Jamón Jamón (1992) - Lunas' delicious and lively erotic melodrama

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Under the (mighty) ballsack of a mighty monument of a mighty bull, a woman lustily flaunts her stuff on this poster for Bigas Luna's Jamón Jamón

The son of the owners of a large Spanish underwear factory has impregnated one of the workers. His mother sends local 'bull' Raúl after the girl, but she winds up with him herself.

 

Jamón Jamón is written by Cuca Canals (Diary of a Nymphomaniac/Diario de una Ninfómana (2008) and great Spanish co-writer/director Bigas Luna (Bilbao (1978)), with Quim Monzó (Pa d'Àngel (1984)) contributing dialog. The Spanish title translates to 'ham ham'. It is the first in Luna's Ibérica trilogy, with Golden Balls/Huevos de Oro (1993) and The Tit and the Moon/La Teta y la Luna (1994) being the other films.

The affairs are many, SPOILER and in the end Raúl beats protagonist José Luis to death with a ham as his weapon. Why is Spain apparently so filled with passion, one may wonder when watching such a vivid Luna film as this. The film pulsates with sex, has speedy, thrilling editing, delicious performances and enough symbolism to satisfy a classroom full of secondary school teachers. It is a treat of a film.

 

 

Watch a very short clip from the film here

 

Cost: Unknown

Box office: 13-23.5 mil. $ (different reports)

= Uncertain but surely a mega-hit

[Jamón Jamón premiered 2 September (Barcelona) and runs 95 minutes. The film marks Penélope Cruz's (The Brothers Grimsby (2016)) film debut, filmed when she was 17 years old. Shooting took place from September - December 1991 in Spain including in Barcelona. The film reportedly grossed 6 mil. $ in Spain and Italy and had rentals of 7 mil. $ internationally. If the latter number really is a rental and not a gross, then the final gross would be in the neighborhood of the 23.5 mil. $ noted above; otherwise the final gross is in the 13 mil. $ area, still impressive. With a probably budget of 1-2 mil. $, the film was definitely a mega-hit. It was nominated for 6 Goyas. Roger Ebert gave it a 3.5/4 star review, equal in rating to this one. Luna returned with a commercial and theatrically with Golden Balls (1993). Cruz returned in Belle Epoque (1992); Javier Bardem (Being the Ricardos (2021)) in Crónicas del Mal (1992, TV-series) and theatrically in El Amante Bilingüe (1993); and Jordi Mollà (Ibiza (2018)) in Shooting Eliazabeth (1992). Jamón Jamón is fresh at 60 % at Rotten Tomatoes.]

 

What do you think of Jamón Jamón? 

I'm So Excited!/Los Amantes Pasajeros (2013) - Almodóvar flees with unfavorable comedy

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A colorful, simply animated poster for Pedro Almodóvar's I'm So Excited! that spells fun and debauchery

A flight with a series of colorful characters on it and a crew that work on a mix of sleeping pills, tequila and drugs takes off but experiences problems in the air and has to embark on a risky emergency landing.

 

I'm So Excited! is written and directed by Spanish master filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar (Folle... Folle... Fólleme Tim! (1978)) whose 20th feature it is. The original Spanish title translates to 'the fleeting lovers' or 'the passenger lovers'.

Almodóvar, who at this late point in his career had turned more permanently towards drama, it seemed, here presents a tequila-chucking, (the amounts one of the characters drinks is just ridiculous), lip-sync-dancing round of light doodling mid-air, as if the master attempts to transport himself back in time, back to his wacky, drug-enamored, anarchistic early pictures. The attempt is pathetic and unfunny.

It is neither risque, sexy nor fun that the stewards drink like louts, do drugs or are vulgar in today's world. At least it isn't in this film. I'm So Excited!, with its light-hearted tone, is up against a time that is not light-hearted anymore, and it loses. But it is also a horny picture, a trait that deserves salute, although this generally is a failed recess for Almodóvar.

