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Vidas Privadas
The Movie
There are good movies, there are great movies, and there are movies that defy conventional description. Unfortunately for the latter, that could swing in either direction. As in, some movies are so unbelievably awful that you are left wondering just what in the wide, wide world of sports is a-goin' on here. Such is the case with Vidas Privadas (Private Lives), a woefully misguided and generally terrible Argentine film from director/musician Fito Páez and starring the usually stellar Cecelia Roth and Gael García Bernal.
The film centers on the character of Carmen Uranga (Roth), who returns to
But as always, there are secrets to uncover in this story. Twenty-two years earlier, Carmen was rounded up and imprisoned by the Argentine regime, tortured and held in darkness and captivation for 10 months. A secret about her incarceration is revealed, which leads into an even bigger twist in the story that (a) couldn't be any more obvious if it tried, and (b) strives for emotional poignancy but derives little but groans and unintentional laughter.
The main problem with Vidas Privadas is that the film lacks direction. Is it a thriller? Not really; if so, it's not a particularly good one. How about a drama? It might have worked, if the filmmakers hadn't decided on making the film as creepy as possible. Paez's use of music is probably the most awful aesthetic decision made in the movie; monotonous and sudden piano crescendos might have worked in Eyes Wide Shut, but here they do nothing except for maybe keeping the audience from falling asleep. The direction is flat and lifeless; the film was shot with little flair or style, which would have been fine if the story were compelling enough (which it isn't). Even the actors are squandered in this story. I became the biggest Cecelia Roth fanboy after watching her devastatingly phenomenal performance in Almodovar's Todo Sobre Mi Madre, and in this film she seems stiff, unconvincing, and flat. The same goes for Gael Garcia Bernal, who has been amazing in other films - even in lesser films like El Crimen de Padre Amaro, in which he shined amidst some rather clichéd material - but he leaves no mark on the film here. Overall, this film is a complete and utter disappointment. Everyone involved can (and has) done much better work elsewhere.
The DVD
Video:
Vidas Privadas is presented in a widescreen aspect ratio of 1.851, and has been anamorphically enhanced for your widescreen-viewing cosmic hoohah. The video is acceptable, but not exceptional or notable. Sharpness is the major problem, with the majority of the transfer looking pretty soft. Shadow detail is lacking, and contrasts suffer in darker scenes. A climactic scene that takes place in low-lit shadows looks murky, weak, and flat. Colors are acceptable, and there is little-to-no noise, pixellation, or artifacting.
Audio:
The audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 in its original Spanish language soundtrack, with an optional Dolby Digital 2.0 dub in English. The dub is one of the worst I've heard, and should be avoided like the plague. Anyway, the OSL sounds decent enough, with clarity in the soundtrack and decent range to the score. There is some use of the surrounds to open up the sound a bit, but overall this is a moderately engaging although clean sounding mix.
Extras:
Special features include trailers for the film as well as one for Cleopatra.
Final Thoughts:
If you love foreign cinema, the work of Cecelia Roth, or a powerfully shot and engaging movie, by all means please rent Hable con Ella and avoid this movie. It's not just bad - Vidas Privadas is just plain awful. Skip this DVD with all available speed and certainty.
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