User Reviews

*Spoilers* This movie struck me hard. Its pace is like several short stories that bring the beauty of life in small conversations. It's not so very much a comedy, as it is more so a slice of life and drama. The pace does match the motif; this is Julian's walk towards the end of life.

The two friends are different people, but they understand each other - it's clear they fill each other's gaps. Tomas has to dive into the grim reality of Julian's coming death. Julian tackles the challenging procedures that accompany death with a level and mature head, much to Tomas' discomfort.

However, Tomas quickly understands although Julian is a strong personality and a brave person, he needs help getting through the 'logistics' of dying. He just needs a friend to walk with him to the end. Money is no question for Tomas, and it's interesting they don't speak too much about their personal past or talk about their memories together. But the two actors are so in sync in the present moment you feel like you are a voyeur in a very long and profound friendship.

It's also interesting to see the power of what having a true friend can do to your life. With Julian's encounters with the fake friends at the restaurant and the friend he hurt, we see very great slices of life. The power of having a great friend, the cowardice of 'fake' friends, the consequences of betraying a friend, and the accountability of taking ownership.

Although Tomas is at first uncomfortable with coordination with Julian through these painful rites of passage of death, he quickly steps up to the plate. When Julian realises how small an urn is, his eye turns glassy, and it is evident he is replaying his entire life. Hi was a stage legend in his life, and now everything of his being will be fit into a small jar. Tomas is fast to recognise this and takes charge of the conversation and asks for the estimates and billing information. He also facilitates Julian's visit to see his son Nico, and challenges Julian to do the right thing, and tell him of the decision to skip chemo.

I gave the actor who played Nico a hard time because he seemed so awkward, but when more is revealed about him later, I can understand how a 21 kid could look so uncomfortable. When Julian and Nico hug their last hug, I cried so so so much. I'm tearing up thinking about it even now. This film is such a powerful movie.

I wanted to mention; someone felt the sex scene was unnecessary. I felt at first the length of it was a bit overkill, but I understood the power in the point of the scene. Tomas and Paula are both frustrated with Julian, but still, can't find themselves being able to express how they feel as they know it would be unfair to Julian at this point of his life *death*. So to find a release for their frustration in orgasm is a touching scene, albeit a bit too long.

Then there's Truman. I have a dog, and this dog made me cry too much during this movie. Julian is broke at the end of his life. His boss fired from his passion for acting; he has no real friends in Madrid other than his cousin. Julian needs to be in control in the end, and he needs to be the one who decides when it's time for his life to end. But he knows he can't do any of this without knowing Truman is in good hands. Geez, at the very end of this movie, I was not expecting what I saw. When Tomas gives Julian the leash and starts talking, I just cried my life away. The actor who plays Tomas does this scene so well, of hearing out Julian, not interrupting him, and just accepting this gift. He understood that although he was able to bring joy to Julian, and hopefully give Julian strength (and money) to live a little bit longer to see his son again, Julian's choice was clear. He took care of every aspect Tomas would need to know, and gave him the best gift he could afford - his dog.

It also shows how he proves his love for his friend, he could not speak to him like he wanted to, nor could Tomas spend as much time as he wanted to, he could not express his feelings verbally, but he was present. He was present and able to take action for Julian. And this is such a great testament to what you can do for someone who has lost someone, or is grieving, or is at the end of their journey. Just be there, be present, just acknowledge them, and let them feel empowered to face their life situation.

I think this is the best movie I've seen this year. It is slow paced and simple but very touching. I hope everyone could have a friendship like this.

The problem with this movie is that ALL of the characters are jerks. Except Truman, I guess, but his part is so small and inconsequential that it's absurd to name the movie for him.

The guy who's dying lies all the time for no good reason, he spends his friend's money like a spoiled, manic child (he's an "Artist" -- an underemployed has-been stage actor -- so he can't be EXPECTED to have anything of his own but mountains of debts), and he's totally -- TOTALLY -- self-absorbed. Nobody matters but poor Julian, or whatever his name is (Who cares what his name is? Not me).

