Pain & Glory BD [Blu-ray] [2019]

If Pedro Almodóvar directs and releases a new film, I know I am going to watch it – though since the release of “I'm So Exited” I don't necessarily assume that I am going to enjoy it.“Pain and Glory” (original title “Dolor y Gloria”) is another “serious” film from Almodóvar following on from his serious “Julieta”. In “Pain and Glory” to say that lead actor Antonio Banderas puts in a good performance would be a major understatement – he is brilliant in his role as director Salvador Mallo. When watching this film on DVD, as the initial screen menu appeared, Antonio Banderas was seen sitting in a taxi, looking ruggedly very handsome, then followed a series of clips from throughout “Pain and Glory”, and I felt immediately reassured that this was going to be good, and it is, it is absolutely brilliant.The film starts with a scene reminiscent of the start of “Volver” and there are other connections to Almodóvar with for example a cameo early on from Cecilia Roth (who for me will always be in my mind, Manuela from “All About My Mother”).If you are a fan of Almodóvar then you will probably not need any convincing to watch this film, but if you needed more convincing, then the music is from Alberto Iglesias, and the cinematography is form José Luis Alcaine – both regular Almodóvar collaborators. There is a superb cast that includes Penélope Cruz as Jacinta, the young mother of Salvador Mallo and there is a superb performance from a young actor called Asier Flores who plays the director (Mallo) when he was a child, and direction from Pedro Almodóvar.On the DVD (ASIN: B07WZT5XZ4) you get:“Pain and Glory” (1 hour 48 minutes)ChaptersBehind the Scenes (17 minutes) (not subtitles)Two Trailers for the filmThe main film has embedded English Subtitles which cannot be removed.

Even by Pedro Almodóvar's high standards, this is a wonderfully touching film. Like quite a lot of Almodóvar's work, it manages to be visually colourful and tonally melancholic at the same time. There are some great performances - Penelope Cruz is as entrancing as ever - but I was most struck by the powerful performance of Antonio Banderas, which seemed all the more powerful for its understatement.Even the more minor characters are rendered with an engagingly empathetic touch, and although the pace is (suitably) plodding, the structure, through the use of flashbacks, makes the narrative very compelling.The best film that I have seen in a long time, and one that I still find myself thinking about some time after watching.

Sublime performance by Antonio Banderas, didn't disappoint.

I had only watched one previous film from this director "Julieta" and enjoyed it greatly, losing myself into the storyline.I was looking forward to this one, as I missed it in the cinemas, ordered it in advance and was not disappointed.A Rich storyline, recollections from the director's life and totally engaging acting, Antonio Banderas and Penelope Cruz are excellent. What a film is supposed to do, to take you away into another world without you noticing.Excellent!!

An excellent film which really lived up to my expectations. It's well lit, clearly audible - though of course in Spanish - and not too involved or convoluted. I'll certainly want to watch it again, as I'm sure I'll find more in it a second time.

Almodovar at his very best. A very touching drama about a filmmaker who has lost his will to live and reflects on his past present and future, with excellent performances by Antonio Banderas and Penelope Cruz. Almodovars most personal of films, the director draws on his own life to an incredibly rewarding and emotional effect.

One of his best I think. BluRay is great, sound is amazing. Love Pedro...

It is good but not right up there with Almodovar's best. It's very serious in tone. A look at life in a what have I really achieved way. It can be art imitating life imitating art as Antonio Banderas plays an aging film director turning to an actor he worked in his early films to play the director in a stage show. Penelope Cruz does a good turn as the young Director's mother although she's so glamorous portraying a peasant woman washing sheets in a stream is a bit of a tall order. The director-as-child is brilliantly played with a superb cameo of his first sexual stirrings when he spies a hunky local handyman in the shower.There are trademark Almodovar shots. Just the right angles for street scenes in Madrid, THAT narrator's voice in husky Spanish, just the right clothes for the characters etc. But it can feel a bit heavy going at times and the overall tone is sombre.

Almodovar,s films seem to get better each time.

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