absolutely about religion and nothing about the material world (even when seems the contrary). At about two hours, the pace is more European than American and are not quite clear, but none of these things are faults, is just a matter of taste.

There are also very intense and interesting scenes like the run in the forest, that will take out your breath.

If you are out for something unconventional, give it a try. It is an interesting game.