Movies

I enjoyed this movie, not because it was gripping or exciting, but because of what it had to say.I'm not completely aware of everything to do with the Catholic Church, but the controversy in this movie is a necessary one.I've never seen a Gael Garcia movie before and I thought this was good. The most powerful part of the movie is what it leaves you with - the message at the end; the themes of confession, of sin, of mistakes, of being human.If you can't watch something that is quite slow and is not edge of the seat stuff, then forget it. Even the music isn't very memorable. But the movie stuck in my mind.

I am not Catholic, so my description of this movie may offend some people. "El crimen del padre Amaro" (called "The Crime of Father Amaro" in English) portrays newly ordained priest Amaro (Gael Garcia Bernal) getting pulled in several directions in a small Mexican town. The most prominent is a simmering desire to have sex with the dazzling Amelia (Ana Claudia Talancon). Finally, it all comes crashing down...irrevocably.The Catholic Church was of course disturbed by this movie, but any religious group is likely to get unnerved by any movie that takes a gut-wrenching look at their religion. I certainly thought that the movie does a good job looking at guilt and other such things. But mind you, this is not a movie for the squeamish.

This "modern" adaptation from the classic novel written by Portuguese writer Eça de Queiroz in 1875 is very disappointing. The daring and exquisite novel was turned into a Mexican melodrama. Gael García Bernal ("Amores Perros", "Y Tu Mamá También", "La Mala Educación", "The Motorcycle Diaries") is a talented actor, but even his charisma couldn't conceal the flaws of the movie.Eça de Queiroz is a very esteemed writer at Brazilian schools, and his importance for Portuguese Literature is incontestable; he deserved more respect. I just can't understand why this "El Crimen del Padre Amaro" was so praised by most critics. Anyway, it's sad to see that such a strong book was so poorly adapted. It isn't horrible, but could have been too much better. 4 out of 10."One of the most controversial films ever made"? NO WAY!