El otro hermano

Pretty much tired of the same clichés once and once again...comes this film, and not only does that, but also brings us a few things we might have already seen too many too times in , for example, "no country for old men", and a bit of Daniel Plainview charisma (Daniel day Lewis) in Sbaraglia as well...just my opinion. The thing is, I found this flick pretty boring and plain, and with an outcome hyper expected...I mean, come on man...it's what I usually call "a disrespectful movie". The cast, tho, handles it pretty good. I feel kind of disappointed when they have a good cast, the money for production and it results on a film without novelty. This is the typical 5 out of 10. Imagine if I weren't Argentinian.

The concept of the movie is quite interesting. Unfortunately the main character is quite bland to put it mildly. The story itself is interesting and there are quite a few surprises along the way. The other characters are actually more interesting. Not that you have many people to root for. Well none that get explored in depth that is for that matter.

So while family is or can be a big thing, in this case it seems to be an excuse to bring a stranger into town. A thriller works in certain circumstances and this has its merits, but in this case you really have to suspend a lot of disbelief and try to stick with it, even with all the obstacles thrown into your way. I am not judging the main actor after this one performance, so maybe it was the script, maybe it was a number of things, but they all work against the idea behind it all ...

Duarte is played by a great actor, the movie starts reality promising and interesting but in the end all the free violence, including sexual, kind of goes nowhere.

I think I'm starting to learn Spanish by absorption I've watched so many Argentinian films lately, and I'm glad I have, as they are presenting scenarios in an art form that Hollywood is simply unable to do. Rather than budget constraints resulting in trashy exploitation movies, as tend to come out of more affluent nations, it seems to focus and direct these film maker's attention back to the essentials of film making, and The Lost Brother is no exception.

The title can refer to any of the three 'brothers' here as they each are lost and are central to its plot. This is not so much a film to be enjoyed, but experienced rather, as everything about it is believable and painful, even the unsettling dual-personality of its main character.

People really do vanish in these environments, and presented here is a possible situation in which some of these disappearances occur. It's all awkward, sad, and difficult to watch, where the manipulation and abuse of the elderly and poor is up for grabs, and even the perpetrator lives in mental and physical squalor.

The acting is natural and authentic, the direction superb, the script tight and unpredictable, and the score is sparse and effective, all so much so in fact that it can leave one dispirited - you have been warned.

But it will give you an insight into another world, raw and unfiltered, and make you appreciate being able to watch this in your comfortable urban front room on your 40" LCD TV.

Not all Argentinian movies are good, far from that, but this one is certainly interesting to watch as the cast did a very good job with their respective performances. Especially Leonardo Sbaraglia as the sleezy greaceball Duarte, a con-man that hustles his way through life. Nothing is bad enough to make himself some 'plata'. But also Alian Devetac as Danielito, his compagnon in crime, just doing it for the weed. His miserable look was perfect in the context of the story. And then there was Daniel Hendler as Cetarti, the lost brother, a bit naive but in the end also up to make some cash without questioning too much if it's right or wrong. The story is interesting to watch, with a dark malevolant ambiance. And also perfect to practice my Spanish a little bit.