One of Pedro Almodóvar's early movies is a gruesome look at the dark side of human nature. Bullfighter-in-training Ángel Jimenez (Antonio Banderas) worries that his teacher Diego (Nacho Martínez) doesn't consider him manly enough, so he attempts to rape Diego's girlfriend Eva (Eva Cobo), and then confesses. This leads into a whole analysis of each of the characters, who also include Ángel's lawyer, María Cardenal (Assumpta Serna).
Without a doubt, Almodóvar's movies are not for everyone, and "Matador" is quite possibly the most extreme example. The opening scene will very likely tell you whether or not you want to keep watching. Of course, one of the topics that the movie brings up is Catholic guilt, as Ángel's viciously strict mother (Julieta Serrano) has damaged him to the point that he confesses to crimes that he didn't commit. Religion doesn't get much love in Almodóvar's movies, as seen in "Bad Education" (probably for a good reason, since Almodóvar very likely had a bad experience with the Catholic Church).
I probably wouldn't call "Matador" Almodóvar's best movie, but it does bring up some good points, so I recommend it. Carmen Maura and Eusebio Poncela also star.
Antonio Banderas and Pedro Almodóvar are now collaborating on a movie called "The Skin I Live In", which I hope to see. It's going to be a shock hearing Banderas speak his native language again, after years of his starring in Hollywood movies.
Without a doubt, Almodóvar's movies are not for everyone, and "Matador" is quite possibly the most extreme example. The opening scene will very likely tell you whether or not you want to keep watching. Of course, one of the topics that the movie brings up is Catholic guilt, as Ángel's viciously strict mother (Julieta Serrano) has damaged him to the point that he confesses to crimes that he didn't commit. Religion doesn't get much love in Almodóvar's movies, as seen in "Bad Education" (probably for a good reason, since Almodóvar very likely had a bad experience with the Catholic Church).
I probably wouldn't call "Matador" Almodóvar's best movie, but it does bring up some good points, so I recommend it. Carmen Maura and Eusebio Poncela also star.
Antonio Banderas and Pedro Almodóvar are now collaborating on a movie called "The Skin I Live In", which I hope to see. It's going to be a shock hearing Banderas speak his native language again, after years of his starring in Hollywood movies.