GamerTab That was an excellent one.

Contentar Best movie of this year hands down!

Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Jakoba True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

p-stepien Harry Caine, the blind alter ego of former film director Mateo Blanco (Lluís Homar), retells the story of his one true love Lena (Penélope Cruz). Over 15 years ago Lena, a former high-life escort, manages to save her father by becoming the kept woman of rich businessman Ernesto Marcel (José Luis Gómez). Intent on following a film career Lena catches the opportunity to act in Blanco's last picture, a film produced by her sugar-daddy Marcel. Once feelings develop between Lena and Mateo emotions and lives tangle to deliver an true masterpiece episode of "The Bold and the Beautiful" (or a complete and utter disaster in artsy terms).As a form of revenge directed towards Mateo, who retreats with Lena to a hideout far from harm, Marcel decides to use his power to destroy Blanco's last picture by purposefully editing together a film consisting of the worst scenes and shots to churn out a real turd. This revelation actually brought me to think, that something similar must have happened to "Broken Embraces", a movie plodding at a snail's pace with side events seemingly attached to ruthlessly extend runtime and featuring some terrible performances, especially by Blanca Portillo (who plays Mateo's / Harry's agent) and Rubén Ochandiano. Almodovar however seems to be the main culprit, as even his muse Penelope Cruz comes out lifeless and bland.Nonetheless it seems that the failed movie was more a shove at some of Almodovar's previous movies (most specifically to ""Women at the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown"), which apparently he holds in pretty low regard due to some pesky producer meddling. Admittedly not an Almodovar fan, seldom impressed by the sleazy soapiness of his pictures, I may not be the best audience to Almodovar's worst movie. A self-indulgent exercise rife with cinephile jabs (narcissitically mostly at himself) and Penelope Cruz pretending to be a bad actress, the story itself reeks of pretentious nonsense taken from a soap opera with refound sons, corny revelations, closet skeletons and forced drama, excruciatingly attempting to be pushed forward with some background music. All in all pretty shallow stuff with a twist of egomaniac, side order of neo-noir and an overdose of self-recycling from the much regarded Spanish director, which turns out to be a tiresome melodrama."Broken Embraces" does however offer a brief finale of respite, when Caine edits together his final movie "Chicks and Suitcases", where we manage to catch a brief snippet of the final product: a charming, slightly absurdist comedy with crisp dialogue. Was this an inside comment to "Broken Embraces" itself? That he wanted to do something better, but he unfortunately ended up with this unwatchable turd?Honestly - if the name of Almodovar not connected to this picture would this movie have ended up anywhere else than in oblivion, where it rightfully deserves to be?

Martin Teller This movie seems to get knocked around a bit as "lesser Almodovar" and I guess I can't disagree. Certainly it's familiar territory and doesn't bring anything new to his ouevre. But I really enjoyed it. Everything about it works... maybe not brilliantly, but it works. It's a solid melodrama with a twisty plot that comes into focus nicely and resolves gracefully. There are a few wonderful little touches like the use of voices over filmed images. The movie could use more of Almodovar's humor, but at least the performances are engaging, especially Cruz and Homar (Ruben Ochandiano as "Ray X" is a little overcooked, though). The references to WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN kinda made me wish I was watching that much better film instead, but I still had a good time.

Raoul Duke So I watched broken embraces which was released in 2009 and directed by acclaimed Spanish film maker Pedro Almodovar. So is it good well yeah. Actually it was pretty great. It was surreal while not beating you over the head with it, kind of Fellini like in nature. The movie alludes to this, it also has a touch of Hitchcock in there as well. Penelope Cruz is great as she often is in Almodovar's films. The story is original and the acting is great. This is one of those movies intellectuals can grapple with and wax philosophic, while others can just enjoy if they either speak Spanish or can deal with subtitles. I highly recommend this movie. if you like concise reviews of interesting films please read my other reviews at http://raouldukeatthemovies.blogspot.com/

kosmasp There is more to a broken man, than just what he is showing. That is what we are about to see in this movie. And while you might have one opinion about the guy, when you see him do something (either adoring him or despising him), you might change your mind, while your perspective is being changed.A very good study of a man and a movie that builds slowly, but has enough of a punch to drag you in. If there is a style recognizable to Almodovar movies, he has his signature all over this movie. This is more character driven, with crazy situations, but still has a lot of heart to it. You either love those kind of things, or you do hate them as much as you can possible hate them ...