La noche del hermano (2005) User Reviews

too much unbelievable

[dcldan · 3/10 · 7 February 2007]

When Jaime was a child, his brother Alex kills their father, which will cause a great impact in the mind of Jaime. When he grows up, he is no more a normal person. Heavily influenced by his brother's influence he will deal with the decision between working in his parents' lands or selling them to go out of the town. The apparition of a pretty girl and the prison-break made by his brother will cause his fragile world to collapse, as things are not going to be the same. With a very unusual script, the movie could have been different from usual. However, the story is told to us in a way that makes it very unbelievable. None of the actors results convincing, and most characters are empty and senseless. The trauma of the main character is also bad done, as he just does weird things sometimes, but is totally normal the rest of the time. The only good point (to say something) is watching Pablo Rivero play the part of the bad one, which is unusual. Unluckily, he is not able to do it very good, as he is not able to show the evilness of his character very correctly. Maybe a more logical story could have let this movie to be better, but the absurd plot and the not outstanding work of actors makes it easy to forget.

pure and rare beauty

[helentroy2007 · 10/10 · 2 March 2007]

Difficult to classify, the film is made up with the best of elements from genres such as film noir and post existentialist western. Beautifully designed as a reflection of good and evil, it portraits a delicate metaphorical drama about fate and the right to accept it or not. Determined to stay away from empty modern trends, the film has elements of the Greek tragedy mixed with those of a dark psychological thriller while searching for the roots of good old cinematic narration. The story is full of echoes of considerable strength, a poignant atmosphere that springs from the underground raw violence that dominates the landscape it portraits and the characters that inhabit it. It combines subtlety and intensity with performances that reflect efficiently pain and sentimental contradiction. It is, no doubt, a rare and pure beauty for these times.

Even Jan Cornet can't salvage this turkey

[jm10701 · 7 April 2012]

This movie is so hopelessly stupid that even lovely and talented Jan Cornet can't save it. He is the ONLY good thing about it and the only reason I gave it even two stars - but even he looks and acts dumb through most of it. The story and the dialog are ridiculous and not believable for a minute.

I love Spanish movies in general, and Cornet is a lot better in Almodóvar's The Skin I Live In, in a much smaller role (even that movie is a disappointment, though - far from Almodóvar's peak; he should have left Banderas in Hollywood), but this movie doesn't cut it.

Cornet definitely has a bright future in the movies, but García de Leániz may be better off writing and directing soap operas.