Les Voyous

A young man, a journalist, interviews a talented performer at the circus in Madrid. Her speciality, marksmanship on horseback. The two people feel a mutual attraction and things move fast. He leaves for another assignment, just overnight. Alas, things can change in a person's life in just a day. New faces in the audience the next night, and it's not her horseback riding that is being admired. Blossoming joy turns to acrid despair, and worse is to come.

Outrage in the English dub, Dispara (Shoot!) in the original. Bad decisions, impulsive actions, the cruel smile of Fate. This is a movie that invites us to ask ourselves, would we really have done things differently had it been us? We think that we would, make more sensible decisions, but then again we're sitting comfortably merely watching a movie, and everyone is different, let's face it.

Marcos didn't want to go to Barcelona, and what if he hadn't? Ana shouldn't have shot at that beer can, right? Why did the policeman needlessly insist on inspecting her handbag? Did Mario really need to use that wine bottle the way he did? If only the doctor had respected her wishes, yes? The wheel of fortune turns, the thread of existence snags on a sharp stone, and things happen. The show must go on, but the circus is a dying institution.

Some nice landscape photography and beautiful scoring by Alberto Iglesias. This is a revenge tragedy, not a revenge exploitation movie.

OUTRAGE, or "Dispara!" in Spanish gives us a glimpse of the real Antonio Banderas. If subtitles get in your way, then you cannot judge this movie, directed by the legendary Carlos Saura. The female lead is the versatile Francesca Neri ("Live Flesh") who has made some of the most daring European films of the 90's, switching easily from Spanish to Italian in her prolific 15 year or so career. This trio of great talent delivers a revenge drama/love story worth watching only for the lead actors' performances. Here you see the real Antonio Banderas, who went back to Spain at the height of his Hollywood crossover, to do what he had always done: ACT, and take a break from the tough guy/action hero/Latin lover Hollywood has made of him. The real Banderas is a sensitive actor, who actually has played mostly frail, bi/homosexual and mentally-challenged characters. Though OUTRAGE is not his best performance by any means, it is a rare look into the real actor. His character in OUTRAGE is possessed by the beauty and talents of a mysterious circus performer (Ms. Neri). The two start an unusual relationship and after a fateful night's event, both main characters go down a destructive path of revenge. Check it out. I bought it from Amazon.com, not to plug them, but because it is available from them at a very good price.

Utter nonsense, absolutely worthless based on a stupid scenario

Outrage deals with a journalist from El País newspaper who is assigned to carry out engaging reports . As Mario Vellez's (Antonio Banderas) last asignment results to be a traveling circus . Bored and tired with the usual acts , he is intrigued by the beautiful Sharp-shooter called Anna (Francesca Neri , Rosalba Neri's daughter) and asks her for an interview , which leads to passion . She is an equestrian sharpshooter from a circus called Wonderland , he is a stubborn journalist and both of whom fall in love . But she finds that primitive savagery exists beneath the most peaceful surface and then occurs a an unhappy happening and things go awry .

This is an interesting story about a traveling circus , a grisly event and subseguent vendetta . A frightening and violent film reaction to the violence of the 1980s and 1990s ; this is a tale about rape and revenge in Straw Dogs style . Based on a story : "Spara che ti passa" by expert Giorgio Scerbanenco and screenplay by Carlos Saura himself . The plot is plain and simple , a circus artist falls in love for a reporter and while he's in Barcelona to cover a concert, three young men assault her , being attacked and raped in her tráiler , then , rather than calling the police Anna decides to take his own retribution , as she seeks a merciless vengeance . It is paced from point of view Francesca Neri and Antonio Banderas . Although it relies heavily on the loving relationship between the reporter and the circus artist . Gorgeous Rosalba Neri gives an enjoyable acting ,she speaks Spanish language blending Italian/Spaniard words . Banderas is acceptable but he delivers an inferior performance than Neri . They are well accompanied by a fine support cast , such as : Eulàlia Ramon as Lali Ramón, Carlos Saura's wife , Walter Vidarte ,Coque Malla , Chema Mazo and Achero Mañas .

