TrueJoshNight Truly Dreadful Film

GazerRise Fantastic!

Stevecorp Don't listen to the negative reviews

Hadrina The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Lee Eisenberg Pablo Larraín's "No" is about Chile's 1988 referendum on Augusto Pinochet's rule, and the advertising executive behind the campaign to oust the despot. Filmed documentary-style to give a feeling of realism, we see how both the Yes and No campaigns crafted and carried out their strategies. One might say that this particular election marked the moment when political campaigns shifted from discussions of issues and to marketing. Another contributing factor to Pinochet's defeat was the grassroots organizing among Chile's population. Nonetheless, the ouster of the brutal dictator was one of the greatest achievements in Chile's history. Everyone should see this movie.

MartinHafer "No" is a film that was nominated for the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. Perhaps I am wrong, but I wonder if most of this nomination is because of the subject matter, as the peaceful ouster of Pinochet was a wonderful things--and few would disagree with this. However, as for the movie itself, I was shocked how uninteresting it was, as the film lacked energy and, more importantly, emotion. This is really surprising because you'd expect a lot of tears and a lot of anger, as the Pinochet regime was responsible for many atrocities and human rights violations--and you'd THINK this would come through in the film. Instead, much of the film, especially the first half, was plodding and bereft of feeling. Where is the anger?!?! Fortunately, the film did get better in the second half when agents of Pinochet tried to intimidate the opposition...but still I expected so much more.Overall, this film is mildly interesting but should have been a lot better. For a better look at the Pinochet administration, try watching the three "Battle of Chile" films. Additionally, for a better film that is critical of repression in South America, try the Oscar-winning "The Official Story"--a film that has heart, emotion and is much harder-hitting in the way it addresses the fall of the Argentinian regime.

Kraus I had not even heard of this movie prior to being invited to a screening of it tonight. Therefore, I watched this film expecting nothing but a decent night out at the cinema. This film certainly was not horrible. At no point did I feel like walking out, but I did not feel all that engaged either. I am sure this is a great film for people who live in Chile and are familiar with what was going on and are nostalgic for this event, but to me it was just a very dry, very bland, basic film which was shot in a way which made it feel like a documentary you watch in grade school. You're happy that you're seeing a film instead of doing schoolwork, but it's really nothing exciting. There were a few moments where I let out a chuckle or two, but this was mainly during the subplots which really didn't ever connect to the story. Why focus so much on his marketing experience? Why focus so much on his (lack of a) love life? I never felt interested in his job, never felt it was important, and never could understand what was going on in that relationship. The actress that played his (ex?)-wife changed her attitude and emotional level to him constantly. I'm not sure if this was a result of bad acting, or bad writing. "Don't get any ideas." two seconds later, she's trying to make out with him. Would I recommend this movie? No. If you've been dying to see it I won't stop you from doing so, but if you've just randomly heard of it as I had, I wouldn't suggest it.

veritasartsinc In elections, people seem less moved by the truth than by their desires. A point made very well in Pablo Larrain's excellent drama about the Oct 5 1989 referendum that ended the 15 year reign of military dictator Augusto Pinochet in Chile.Pinochet's government, compelled by international pressure, is forced to hold a referendum or plebiscite, on whether the government should continue. Gael Garcia Bernal plays Rene Saavedra, a cynical ad man who is tapped to head the "NO" campaign, which is allotted 15 minutes of TV time per night, for a month to make their case on why Chileans should vote "NO" to another 8 years of Pinochet. Meanwhile the Pinochet government follows with their 15 minute "SI" campaign, and in reality the control of the rest of the mediaFrom the outset Bernal rocks the boat as he dismisses his group's desire to air their grievances about Pinochet's political kidnapping, torturing, and executions, in favor of the political equivalent of a Mentos commercial. Bernal is not received well by his compatriots, who accuse him of trivializing, but Bernal is convinced that the Chileans don't want to dwell on the negative past, but want a positive vision of a future of liberty and happiness. Yet this vision, comically, is reduced mostly to musical montages of people dancing, singing, mimes, and kids running through fields. Larrain expertly captures the silliness of 8o's style ads. When Bernal seeks a musical theme for the movement, he insists to the songwriter that he's not looking for an anthem, he wants " a jingle".In the meantime, Bernal's boss is working against him in the Pinochet campaign;his estranged wife is in and out of jail as a political activist; and he cares for his young son. Things begin to get dangerous when pro-Pinochet thugs begin to harass and intimidate the NO campaigners.Larrain holds our attention in this taut drama. He enters in and out of what could be cumbersome political dialog deftly. Though surely the whole story of the Pinochet demise is not told here, the particular way in which the ad men help take down a dictator is riveting. Seldom has a birth of a democracy been more inspirationally depicted.Using video cameras made to deliver images that bleed like the early video cameras of the 80's was an unfortunate choice though. In trying to capture the essence of the time, presenting a documentary feel through video, or perhaps the ugliness of the time, Larrain has only succeeding in distracting and making an exceedingly ugly-looking film. Too bad, for so much else here is superlative.Bernal's character is very detached. We never get a real sense of his emotional involvement in the campaign and its significance to him. This seems to be the point. He comes off like the quintessential , detached professional. From the beginning, he seems more like a careerist who is more into the challenge of the "sale" than any ideology. This detachment is frustrating but ultimately fascinating. Can it be that modernism itself, and the professional cultural manipulators were and are more effective than the ideologues?When Bernal turns it around and uses hard news techniques to sell a soap opera, the irony is thick. In selling democracy or anything else, it seems the only thing that matters is what works.