 

Related posts:

Pedro Almodóvar: 2019 in films - according to Film Excess  

Pain and Glory/Dolor y Gloria (2019) - Almodóvar's 8½ 
The Skin I Live In/La Piel que Habito (2011) or, Almodóvar's Extreme Make-Over
Broken Embraces/Los Abrazos Rotos (2009) or, Mysteries in Love and Life

Talk to Her/Hable con Ella (2002) - Almodóvar's beautiful coma love drama 
Live Flesh/Carne Trémula (1997) or, A Spanish Fix

The Flower of My Secret/La Flor de Mi Secreto (1995) - Paredes star turn in charming Almodóvar work 

High Heels/Tacones Lejanos (1991) - Superficially worthwhile Almodóvar crime melodrama 
Labyrinth of Passion/Laberinto de Pasiones (1982) - Sexual mix-ups in screwball Madrileña style 

 

 

Watch a trailer for the movie here

 

Cost: 5 mil. €, approximately 5.58 mil. $

Box office: 21.2 mil. $

= Big hit (returned 3.79 times its cost)

[I'm So Excited! was released 8 March (Spain) and runs 90 minutes. Shooting took place from July - September 2012 in Spain, including in Madrid. The film opened #33 to a 97k $ first weekend in 5 theaters in North America, where it peaked at #32 and in 99 theaters (different weeks), grossing 1.3 mil. $ (6.1 % of the total gross). The film's 3 biggest markets were Spain with 6.5 mil. $ (30.7 %), France with 3.7 mil. $ (17.5 %) and Italy with 2.4 mil. $ (11.3 %). The film was nominated for 2 European Film awards, among other honors. Almodóvar returned with Julieta (2016). Javier Cámara (Madrid, int. (2020)) returned in Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed/Vivir Es Fácil con los Ojos Cerrados (2013); Pepa Charro (Mai Neva a Ciutat (2019, TV-series)) in Esposados (2013, TV-series) and theatrically in Presentimientos (2013). I'm So Excited! is rotten at 48 % with a 5.60/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of I'm So Excited!?

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011) - Tired franchise looks for Fountain of Youth

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With new stars stepping up alongside franchise cornerstone Johnny Depp, a traditionally adventure-promising poster for Rob Marshall's Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Captain Jack Sparrow appears in London, where he helps his first mate Gibbs escape and start on a new adventure, - this time to find the Fountain of Youth!

 

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is written by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio (The Lone Ranger (2013), both)), loosely based on the novel On Stranger Tides (1987) by Tim Powers (Powers of Two (2004)), and directed by Rob Marshall (Chicago (2002)). It is the 4th film in the Pirates franchise (2003; 2006; 2007).

Johnny Depp's (Transcendance (2014)) Sparrow act is getting a bit old, and although there is still some fun left in the character, in the film's best lines, On Stranger Tides doesn't add anything considerable new, which makes it feel as if it runs down-hill in neutral gear, figuratively speaking.

Penélope Cruz (Sahara (2005)) is sexy but confused in a story without any semblance of reality to it, while Geoffrey Rush (The Best Offer (2013)) again succeeds in blowing worthwhile life into his character, Captain Barbossa. When the musical theme plays, one might almost forgive that there is no really good story at play here, and sure in glimpses the handsome animation (costly VFX take over large parts of the film) and great hair- and makeup jobs can be appreciated, - but none of these elements can save this heavily loaded and simultaneously light-as-a-fly sequel. Another problem is that the post-climactic scenes feel endless. 

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is a failed attempt at resurrecting the series after the dreadful third film, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007).

 

Related posts:

 

Pirates franchise: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007) - Disney's tentpole franchise implodes

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) - Wild ruckus in Verbinski's entertaining first Pirates sequel 

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) - Verbinski's sprawling Disney swashbuckler is a prime summer spectacle

Rob Marshall: Nine (2009) - Stars and robes save Marshall's Italian fantasy

 

 

Watch a trailer for the movie here

 

Cost: 378.5 mil. $

Box office: 1,046.7 mil. $

= Box office success (returned 2.76 times its cost)

[Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides premiered 7 May (Disneyland Anaheim, California) and runs 137 minutes. Depp was paid 55.5 mil. $ for his performance in the film. Shooting took place from June - November 2010 in Puerto Rico, Hawaii and in London, England. Despite aims at lowering the film's cost from the previous two back-to-back shot films' budgets, 3D-camera shot On Stranger Tides' budget ballooned to the point where it became the costliest film ever made at the time. The cost fell from 410.6 mil. $ due to a 32.1 mil. $ tax rebate in England. The film opened #1 to a 90.1 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it spent another 3 weekends in the top 5 (#3-#4-#5), grossing 241 mil. $ (23 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were Japan with 108.8 mil. $ (10.4 %) and China with 70 mil. $ (6.7 %). It was the 3rd highest-grossing film of the year, behind Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 and Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Roger Ebert gave the film a 2/4 star review, equal in rating to this one. It additionally made in excess of 102 mil. $ on the North-American home video market. The franchise returned with Depp and Rush in the 5th film, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017), the last Pirates film to date. Marshall returned with Into the Woods (2014). Depp returned in The Rum Diary (2011); Rush in Green Lantern (2011); Cruz in To Rome with Love (2012); and Ian McShane (Hellboy (2019)) in Snow White and the Huntsman (2012). Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is rotten at 33 % with a 5/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

 

What do you think of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides? 

