Mal día para pescar

First off, I take issue with the description of the film, where it states- "Jacob van Oppen, the former strongest man on earth, and his manager Orsini, who calls himself "the Prince", make a good living by traveling around small South American towns and organizing wrestling exhibitions." Wrong. They do not make a good living. They are living a precarious existence. Jacob, a shadow of his former self and Orsini, a con-man who does not even have the 'mil dolares' to back up and finance his bets. They are leading a terrible life, are both alcoholics, and both know it. Orsini is a self-described Italian Prince, but no one dare ask what he is doing, taking seedy bus trips, promoting a washed-up wrestler, all over South and Central America.

In any case, it's an excellent film. Jacob has become brain damaged from his years of wrestling and self abuse, he has reverted back to the mental state of a child. Not only that, he is bi-polar or has other mental issues which he takes medication for. As if that were not sad enough, Jacob also has some serious health issues. Although it has many comedic moments, it is nonetheless a sad film. It takes place in a fictional, back-water, town in Uruguay, in 1962. The acting and cinematography are all top notch. Jacob is somewhat devastated when he finds out the Orsini has been "fixing matches for him" and hand-picking opponents that insure Jacob wins the matches every time. The ending is brilliant and everything leads up to the final match at the end, where due to events in the town of Santa maria, Jacob must face a very tough opponent.

I had a feeling of connection with this film to "On the Waterfront" with Marlin Brando, content-wise. This film, "Bad Day to Go Fishing" is brilliantly cast and the locales are colorfully executed. Totally enjoyed this film. It has no pretense and is gritty and wonderful, with a striking dose of pathos...transports you to someplace possibly existent, yet strangely off the beaten trail. Acting and casting are superb.

On the surface, it's a story about a friendship which you suspect is a condition of exploitation, but as it plays out, you become aware it's about true friendship and a condition of brotherhood between a manager and his aging athlete. It's also about the indomitable spirit of a contender no matter how far he's fallen from grace. It's about life, love, despair, con men, and the human spirit. Don't miss this film ;)

Jacob used to be the strongest man on Earth. Now he and his manager Orsini travel South America, showing him and his feats off, and betting $1000 that no one can last 3 minutes in the ring against him. But one town proves troublesome for their endeavors; the man they hire to lose is arrested and won't be able to fight, and a new challenger surfaces. Since they don't have the money they've been promising, how will they get out of this situation? The acting is quite good. This is about getting by by any means necessary(not only for our two leads, several others are desperate as well, and the setting fits this perfectly) and the dangers of wrestling(the former champion is clearly brain-damaged - to the point where he has the mind of a child - and he has damaging addictions, such as drinking, not to mention the so-called "cycle" he goes through, wherein he sometimes gets extremely volatile). There is humor in this(I think it might be typically Spanish... I couldn't detail it more than that, it has some "stupid people" material). The film moves gradually towards the inevitable climax, a showdown. There is a bit of brutal violence, sexuality and disturbing content in this. I recommend this to fans of drama. 7/10

This was an excellent and outstanding film about two seemingly washed-up and forgotten human beings. The acting is low-key, but great. A Bad Day To Go Fishing is the story of a burnt out, punch-drunk, former World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion and his equally washed-up promoter slash manager, taking on any and all opponents in challenge matches in 27 South American cities. Unknown to the brain damaged ex-champion, his manager who calls himself,Prince, has been paying off all his opponents to lose to him. Without giving away the ending, the two losers end up in an obscure South American town, where the younger, stronger, and meaner opponent refuses to lose the fight. This film is a character study of lost souls just trying to get through life day by day, by any means possible. And yet, down deep in the human spirit, sometimes,given the right situation,human beings can recapture the glory of their youth, even if it is for a brief moment in time.

I was having a bad day. Rented out both Skyline and this movie, and though Skyline was not nearly as bad as rumored, I'd be much prouder to have directed Bad Day.

The two leads, Gary Piquer and Jouko Ahola, the manager and wrestler respectively, are magic together. There was no mistake making their relationship the heart and soul of this film. They essentially rode into my memory without triggering the slightest hesitation on my part.

Gary, Prince Orsini, is a bit of a huckster though it's clear he's had some breeding. Jouko as the champion, Jacob van Oppen, is everything he should be, physically and emotionally. He's a massively muscled German, I think, whose best days are behind him. There's a world of humanity in his eyes though his life is being severely circumscribed by his handler and his quickly fading youth.

They go town to town challenging the local toughs for a prize they don't even have. They're barely scraping by. And then they visit Santa Maria, where the local tough, The Turk, is no push over. His betrothed is desperate for him to win enough for their wedding. Antonella Costa as The Turk's intended, Adriana, is every bit as skillful and unforgettable as the two main leads and in some ways, the whole film rests on her performance.

This is a real find which I intend to pass on to others whenever I get the chance. It's not flashy or grandiose but it nevertheless is totally affecting. I marveled at how effortlessly it was played out almost as if everyone involved were born to play their part.