Matador [DVD]

Having recently seen the sumptuous and flawless "Hable Con Ella" I immediately tracked down this film wishing to see more of Almodovars brilliance. However, whilst acknowledging that this is a much earlier work and taking that into account I was maybe still expecting too much if I hoped it would be in the same league as the later film.

Antonio Banderas plays a confused young man, filled with self doubt and insecurity unable to see blood without fainting, still a virgin and tormented by his devout, overbearing and sanctimonious mother. The doubt expressed about his heterosexuality by his morbidly obsessed bullfighting teacher leads to a string of unfortunate events. Banderas's character tries and fails to rape the girlfriend of his tutor resulting in further humiliation and self doubt which leads to his confessing to numerous murders he didn't commit.

With the introduction of a sexy defence attourney, who is equally morbidly obsessed as the matador the plot becomes burdened with trying to unravel itself to a resonably predictable ending, and despite some moments of brilliance both with the script and the film making, it fails to shock in the way it was intended.

Sex and violence are the central tenets here and the relationship between bullfighting and both is explored, bringing the conclusion that both matador and afficionado, having made it such a part of their lives, are unable to live with or without death.

There's a simplicity to the story that belies Almodovars brilliance and I'd certainly say that after making this he went on to greater things. However, while it's not for the faint hearted or squeamish, and there are many flaws in the story
as a whole, it still knocks seven bells out of most of Hollywoods output.

My opinion is that Matador is the best film by one of my favorite directors Pedro Almodovar. To tell more this was the fist of his movies I saw and that was the start of my loving for Spanish cinema in general. If you have never bothered to watch a Spanish movie - start with this one. Then you will buy Spanish films just because they are Spanish. This movie is exceptional because you can watch it many times (I did about ten and my wife about fifty) and every time the mood of the movie seems or is different, it varies from almost Greek tragedy to the funniest comedy with numerous in-betweens. It reflects your own mood like a mirror and you see different things from different angles every time you watch Matador. So if one of your friends says that he laughed all the movie through and your mom says she cried - trust them both, they don't lie. And of course the score is beautiful which is Almodovar's seal of quality. For those who know Antonio Banderas only by his Hollywood work it would be very interesting to see that he used to be a much better actor and a less macho-man. And right after that film I would advise La Ley del Deseo, they mix into a very funny cocktail. So I rate Matador 10 points out of 5! It's A MUST SEE!

This film can certainly be elusive and it seems to be a shame that when the word "spanish film" is spoken usually people will shift in their seats and imediately expect some form of sex scene at some point throughout the film. Unfortunately this seems to be slightly true with this wonderful example of Spanish spirit.

The film is elusive and with a reasonably provokative sex scene early on (probably within the first five minutes) it is quite possible to get the wrong end of the stick with the storyline.

The film deals very much with the Spanish Matador culture and bullfighting, but also it deals with an absolutely massive cult subject of death as it deals with two characters that are fascinated by it. The first; a retired/crippled Matador who was once a legend in his time who is literally aroused by death, and the other a high-class female solicitor who has a similar impression of death although she takes a more hands-on approach. Antonio Bandaras does stumble his way through the film playing a contemporary perspective of a man, though he really is uneccessary to the plot.

This is a great work of Spanish art and the passion that they have towards film. Do not be inhibited by the 18 certificate.