Nine (2009) - Stars and robes save Marshall's Italian fantasy

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'Be Italian' lures a swanky cast of five non-Italian stars from this glamorous poster for Rob Marshall's Nine

Guido Contino, the leading Italian filmmaker and artiste, is poised to start production on another film, his ninth. But he is blocked from writing its screenplay, and his wife is leaving him. SPOILER Only when he rediscovers the boy within himself can he return to the work.

 

Nine is written by Anthony Minghella (Women (1983, TV-series)) and Michael Tolkin (Deep Cover (1992)), adapting the same-titled 1982 Broadway musical by Maury Yeston (Grand Hotel (1989)) and Arthur Kopit (Phantom (1992)), and directed by Rob Marshall (Chicago (2002)).

It is naturally regrettable to any admirer of Italian cinema that the country's artists don't conquer the world themselves with this musical based on cinema icon Federico Fellini's situation following his 8½ (1963). Yet Marshall has mixed a fiery cocktail with a delectable cast of Daniel Day-Lewis (The Age of Innocence (1993)), Penélope Cruz (All the Pretty Horses (2000)), Sophia Lorén (Angela (1977)), Judi Dench (Quantum of Solace (2008)), Marion Cotillard (The Immigrant (2013)), Nicole Kidman (The Railway Man (2013)) and others and marvelous costumes, so that Nine transports us to an Italian wonderland in its best sequences nonetheless. Fergie's (Marmaduke (2010)) number as Saraghina is very good.

 

 

Marshall talks about the movie in this 4-minute clip

 

Cost: 80 mil. $

Box office: 54 mil. $

= Huge flop (returned 0.67 times its cost)

[Nine premiered 3 December (London) and runs 118 minutes. Cotillard was paid 1 mil. $ for her performance in the film. Shooting took place from October 2008 - January 2009 in Italy, including in Rome, and in England, including in London. The film opened #21 to a 257k $ first weekend in 4 theaters in North America, where it peaked at #8 the following weekend in 1,412 theaters, grossing 19.6 mil. $ (36.3 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were Japan with 7.5 mil. $ (13.9 %) and the UK with 4.5 mil. $ (8.3 %). The film was nominated for 4 Oscars: Best Supporting Actress (Cruz), lost to Mo'Nique in Precious, Art Direction, lost to Avatar, Costume Design, lost to The Young Victoria, and Song (Take It All by Yeston), lost to The Weary Kind from Crazy Heart. It was also nominated for an Oscar, 5 Golden Globes and several other honors. Roger Ebert gave the film a 2/4 star review, translating to a notch under this one. Marshall returned with Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011). Day-Lewis returned in Lincoln (2012); Cotillard in 3 shorts prior to her theatrical return in Inception (2010); and Cruz in Sex and the City 2 (2010). Nine is rotten at 39 % with a 5.20/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Nine?

Gothika (2003) - Stars caught in frightfully poor script

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Star Halle Berry is caught in the rain with a disturbing, presumably self-made injury on her left arm on this chilling poster for Mathieu Kassovitz's Gothika

A woman psychiatrist in a mental hospital for women suffers a car accident and wakes up three days later, accused of having murdered her husband! Against all odds she has to prove to herself and the people around her that a ghost did it!

Gothika is written by Sebastian Gutierrez (The Big Bounce (2004)) and directed by Mathieu Kassovitz (Café au Lait (1993)).
The story of Gothika is extremely silly and sluggish, though the events still fly by way too fast to warrant any effect. Instead of telling a frightening tale the filmmakers emphasize disturbing special effects.
The otherwise skilled actors are struggling with a frightfully dumb script in Gothika: Halle Berry (Race the Sun (1996)), Robert Downey Jr. (Due Date (2010)) and Penélope Cruz (Not Love, Just Frenzy (1996)) and the rest make little impact here.

