El correo

First, I have to admit I can't stand the main actor, Aaron Piper, who's supposedly good looking and sexy, while I find him the very definition of average in every way, charmless and arrogant. I want to slap his little obnoxious smirk off.

As for the movie itself, well, we've seen that a zillion times before, and way better.

Guy from a poor background wants to become rich fast, make easy money and get hot girls, sex drugs and rock n' roll. Did I mention he's quite uneducated but oh so incredibly street smart? How original, isn't it?

Gets in the inner circles of wealthy criminals, f..s the lady boss, gets on the police radar and so on and so forth...

It's not a movie, but a roadmap with all the mandatory clichés and nothing more.

Daniel Calparsoro returns to what he does best: a fast-paced thriller, shot with energy and determination, that never stops to catch its breath. El correo hooks you with rhythm and staging, with chases and twists that keep the tension alive, even if the feeling of "I've seen this before" comes up more than once. It doesn't try to change the rules of the game, but it does manage to keep you glued to the screen from beginning to end.

The economic and social backdrop gives the story an extra layer of interest, evoking a period marked by ambition and shady deals. It doesn't dive too deep, but it adds a touch of realism that grounds the characters and gives some weight to what could otherwise be just pure action.

The cast works well overall, with solid performances and a few characters who stand out more than expected. Many roles feel familiar, but the energy they bring helps prevent them from being completely flat.

Visually, the film looks slick, with an ambition that aims to place it among international thrillers. Sometimes that ambition feels a little forced, as if it wants to look bigger than it really is, but the result is still stylish and appealing.

In the end, El correo is pure Calparsoro: rhythm, intensity, and a straightforward style that doesn't let up. It may repeat formulas and not surprise much, but as entertainment it works just fine and delivers exactly what it promises: a good time.

Well set in the early 2000s during the culture of the "Pelotazo" and the arrival of the Euro. The motion picture was professionally directed by veteran director Daniel Calparsoro, though It has a few flaws , certain confusion , and some gaps. It is a realistic portrait of the Marbella of real estate speculation, a time marked by corruption and excess: sex, drugs and above all a lot of ambition. The film spans from 2001 to 2011, following various years, not including flashbacks, about a hustler called Iván (Arón Piper), telling his rise to the top of the corruption that surrounded the real estate bubble after the arrival of the euro in Spain. Year 2002, Iván is an ambitious kid from Vallecas who has outgrown his neighborhood. From his position as a valet at a luxurious golf club in the capital, he will soon take his first big step: becoming a Belgian courier for an international organization dedicated to money laundering. Iván will begin to transport briefcases to Brussels and Geneva. But Iván cannot stop looking higher. Real black money flows on the Costa del Sol, Marbella, there he contacts a powerful money cleaner (Luis Tosar). Working as a courier Iván begins a race against clock attempting to get more and more money. José Luis Ocaña (José Manuel Poga) is a Spanish politician whose wealthy life is based on corrupt issues, then Iván threatens to communicate his sexual encounters to the media and exposes him to the public eye . Construction businessmen, corrupt politicians, bankers, athletes, the Chinese mafia... Iván wants his piece of the pie. Iván will stop at nothing to get his purports.

