Is it possible to like a filmmaker even if you don't like, or have never seen, any of their influences? Certainly, Pedro Almodovar provides a "yes" answer to that question for me. Critics all over say one of his biggest influences is Douglas Sirk, director of movies like WRITTEN ON THE WIND, melodramas which I have avoided seeing since they usually star Rock Hudson, whom I'm not a big fan of. Almodovar usually takes the melodrama form(some would say soap opera) and gives it a satiric twist. When he likes the characters, as he did in LAW OF DESIRE and WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN(still his best film), the result is grand entertainment. When he hates the characters, however(as in KIKA), the result is dismal. For some people, Almodovar made a comeback with THE FLOWER OF MY SECRET, where he played straight what he normally played for satire, but I thought it was too much a soap opera to be affecting.
Now he returns with ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER, and while there's quite a lot of comedy here, it's also played straight. The difference here between this and THE FLOWER OF MY SECRET is the melodrama doesn't seem tacked on(except at the end, which goes on a little long and gets a little unbelievable), so the drama is affecting rather than tiresome. Also, the acting is far superior; every one of the actors is quite good, but I think I liked the one who played the transvestite Agrado the best, who seemed determined to stay happy, no matter what. Finally, I guess I can understand liking ALL ABOUT EVE and A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE more than I can understand liking romance novels(the occupation of the main character in FLOWER). WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN is still my favorite Almodovar, but this is good as well.
Now he returns with ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER, and while there's quite a lot of comedy here, it's also played straight. The difference here between this and THE FLOWER OF MY SECRET is the melodrama doesn't seem tacked on(except at the end, which goes on a little long and gets a little unbelievable), so the drama is affecting rather than tiresome. Also, the acting is far superior; every one of the actors is quite good, but I think I liked the one who played the transvestite Agrado the best, who seemed determined to stay happy, no matter what. Finally, I guess I can understand liking ALL ABOUT EVE and A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE more than I can understand liking romance novels(the occupation of the main character in FLOWER). WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN is still my favorite Almodovar, but this is good as well.