Related posts:

Mathieu Kassovitz: 2003 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II] 

2003 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]

Amélie/Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain (2001) - Jeunet's hugely overrated Paris romance is an unbearable construct and trial (co-star)
The Crimson Rivers/Les Rivières Pourpres (2000) - Se7en-type action crime flick in the French Alps

Watch a 3-minute scene from the film here

Cost: 40 mil. $
Box office: 141.6 mil. $
= Big hit (returned 3.54 times its cost)
[Gothika premiered 13 November (USA) and runs 98 minutes. Berry was paid 6 mil. $ to star in the film. Shooting took place in Québec, including Montréal from April - ? 2003. Downey Jr. broke Berry's arm during filming by accident, halting production for 8 weeks. The film opened #2, behind fellow new release The Cat in the Hat, to a 19.2 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it stayed in the top 5 for another 3 weekends (#4-#4-#4) and grossed 59.6 mil. $ (42.1 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were Kassovitz's native France with 10.4 mil. $ (7.3 %) and the UK with 9.6 mil. $ (6.8 %). Roger Ebert gave the film a 3/4 star review, translating to 2 notches higher than this one. Kassovitz returned with Babylon A.D. (2008). Berry returned in Limp Bizkit music video Behind Blue Eyes (2003) and theatrically in Catwoman (2004). Gothika is rotten at 15 % with a 4.1/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Gothika?

Pain and Glory/Dolor y Gloria (2019) - Almodóvar's 8½

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Delicious character snapshots from the film are ordered together on this poster for Pedro Almodóvar's Pain and Glory

Aging Spanish filmmaker Salvador Mallo has health problems that restrict him from his craft, which in turn makes him depressed. He reacquaints himself with an old actor friend, thinks of his upbringing and acquires a new dangerous habit.

Pain and Glory is the 22th feature from Spanish master filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar (High Heels/Tacones Lejanos (1991)). It is unique in his body of work in that it is admittedly at least partly auto-biographical, (notice on the deep red poster under the review that the shadow of lead actor Antonio Banderas (Desperado (1995)) has been altered to that of Almodóvar himself.)
It brings to mind the autobiographical film of life as a free-spirited filmmaker, 8½ (1963) from Italian master filmmaker Federico Fellini. - Almodóvar's film is understandably very different, not least because Fellini was in his early 40s, when he made his introspective classic; Almodóvar is turning 70 in a couple of weeks. Judging from the filmmaker we meet in Pain and Glory, Salvador Mallo, this may be Almodóvar's last film.
Pain and Glory is a very quiet film; it has an elegant, subdued score and comes from a noticeably older Almodóvar than we are used to: SPOILER Mallo has quit fancies of a love life; his craft is beyond him due to ailments, which take up much of his energy, - and a considerable amount of the screen-time, - and he smokes heroin as a new hobby instead. Though this aging, melancholic, ailment-complaining filmmaker is well-acted by Banderas, - who would prefer this compared to Almodóvar's past, vivid masterpieces? (This, of course, is also the painful, melancholy reality that growing old confronts the old person with itself.)
I think it is the other part of Pain and Glory that is especially worth the price of admission: The flashbacks to Mallo's childhood, living in poverty with his graceful mother: Penélope Cruz (Ma Ma (2015)) is gorgeous and natural in the part of Mallo's mother, and debuting Asier Flores is terrific as the precocious, wilful chap, who has his first experiences of lust in the perfected shape of workman César Vicente (A Different View/La Otra Mirada (2019, TV-series)), whom the boy teaches reading and writing.
There is warmth and life breathing through these scenes; more so than in the ones about present-day Mallo/Almodóvar, although perhaps honest, the aging creative is too dramatically unopposed here. Nevertheless the result for a longtime cinephile (and therefore obviously a fan of Almodóvar) is like a moving interaction with an old friend.

Related posts:

Pedro Almodóvar: 2019 in films - according to Film Excess 
The Skin I Live In/La Piel que Habito (2011) or, Almodóvar's Extreme Make-Over
Broken Embraces/Los Abrazos Rotos (2009) or, Mysteries in Love and Life
Live Flesh/Carne Trémula (1997) or, A Spanish Fix
Labyrinth of Passion/Laberinto de Pasiones (1982) - Sexual mix-ups in screwball Madrileña style

Watch a trailer for the film here

Cost: Unknown
Box office: 26.5 mil. $ and counting
= Unknown - but likely a box office success
[Pain and Glory premiered 13 March (Madrid, Spain) and runs 113 minutes. Shooting took place in Spain, including Madrid, for 44 days from July - September 2018. The film has become the highest-grossing Spanish film in Spain of the year so far with a 6.5 mil. $ gross there (24.5 % of the gross to date), its biggest market yet. The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets have been France with 5.8 mil. $ (21.9 %) and Italy with 3.5 mil. $ (13.2 %). The film has yet to open in North America: It is scheduled to open in 8 more markets in September and October: Netherlands, Hong Kong, Sweden, Norway, USA, Indonesia, Singapore and Canada. The film may well end up the filmmaker's highest-grossing since his last major hit Volver (2006), which made 85.5 mil. $. If made on a realistic 10 mil. $ budget, it would already rank as a box office success. It was screened in competition in Cannes, where it won Banderas the Best Actor prize, losing the Palme d'Or to Bong Joon-ho's Parasite. The film has also been chosen as Spain's entry for the Best Foreign Film Oscar this year. Almodóvar does not have an announced next project. Banderas returned in El Hormiguero: Vacaciones en el Titanic (2019, short) and in Netflix's The Laundromat (2019); Cruz also in El Hormiguero: Vacaciones en el Titanic and theatrically in Wasp Network (2019). Pain and Glory is certified fresh at 95 % with an 8.27/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Pain and Glory?