Fast and energetic thriller with a social background and entertaining enough. This is another product with a pristine appearance, cosmopolitan style and a lot of energy from Daniel Calparsoro, although without complexity or reflection. The main plot deals with a ambitous youngsters, corrupt politicians and their dark business. Moving thriller filled with nail-biting action , lush cars , beautiful girls and swiftly paced , though plenty of clichés. A different, twisted and interesting film with a lot of incidents until it ends. Resulting to be commentary on Spanish society dressed as a thriller about the adventures and misfortunes of a band of young petty criminals all of them specialists to make fast couriers and flee before the police appear in the scene. Nice and fun film though excessively moving by means of a camera over shoulder. The plot and characters boast an overload of clichés, but its frantic and nervous pace, in the Quentin Tarantino way, makes the story attractive, which never bores. Acceptable film but not notable, because it lets itself be carried away by excessive bad taste, swearings, bad language, strong sexual scenes, including the disgusting scenes with which one wants to denounce a politician. In addition, it sins from what it wants to denounce, thus the same film that accuses the public of this state is profusely financed by public organizations, Ayuntamientos (town hall) , RTVE, and Movistar, which is also partially state-financed. A film of this type should only be financed by private entities and not by public ones, otherwise it may also incur corruption. Arón Piper gives an adequate acting as a kid from Vallecas, but the neighborhood has become too small for him, so he decides to use his job as a valet at a luxurious golf club in Madrid to enter the most lucrative business of the moment: money laundering. Arón Piper's character is not for real, but a mix of different real-life roles. Co-stars Maria Pedraza,she is beautiful but wasted in a minor role. Luís Tosar is a pretty good actor who always provides fine interpretation, but he uses to play similar characters and his performances bear remarkable resemblance. José Luís Poga gives a very fine acting as the nefarious , corrupt , crooked politician getting money by any illegal way. And Luis Zahera is terrific, as always, as Comisario Roig.

It packs colorful and appropriate cinematography by cameraman Tommie Ferreras who provides a brilliant and luxurious environment. And including an electrifying soundtrack by Carlos Jean This is another decently realized film with competent shooting , though the story eventually run out of gas . It was well made by Calparsoro in similar vein to his previous films as ¨Invasor¨ or ¨Combustión¨ , other acceptable thrillers with lots of action . His best film was ¨Warriors¨ or ¨Guerreros¨ , a warlike film brilliantly made by Daniel and dealing with ¨Kosovo¨ war . Daniel was raised in Donostia , that's why most films are set in Basque country . Daniel uses to work with his spouses , as his first wife , Najawa Nimri composes his scores and played in Salto a Vacio , Pasajes , Asfalto , A Ciegas ; and his second one , Patricia Vico , performed in La Ira, and others . Calparsoro is an expert on action and violent dramas . Daniel has a long career as filmmaker from his beginning with Basque films as ¨Pasajes¨, ¨Salto al vacio¨, ¨A ciegas¨ , ¨Ausentes¨ ; subsequently making thrillers as ¨Asfalto¨ , ¨Guerreros¨ , ¨Invasor¨ , and the successful ¨Combustion¨ , ¨La advertencia¨ , and ¨Cien años de perdon¨ , the Sci-Fi ¨El Aviso¨and the suspenseful thriller ¨El silencio de la ciudad blanca¨. He also directed TV series as ¨Inocentes¨, ¨La ira¨, ¨El castigo¨ , ¨Apaches¨. Rating 4.5/10 . A passable but uneven yarn with several flaws and shortcomings. The flick will appeal to adrenaline lovers and those young people looking for strong emotions. This is the kind of film in which the action and thriller enthusiasts will enjoy immensely.

Just because a film is entertaining doesn't mean it's good, and El correo (2024) is a clear example of that.

I like Aron Piper, but I think this is the weakest performance I've seen from him. The voice-over narration (by Piper himself) is so unconvincing that it often pulls you out of the story - and that, too, is part of the acting.

The plot is overly simple, bringing nothing new and failing to stand out in any way.

As for director Daniel Calparsoro, his work doesn't connect with my way of seeing cinema; after watching more of his films, he still doesn't manage to convince me.

How do you define a beautiful movie? Perhaps a movie which builds up suspense up to the last minute. A movie which you start and finish on the same day ! A movie which you may suggest to your friends to watch it.

The director and the rest of the cast did a perfect job in blending the story of the movie with a real event....the financial crisis which dissolved the economies of several European countries. The corrupted Spaniards in the movie have no difference with the corrupted Cypriots. (Its unbelievable how the movie resembles the financial crisis of Cyprus and the way the corrupted criminals were acting).

Brussels, Switzerland, and Spain is where the story takes place.

The story has several twists and even though the end seems predictable it does not limit the suspence. The leading character is a very promising actor. The rest of the actors also do their job in an excellent way.

Nice cinematography and the appropriate music add to the overall positive result. Even though the movie is labeled as thriller I would call it as action + (financial) crime.

So for a pleasant viewing at home I give it an 8 and I suggest that you watch it.