Manolete

"I'm just your mistress, Death is your wife." A true story about the love between Matador Manolete (Brody) and the woman he falls in love with Lupe Sino (Cruz). When aging bullfighter Manolete is told that a younger matador is as good or better then he is, he begins to try and cheat death even more. Will the love of Lupe help him in the ring, or endanger him? This is another very slow moving movie. The acting is very good and the scenery and bullfights are fun to watch and look at, but it just doesn't really seem to go anywhere sometimes. This movie is at its core a love story, mixed in with the action of the bullfight. There is actual footage of the real Manolete mixed in with the filmed scenes that is a very nice touch and adds to the experience. Not knowing anything about the real people or story I have no idea how accurate this is, but the love at times is tested to the limits. Overall I would say this is more of a movie that women will enjoy more then men, but it's not a horrible thing to have to sit through. I have sat through much, much worse. A very OK movie, nothing to special. I give it a B-.

Would I watch again? - I don't think I will.

Nice costumes and great actors do not make a movie great. A good story does. Too bad the original writer, Bill Crown, was bumped out of the process by those who hijacked the project. I guess Karma decided the fate of the film.

1200 pages of research were prepared but obviously not used. This is a story about a real man living in real times. Taking poetic liberties is fine, but there has to be authenticity for a film like this to work.

Brody hot off his Oscar was perfectly suited to the role. Penelope Cruise, wisely selected as the love interest also internationally recognized, should have brought forth faithful followers. A formula that would have worked had not the intentions of the story been skewed so far off mark.

Spanish/English co-production concerning about a brief biography of the known Torero Manolete (Adrien Brody) who rose to prominence shortly after the Spanish Civil War and is considered by some to be the greatest bullfighter of all time . The movie begins in the journey from Sevilla to Linares , and he remains in Córdoba to find his mother . There are , subsequently , various flashbacks remembering some passages of his life . As mainly focusing his relationship with a Fatal woman , Lupe Sino (Penélope Cruz) , a world-class lover who enters in his complicated world and with whom has an uncommitted romance . As Lupe Sino cannot be considered a "respectable" girl in 1940s Spain , though she she is willing to settle down and become a "respectable" woman he can marry . But Manolete's colleagues and best friends (Santiago Segura , Juan Echanove) disapprove of the relationship because they fear for their own status . And developing his Bullfighting skills , as his style was sober and serious , with few concessions to the gallery, and he excelled at the Suerte De Matar — the kill . Manolete's contribution to bullfighting included being able to stand very still while the bull passed close to his body and , rather than giving the passes separately, he was able to remain in one spot and link four or five consecutive passes together into a compact series . Manolete popularized a pass with the Muleta called the "Manoletina," which is normally given just before entering to kill with the sword . In addition to all of the major bullrings of Spain , he had very important triumphs in Plaza Mexico.

This "A Matador's Mistress" , also known as the title "The passion within" or ¨Blood and passion¨ in some countries deals with a love joined to the high stakes of the Bullfight ; it is the story of a winner bullfighter against a brave beast . And there are a lot of shots about bullfighting , especially in its final part , showing a spectacular Corrida , being technical consultants the notorious Toreros : Espartaco and Cayetano Martínez who has a brief cameo as Lupe's lover . It contains mediocre interpretations from a famous main cast : Adrien Brody and Penélope Cruz . And support cast is pretty good , such as Santiago Segura , Juan Echanove , Ann Mitchell , Enrique Arce , Pedro Casablanc , among others . The picture displays a colorful and evocative cinematography by Robert Yeoman . And a tragic , sensitive and sad music by Dan Jones and Gabriel Yared . The motion picture was middlingly directed by Menno Meyjes (Martian child , Het Diner , Max)

The movie gives a brief description about the culture of Spain surrounding the age old traditions of the Matador . As the ancient Toreo art-form is described with unflinching and fetching realism . As bullfighter Manolete , Adrien Brody , relentlessly flirting with death and along the way he has a turbulent love story with a woman of dark past . This was Lupe Sino , regularly played by Penélope Cruz with a basket-crown on her upper left incisor , who is depicted as enjoying the company of men, and frequently called a "prostitute" by Manolete's entourage . At the end Manolete died in August 1947 following a goring in the upper right leg as he killed the fifth bull of the day, the Miura bull Islero, an event that left Spain in a state of shock. Manolete received his fatal goring in the town of Linares where he appeared alongside the up-and-coming matador Luis Miguel Dominguín, who, after Manolete's death, proclaimed himself Number One . In response to Manolete's death , General Francisco Franco , then dictator of Spain , ordered three days of "national mourning" , during which only funeral dirges were heard on the radio .

I don't understand the bad reviews. Perhaps its because A MATADOR'S MISTRESS taps into psychological sexual themes that are too close to home for some viewers? Penelope Cruises persona as the only person who truly understood Manolete (Adrian Brody) is a very deep concept. Too deep for most viewers I guess. Brilliantly played out and a must watch.

I'm not really into Spain or bullfighting. So if this this movie just appealed at first for the dynamic Penélope, finally, it totally hooks me.

The first great thing is the talent of Adrian Brody. It's true as Pené said that he the most beautiful ugly man but he exudes such humanity that he is also the most underrated actor! Here, he is totally convincing as a legendary sportsman and shy boyfriend.

Next, the director (a newcomer for me) is talented as well: he has a great "eye" and offers totally stunning and poetic visuals: I like how he plays with Spain flag, with the washing as the red cape for the bull. He does the same parallel with love and bullfight. At the end, the use of revolving doors enhances a lot the drama. His cinematography is vivid, full of colors and we can really appreciate the Spanish culture (thus, I realized that it keeps its Arabic history as well).

At last, the two big themes (passion, bullfight) are depicted like a mystic experience. It's not just a simple romance but a burning love and bullfight is beyond sport, it's a tradition. So, as our two lovers are passionate but also defective, the movie heads full speed at a tragedy and the editing is totally right as it ticks like a clock, balancing with the past and present.

It's true that my French DVD is only 88 minutes and the movie is dynamic without time-out.

In conclusion, it's a superb surprise and I urge even the anti bullfight to watch it because it's not a absurd slaughter!