MamaGravity good back-story, and good acting

LouHomey From my favorite movies..

Pacionsbo Absolutely Fantastic

Freaktana A Major Disappointment

richard808-1 This movie isn't for everybody. It's violent and portrays a main character who is uniquely sick, same way that every serial killer who makes the papers is twisted some strange way. But this is a really interesting movie, a little bit too complicated to even sum up successfully, past the bare bones description of the main character obsessing over John Travolta in ONE of his movies (he gets enraged, for example, when he is cajoled into wasting his time watching some OTHER Travolta flick; see what I mean?) But let me just leave you with this: I really didn't get this movie for a couple years, and then I had to deal with a guy in the neighborhood who is a pretty weird guy, very destructive and all that; and you know what? Now I get Tony Manero the movie. Strangely, I also got more of an insight into the art of the movie; that would take a LOT more explanation.

michaelnorman777 This film is very good in my opinion.I like odd, daring, crazy movies like this sometimes - not just the big famous titles.The film kind of sneaks up on you though as to just how dark and sad it is - so do be warned if you are easily shocked.The film is set during Pinochet's rule in Chile and the main character Raul is a dark, brooding, pitiless, frustrated guy who is obsessed with Sat Night Fever. He is around 50 but acts younger.He sees himself as Tony Manero - (John Travolta) and watches the movie often.I think the obsession is due not only to the fact that the guy has a screw loose but that he is dreaming of and projecting a better life than the reality of life under a curfew style oppressive regime in Chile.The cool thing to me is that Raul looks like Al Pacino not Travolta and the character has more in common with Tony Montana (Scarface) as you will see when you watch.Along with some other younger characters Raul has formed a dance act at a local bar/ cafe who are rehearsing to do some musical numbers from the film SNF.We quickly see that the lead actor Raul is not just a petty thief but actually a serial killer who will do anything to get by.There are constant appearances and references to Pinochet's agents and some of Raul's circle are involved in protesting and printing of leaflets so are often surveilled.There is some strong sexual content in this but Raul seems a bit impotent and kinda only really gets off on the movie Sat Night Fever.He seems to be idolised though by all the woman around him regardless of the fact that he cannot meets their needs.There is one awful scene where Raul uses the white suit of another person as a toilet - to prevent him being a rival in the Tony Manero look alike competition - so just be warned it is hard to stomach at times and not for the faint hearted.There are some bits I found funny too its not all dark but overall its just odd surreal and slightly unnerving throughout perhaps how life was in Chile during that regime.Its like you are sucked into the dream/nightmare or quest of this person and you want it to end but also want to see more.I think one reviewer said the ending was not good - I thought it was cool and it seems obvious what will happen next to me.Personally I love films like this as I stated but don't think it will appeal to everybody.

lastliberal Some obsessions are OK, but if your obsession, at 52 years old, is to be the Tony Manero (Saturday Night Fever) of Chile, then you might want to get a life.Alfredo Castro is Raúl, a man obsessed with achieving his goal, and a man who lets nothing stand in his way. He is oblivious to the goings on in Pinochet's Chile.He is also obvious to his girlfriend's (Amparo Noguera) attempts at intimacy. He is focused on one thing, and excludes all else.A serial killer, and a thief, Raúl even takes his girlfriend's daughter (Paola Lattus) upstairs to have sex with her watching. It is as bizarre as the first sex scene. He just can't do things normally.When he hears that Goyo (Héctor Morales) is going to compete against him, he defecates on his white suit.It was a gritty film that shows the price of obsession, and the grim reality of the country of Chile under Pinochet, not in a documentary style, but fictionally.

Gil O'Brien I really liked this movie. I wish there was a more solid ending, but it was acceptable. Very good use of using the fascist regime weaving in and out of the story. As many critics have already made us aware, the insane actions performed to satisfy an insane goal by the title character mirror those of the Chilean regime during the same period. Loved the documentary style of film-making. Loved the flawless depiction of a poor, but barely scraping by city. I would say the only thing I would have liked to have seen was some sort of closure to the story. I'm only human. Anyway, awesome otherwise. TONY MANERO should go down as an Indie Classic.