Os Imortais

"Os Imortais" is without a doubt one of the best, or probably, the best Portuguese film ever made. It certainly is a landmark on the Portuguese cinema's scene; this movie his worth every minute.

Every year, four ex-soldiers that call themselves "Os Imortais" (translated "The Immortals"), get together with four women to celebrate war deeds and to remember the old days, back in the war. On the summer of 1985, tired of their monotonous lives they decide to rob a bank. Joaquim Malarranha, a chief inspector from the local police about to retire, crosses their path and will spend his last days of duty trying to solve the robbery. But has he carries on with his investigation, he discovers more than he could ever think of.

A movie that focuses on strange and disturbing actions of ex-soldiers on their attempt to fit in the modern society and to mend errors committed in the past, and on a veteran cop who's about to leave his working-life behind.

João Pedro de Vasconcelos managed to assemble a cast with vast qualities; it's a pleasure to watch Nicolau Breyner's performance. The story is very solid and can really catch the viewer's attention; it keeps the anxiety of knowing what really happened during the robbery and the days that followed it.

"A bandit always forgets that there is, at least, another bandit smarter than him."

"Os Imortais" is indeed a very competently made heist movie that brings together a consistent cast and a captivating story. It deals with the inability of war veterans to resume their old life after they've been trained to discard their emotions and act like killing machines only to be later unable to readapt to their old life. Crime becomes the only thing they can be good at and they reconvene their old group for a robbery. Sadly, despite some very effective scenes near the end, this human aspects take a back seat to the investigational thriller it mostly is. The casting managed to fit in the same movie a wide array of well known Portuguese (and not only since Polanski's wife Emanuelle Seigner also stars) actors and TV personalities ranging from the extremely successful Joaquim de Almeida and Nicolau Breyner to up and coming young comedians like Maria Rueff, Carla Salgueiro and Rui Unas playing against character. Certainly worth a view or two.

Fantastic Portuguese movie. One of the best ever made in my country. Congratulations to the director António-Pedro Vasconcelos that made his lifetime masterpiece, i think, and to a fabulous cast. Nicolau Breyner and Paula Mora at their best.

Breyner proved to be one of the best Portuguese actors of all time.

I've also liked the performance of Rui Unas. It was a surprise due to that it was is debut in the film industry.

A small detail in the film caught my attention: In the jacket of inspector Malarranha was a small pin of SL Benfica that is a very big soccer club in Portugal and that the director is a big fan, and so am I :).

With this film quality people will come more to the movies to see Portuguese films, for sure.

Hi.

"Os Imortais", a masterpiece from Vasconcelos, places him as one of the most brilliant portuguese film directors. Rui Unas performs a nice surprise on this movie. A not-so-young all-in-one actor, is "Vitor Pratas", the last imortal. And another actor, Nicolau Breyner, plays perhaps the best cinema paper on his career.

A "must see"!

For me, Os Imortais is one of the best Portuguese movies of all time and one of the best movies of 2003 in the world. The cast is excellent and António Pedro Vasconcelos does an amazing jog.

Nicolau Breyner reveals himself as a fantastic drama-actor (much better than in his comedy roles). Emmanuelle Seigner shows us a great performance (great as the Ninth Gate one) and Rogério Samora and Joaquim de Almeida reassured that they are two of the best Portuguese actors ever. Rui Unas, the surprise (he is a famous TV talk-show host), gives us a remarkable Vítor Pratas with a great sense of humor. And with minor-roles occupied by actresses with the quality of Alexandra Lencastre and Maria Rueff, this movie surely proves that Portugal can make excellent cinema.

If you see this movie, rent it or buy it and you'll see it's money well spent.

I recommend this must-see to everyone who likes good movies, rather than popcorn American movies.

Great director... Great cast... Great script... Great photography...