Toro

REVIEW -TORO

Spanish crime thriller so be prepared for subtitles but....

A sort of low key John Wick crossed with Transported as a young thug tries to leave the Spanish mafia by going straight and becoming a taxi driver but events caused by his brother send him on a path that culminaits into a good film, not the best but with enough to keep you watching until the end.

Some parts of the film I've never seen in a film before so in parts was original but in others predictable.

Not as action packed as John Wick because in this film you actually get to know and care what happens to Toro and because of this I certainly enjoyed this Spanish film.

Worth a watch if you enjoy good characters and a story, if you can find it that is.

Rating 7 out of 10

The movie centers around a young enforcer, Toro, and his brothers, working for a big- time kingpin. He wants to get out, and go straight, but things won't be so easy. Adding an element of what feels like Shakespeare to the storyline, it turns out the kingpin has an interest in prophecy, and gets his Tarot cards read in the opening scene. What the cards tell him makes him nervous. The young enforcer agrees to one final job - more of a little vandalism operation against a restaurateur who is not using the kingpin's shrimps (No spoilers here, this all happens before the opening credits) Things get a little crazy and lot more violent as the movie progresses. Toro begins to reveal his Jason Bourne fighting skills in moments where it is best to suspend any disbelief, both at his abilities and his choices. Some nice cinematography and action sequences throughout. Things get a little more bizarre than the usual Mafia flick, as the kingpin is into both prophecy and Christian occultism, leading to stuff you want to keep your children far away from.

Different countries have their own take on gangster movies. This Spanish version is gritty and engaging. Toro's angst as he tries to rebuild his life resonates with the viewer. The intensity of Mario Casas' portrayal reminds one of Keano Reeves' John Wick. But Luis Tosar, Jose Sacristan and even Jose Manuel Poga lend vital support to a memorable film.

It speaks to the viewer of what family is and isn't about. Loved ones come first and foremost when they suffer at the hands of others.

Dialogue is crisp and direct. The action sequences are convincing, and the cinematography gives us glimpses of popular Malaga on the Spanish Riviera.

Thrilling and emotive story about a long chase in which a con , his brother and niece are pursued by nasty delinquents . From start to finish this moving film contains drama , intrigue , thrills and shootouts . The movie is set in October of 2015 in Torremolinos, Málaga, Spain , it is starred by ¨Toro¨, (Mario Casas) who along with his two brothers Antonio (Hovik Keuchkerian) and López (Luis Tosar) , Toro's older sibling, scheme a robbing that goes awry . Then , Toro is sent in prison . Meantime , Romano , whose full name is Rafael Romano García (José Sacristán) , a faithful devotee of St. Lucy , realizes that López, is taking him money from his tourism business . Later on , Romano plans his vendetta against López . After that , Toro goes out of prison with the third grade and close to get the parole and he is working as a touristic driver , as he only wants to be free to marry his sweetheart Estrella (Ingrid García Jonsson) . Shortly after , there takes place an overlong road movie and a ruthless searching for they three escapees .

This exciting picture packs drama , emotion , action , violent events . This acceptable Spanish thriller has noisy action , intrigue and spectacular pursuits with car races , motorcycles and car crashes ,including bounds and leaps . Decent Spanish film with top-notch performances from main cast as well as secondary cast . This is an exciting film though relies heavily on the long pursuit . Mario Casas gives a passable acting as Toro , a previous con man must be back to his old habits to save his older brother and niece , and Jose Sacristán plays masterfully his ex boss and mentor . This is a thriller/drama that keeps you interested and expecting , including stirring and tragic events , as the premise is the following : Romano orders to abduct Toro's beloved niece , until this one get back the money and Toro ends attacking Romano's men and fleeing attempting to escape from his vendetta . Nice film , though has a few gaps , but anyway, its is compensated with the enjoyable performances from Mario Casas , Luis Tosar , Ingrid Jonsson , Keuchkerian and especially José Sacristán . This is the sort of story we've seen sometime before about unfortunate people escaping , while other people seek reckoning , but one that is always fun when executed with style and filmmaker Maillo certainly seems to have that .

It packs a colorful and briliant Cinematography by Arnau Valls Colomer . Moving and attractive musical score by Joe Crepúsculo . The motion picture was well directed by Kike Maillo , being filmed in his usual formal and stylistic scholarship , without leaving a trace the thought-provoking issues , in terms of dramatic and narrative excitement . Formerly , he deserved Goya to New Director , Kike Maillo , for his above average film titled ¨Eva¨ starred Daniel Brühl , Marta Etura , Alberto Amman , and he also directed shorts as Los perros de Pavlov , Las cabras de Freud and Cuánto mas allá del dinero .

This film had lots of potential but unfortunately it looks more like tacky Bollywood revenge film with similar cheap theatrics and the musical score is terrible.

The actors did their best with this stupid script and the 3rd act is by far the worst. A 150 meter knife death thriw is hilarious even John Woo wouldn't try such a feat.

No spoilers but if your girlfriend eyes are removed and she is at a hospital and you have a huge gut wound maybe checking yourself in also would be one option by the writers instead of a western like ending of walking to the prison half dead.

Moral of the story - don't trust silly card readers or your greedy selfish brother and live happily ever after.

4 stars for the Costa del Sol locations and action scenes.