El hombre de al lado

Forgive me the flippant title but... The two young Argentine directors behind this movie have served up an interesting, stylish, oddly provocative film using what Argentina is rather good at... a keen interest in all things foreign. The film could well have been a British class-clash movie. It has all the controlled tension and violence of a British movie. BUT... it's more attractive, more quirky, and more cosmopolitan. It seems to tell us that however much mankind tries to adorn the ANIMAL within.... it is ALWAYS there, looming, and ready to pounce. Socialy the film is a slice of 'state.of-the-art' Argentina (a country which is in constant mutation, like a huge anaconda shedding its skin). But a New Yorker or a Londoner, o even a Parisian would undoubtedly feel very well represented by the subject matter and milieu. One protagonist is a '"succesful Modern man", an interior designer, living what looks like a perfect life, but , as the film progresses, reveals itself to be an angst-ridden nightmare. The OTHER is a psychotic freak.... or is he? The way our points of view are manipulated to shift, as the film unravels, is very amusing, and revealing. Are we ALL a bunch of brainwashed bigots? A good question, from Argentina. MUY BIEN, AMIGOS!

Very original, ironic and thought-provoking movie. The film direction is amazing. The setting is the house built by Le Corbusier in La Plata.

This is one of the best movies I've seen lately. Considering you can read the storyline and watch the trailer, I'll stay away from any sort of story description. The movie builds a real and completely believable story that keeps you hooked during the entire film. It was well shot, and the characters evolve nicely, offering the viewer enough information to follow the story and sympathize with the characters. The story is dark enough to be interesting, but real enough to make you feel you are watching real people dealing with their daily lives. I think what I loved the most is how simple and clever the story is—not a Hollywood blockbuster for sure. The Man Next Door leans towards an independent film where story goes first and production and visual effects are just minimal. I'm really excited to see independent filmmakers producing awesome films with a fraction of the budget.

The film attempts to tackle a relevant theme but ultimately fails in its execution. The only part that truly stands out is the ending, which was fair, but it doesn't justify the time I wasted. Regarding the theme itself, it's frustrating to see how laws exist only on paper and are merely for show, which explains the perpetual stagnation of Latin American countries. While the characters and plot are believable, the repetitive cinematography and excessively long scenes make the film a tedious experience. Moreover, despite being marketed as a thriller, it's more of a drama with touches of comedy, one of the genres I detest the most.

I saw this movie about 10 years ago and Liked It very Much.

I rewatched It today and like It even more. It doesn't get older, it is truly alive., deserves more prestige.

It is an excellent hilarious drama turning around on a simple conflict (an ilegal window), in appearance! Because this is a story about the way the people defends their beliefs, their status, their contradictions (Leonardo hates and in the same time, admires Victor), their desires (Víctor Not only wants light from the outside, he loves to be aceptted as he is, in this other sophisticated world), the real value of things, the sensation of emptiness, the absurd success, and the power abuse.

Some people say scenes are slow, but in this film happens too many things and you never got quiet, you are Always with a 'what the f..k'? Question in your mind.

All the cast is great, but the Rafael Spregelburd performance is absolutely amazing, particulary the story he relates at dinner with some friends. Few times I've seen an actor with such a credible character. The scripy helps him: Duprat is a Genius writer, the dialogs are Always fluid, reliables, they Talk as real people, when most of the directors and writers fall in laziness checking the dialogues of the films; these NEVER happens here, all detalls are controllled.

Thank you Mariano and Gaston for this movie.

You made me happy -again- with this smart film.