RomBlixen

Run-down Havana pretends to be a bustling city through the raucousness of its inhabitants and the creaking of its decades-old cars. Ubiquitous poverty is barely concealed by flashy cheap clothing and rum. Loneliness is under every character's skin, who grasp at any chance to escape in a tedious struggle for their lives. In this inaspicious setting, Jesús is a hairdresser who does an old lady's hair, he brushes wigs for drag queens performing in a cabaret attended by bolero lovers. Dullness and uneventfullness is one day broken into by his father, who'd left the home when Jesús was only three. Father is not pleased with his son's tastes, job, friends and lifestyle. Just as Jesús feels his life escapes his control to a stranger father, life will give them both an opportunity they hadn't asked for.

I found the all three of the main stars, Gillian Amderson, Michelle Pfeiffer and Viola Davis at the peak of their talent, making honest portrayals of the First Ladies' characters. But then, in the light of so much hurtful criticism of her work, I would also like to stand up for Ms Davis.

I found her interptetation of Ms Obama to be truthful, respectful and clean. The mouth thing -well, I believe that is not a thing at all, when there is so much going on under her character's skin. Do I get real-life Michelle Obama from her her depiction? I certainly do: her relentless power and emotion? Her zeal for her family? Her dismissal for nice words and her keen eye to spot commitment? Yes, I do. I get all of it and more thanks to Ms Davis. She may not conform to viewers' pre-empted expectations, persnickety to the point of bold intolerance. Yet Ms Davis has performed as talentedly as her co-stars and certainly not a single inch shorter of her own flair. Do not believe me, see for yourselves.

This movie looks as if it's got something awesome, but then it hasn't. FX are great but decontextualised within an unfollowable plot. You end up watching the pictures but unable to read the story, just as when you where a kid. How's that for retro?