Oh, but he's dying! Boo-hoo. Everybody dies. It's no big deal, and it is NO excuse for acting like a selfish jerk and abusing the few people who care about him for reasons I CANNOT understand. I wouldn't spend four minutes with him, much less four days.

His childhood friend Tomas, who drops everything at home in Canada to jet back to Madrid for four days because Julian "needs" him, seems to be an okay guy until he sleeps with Julian's cousin Paula -- in the most gratuitous, unnecessary, shoehorned-in sex scene I have EVER seen in a movie -- evidently as a means of "coping" with their shared grief over the jerk's impending death, totally oblivious to the beloved and loving wife and two kids Tomas parted from with great affection just two days earlier. What kind of jerk does that?

Paula is no better. She frets and interrogates and pouts and sulks and cries because Julian is making his own decisions about dying instead of doing it HER way, whatever that way may be. And she sleeps with Tomas, knowing all about his family back in Canada -- but who cares about THEM? Nobody in this stupid, irritating, obnoxious movie.

As the film deals with the about-to-happen death of the main character, the screenplay writer uses the adoption of Truman as the driving force of the film. This is a good idea. It appears a little to late (about 12 minutes) in the film time. But the problem is it scarcely shows up afterwards. The adoption issue should appear more often to give the spectator the sense of important matter. Instead of that, the film dilutes itself in the actual Julián (Ricardo Darín) problems and the story of Paula and Tomás (Julián's friend and cousin). What we feel is the story do not evolve, we get stuck in a sequence of events which take us nowhere. Truman's adoption is taken back later in the film. But it's too late as it is the end of the story.

Winner of five Goya Awards (the Spanish equivalent of the Oscars), this bittersweet comedy/drama about two men and a dog screened during the recent Spanish Film Festival earlier in the year. It was one of the more popular films in the festival and now it gets a cinema release. This amusing and deeply affecting film deals with universal themes of friendship, mortality, coming to terms with death, and it is sure to appeal to audiences. Julian (played by Argentinian actor Ricardo Darin, from Wild Tales, etc) is an Argentinian actor who has relocated to Madrid where he performs regularly on stage and television. He has been diagnosed with cancer, and after undergoing chemotherapy for a year he has decided to stop the treatment. He is resigned to his fate and sets about setting his affairs in order. Most importantly though he is trying to find someone to care for his beloved pet bull mastiff Truman, and has approached neighbours and strangers. His childhood friend Tomas (played by Spanish actor Javier Camera, from Living Is Easy With Eyes Closed, etc) relocated to Montreal but arrives in Madrid for a surprise visit. he hopes to change Julian's mind and convince him to go back to treatment. Tomas is sensible and restrained whereas Julian is more volatile and emotional in nature. Over the course of the next four days the two men reconnect as they wander the streets of Madrid, talking about their lives, loves, regrets and the future. There is also a side trip to Amsterdam where Julian briefly visits his son, whom he hasn't told about his decision. Truman is largely a two hander as it follows the two friends, although there are a few secondary characters with whom they briefly interact, including Julian's concerned and embittered sister Paula (Dolores Fonzi). The film has been directed by Cesc Gay (A Gun In Each Hand, etc), who handles the material in understated and sympathetic fashion. A droll vein of humour permeates the material. Gay, who co-scripted the film with Tomas Aragay, avoids becoming too sentimental, although the ending is effectively moving. The pacing is leisurely and gives audiences plenty of time to identify with Julian and Tomas. Camera and Darin are two of the most popular stars in their respective countries and they develop an easy going rapport here that seems natural. Gay's warm, honest and humorous script gives the two actors plenty to sink their teeth into and they reveal different layers to their characters. Darin is reunited with Gay, who directed him in A Gun In Each Hand, and he delivers a soulful and subtle performance here. Camera's low key and sympathetic performance here as the stoic Tomas offers a nice contrast. And the dog who plays the titular Truman is also superb; with its sad eyes and hangdog expression it has a warm and humorous presence. Gay and his cinematographer Andreu Rebes (A Gun In Each Hand, etc) make the most of the scenic Madrid locations, which add to the film's winning flavour. Truman is a winning, low key and moving variation on the familiar buddy comedy sub genre.