The movie displays an atmospheric cinematography by prestigious Javier Aguirresarobe , though a perfect remastering being really necessary . And a sad and atonal musical score by the Oscar Winner and magnificent composer Alberto Iglesias . Along with adequate production design by the notorious Rafael Palmero . The motion picture was well directed by Carlos Saura , being the first genre movie from this magnificent filmmaker . He is a good Spanish movies director. He began working in cinema in 1959 when he filmed ¨Los Golfos ¨(1962) dealing with juvenile delinquency ,it won Golden Bear in Berlin Festival . Saura is a well recognized filmmaker both nationally and internationally, and in proof of it he won many prizes among which there are the following ones: Silver Bear in the Berlin Festival for ¨ La Caza or The Chase¨ (1966) his most successful film , and for Peppermint Frappé (1967), in 1967. Special Jury Awards in Cannes for La Prima Angélica (1974), in 1973, and for Cría Cuervos (1976), in 1975. Also, the film Mamá Cumple Cien Años (1979) got an Oscar nomination in 1979 as the best foreign film, and it also won the Special Jury Award at the San Sebastian Festival. In 1990, he won two Goya , The Spanish Oscar , as best adapted screenplay writer and best director. Saura made some biographic movies as ¨Llanto para un bandido¨, ¨Goya in Burdeos or Bordeaux ¨, ¨Buñuel and la mesa del Rey Salomon¨ , ¨El Dorado¨, and ¨Antonieta¨. Saura became an expert on Iberian musical adaptations as ¨Carmen , Amor Brujo , Bodas De Sangre or Blood wedding , Sevillanas ,Iberia , Salome, Fado, Flamenco , Tango ¨ and even recently Opera as ¨Io , Don Giovanni

The story follows Ana (played wonderfully by the beautiful Francesca Neri) as a sharp shooter performing in the circus. She falls in love with a journalist named Marcos (Antonio Banderas). After a brutal rape and several murders later, she finds herself on the run with Marcos chasing after her.

The DVD story would have you believe that this is a typical Rape/ Revenge flick where the rape occurs early on and the rest of the film is the woman seeking vengeance. But the rape doesn't occur until 40 minutes in giving the viewers plenty of time to get to know Ana and like her character. She looks like Rachel Weisz and is quite impulsive and quirky. Her character is very likable and you will find her emotionally honest even when she is lying. This will make watching her downfall a little difficult to bear.

You watch Ana fall in love with Marcos, make love with him, and then you see the excitement in her eyes when she runs to her door one fateful night expecting Marcos on the other side. The gang rape is brutal, but most of the violence (outside of the rape) is implied. The revenge part takes place very soon after. The rest of the film is Ana and Marcos trying to reach each other one last time, making several mistakes along the way, and a very climactic reunion at the end.

Where the story veers into stupidity, is when Marcos sees the news story of the rapists murders, assumes Ana is the killer without even speaking to her, and then proceeds to rat on her instantly. That amore'. Soon after, Ana visits a doctor for her excessive bleeding (ahem, vaginal, due to the "bottle assault"), the doctor immediately calls the police on her the moment Ana leaves the room. Rape Advocacy, yeah! And get this…the doctor then goes on the radio giving the victims name and detailing her vaginal wounds! Ethics? We don't need no stinking Ethics!

Ultimately, this film is incredibly depressing and bleak. The ending will not make you feel any better about what transpired before hand. The victim gets no justice and she is punished for being victimized. A cop even refers to her as "the bitch."

Favorite Quote: "I said I'd follow you to Hell, well, here I am," spoken by Marcos to Ana after he finally catches up to her at the end.

DVD Extras: Scene Selection and brief Film Facts. There is an Italian and English dubbed version. The dubbed version is terrible and takes away from the atmosphere. Plus, I know what Antonio Banderas sounds like and I can assure you that was not it.

Bottom Line: Very dreary film with not much to recommend here except Francesca Neri's great performance.

Rating: 6/10

Molly Celaschi www.HorrorYearbook.com MySpace.com/HorrorYearbook1980