This movie has been highly praised for its portrait of male friendship but it is, rather, a portrait of two men unable to communicate even in the worst circumstances. This is why, as usual, the screenwriters need to bring into the story a stereotyped female character whose only function is to channel the emotions the men cannot express. She, of course, is completely at their service, as carer for one as sex object for the other, never demanding anything from them. I just wish the two men had jumped into bed together rather than this woman being used in this pathetic way... Perhaps I'm being unfair and this IS a realistic portrait of how men connect with each other and how they need women to fulfill the need to express emotion. Yet, there are much better portraits of male friendship for which women need not be used: see 'Master and Commander' for an outstanding example. And hundreds of other films.

There's an old joke about Michael Caine that works perfectly for Xavier Cámara. Like Michael Caine, Xavier Cámara is loved by almost everyone and seems to be in almost every film these days.

"I was watching a video of my niece's first communion and I saw that Xavier Cámara is in it."

Xavier Cámara has a face like an artist's canvas. I've never seen a face that can express so much. You could repeat everything I just wrote about Argentina's go-to guy, Ricardo Darin.

There isn't much of a script in this film but these two fine actors make some great lemonade. A man who has little time left. His best friend arrives for a visit. They both go to see his estranged son. It sounds like paint-by-numbers scenario but these great actors make the most of it, and by "the most" I mean a very fine film.

Two minor players in this movie are the wonderful cities of Madrid and Amsterdam, two of my all-time favorites. I don't know what it is about Spanish film but they just seem to have a knack for showing cities like they really are and not some air-brushed version like you see in big Hollywood productions that seem to think that middle class life is somehow shameful.

Entertaining all the time, despite the serious undertone and the sad underlying cause that makes everything happen and keeps the story rolling on. It is the unpopular decision to stop medical treatment and scans, to merely await a certain death without all the burdens of hospitals and other forms of medical interference with inevitable death caused by his progressing cancer. Of course, everyone tries to change his mind but they all are doomed to fail (is this a spoiler?). He, on the other hand, causes several surprises while dealing with family, friends and colleagues, in the sense that his attitude is refreshing, far from depressing as could be expected. The dog named Truman that gave the movie his name, is the subject of several attempts to find a suitable new household for him, involuntarily being another cause to keep the story rolling, if not working as a running gag.

Apart from dog Truman unknowingly playing a central role, the two main characters are Julian, who is terminally ill and refuses further treatment, and Thomas, who is sent by his wife to let Julian change his mind. The two were close friends many years ago but pick up their friendship easily as if there had been no interruption. While Julian does not stop surprising Thomas with unexpected moves, they both behave very rationally and succeed very well in coping with pitiful scenes and dealing with people avoiding contact because of not knowing how to behave or what to say.

All in all, a strong story line and a movie populated with strong actors. Luckily, there is no tear jerking and I could not spot any overly emotional scenes. There is ample humor interwoven in the script, and the surprises induced by Julian and his sometimes-unorthodox behavior, keep our attention from start to finish.

I loved the acting, the awkwardness that death brings up with most humans, and of course being a Mastiff owner and dog lover it broke my heart in many ways. The friendship was lovely, and the whole film seems so real to me. I wanted to hug Julian so many times, I cried so many times that maybe I'm not a really objective critic/viewer. It also improved my Spanish a bit so there's that too! Most important theme to me was friendship and what it means to be a true friend, through thick and thin and even death. To be able to say goodbye to a close friend, to help them through their final days would be such a privilege. Just touching.