Murder on the Orient Express (2017) - Branagh's star-studded Christie match is auspicious

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+ Best Detective Movie of the Year

A beautifully crafted poster for Kenneth Branagh's Murder on the Orient Express that pitches bloody scarlet-red locomotive smoke against the title's neon blue to fine effect

Murder on the Orient Express is a new adaptation of Agatha Christie's (Endless Night (1967)) same-titled 1934 'whodunit' classic crime novel, written by Michael Green (Green Lantern (2011)) and directed by Kenneth Branagh (Thor (2011)).

Belgian master detective Hercule Poirot is in Istanbul with the intent to take some vacation, beginning with a travel on the famous Orient Express. But as a mysterious murder takes place on the train, he is forced to utilize all of his detective's skills to find the perp.

This is the second ambitious big-screen adaptation of the novel, following Sidney Lumet's underwhelming 1974 film of the same title. While Albert Finney came off as a didactic Poirot in a rather sleep-inducing film that build up to a hard-to-believe climax in the for some reason better regarded 1970s movie, Branagh's version of Poirot here, whom he plays while also directing the piece, is easier to take. The character is dead sure of himself, and his detective's abilities are almost too good to be true at times, but he is also a likable and a bit odd man in Branagh's lively rendition, wearing what must be this year's movie mustache. SPOILER The crux of the story here, in character terms, forces Poirot to recognize that in the pursuit of justice, there does exist a grey area between the light that is right and the darkness that is wrong.
This film is a lavish production and an indulgence, whether searched out for its train-bound plot, Christie material, new presentation of a beloved leading character or surplus of stars. I have no particular fondness for the British crime tradition and no relationship with Christie's authorship, - but I do love trains in films, and movie stars.
How much of the film here has an actual train in it is hard to say, - much is crafted with capable CGI, - but there certainly is a marvelously designed interior set of the sumptuous express, which is in itself quite fantastical. 
The adaptation and literarily minded Branagh the filmmaker is a great match with Poirot, and he attacks the part and film with enthusiastic verve and intricate, long camera flights; perhaps realizing the great opportunity this is for him, his first real, both leading and directing possible franchise.
Several in the starry cast douse their competent magic on Murder on the Orient Express: Judi Dench (J. Edgar (2011)) is as delightful as ever, Derek Jacobi (Hereafter (2010)) brings a subtle integrity to his part; Penélope Cruz (Nine (2009)), Willem Dafoe (The Dust of Time (2008)) and Johnny Depp (The Libertine (2004)) are all enjoyable veterans, and among the fresher faces, Josh Gad (Crossing Over (2009)) and Daisy Ridley (Scrawl (2015)) esteem themselves here.
If this thoroughly handsome and highly entertaining murder mystery resorts a bit to speechifying towards the end, it is forgivable: Branagh's Murder on the Orient Express is a winner.

Related posts:

Kenneth Branagh: 2017 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]
Dunkirk (2017) - Nolan champions cinema with masterful war movie (actor)
My Week with Marilyn (2011) or, The Prince, the Showgirl and Me (actor)
Celebrity (1998) or, Stars in New York (actor)

Watch a trailer for the film here

Cost: 55 mil. $
Box office: 274.6 mil. $ and counting
= Uncertainty - but already a big hit
[Murder on the Orient Express premiered 3 November (UK and Ireland) and runs 114 minutes. Fox announced the project in December 2013 with Branagh entering development in June 2015. Filming took place on 65 mm film, - a rare choice today, which Branagh had witnessed used recently in Christopher Nolan's masterpiece Dunkirk, which he had a role in, - from November 2016 - May 2017 in Italy, Malta, New Zealand, England, including in London, in France, Switzerland and in Istanbul, Turkey. The film opened #3, behind holdover hit Thor: Ragnarok and fellow new release Daddy's Home 2, to a 28.6 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it spent its second week at #5 before leaving the top 5 and has grossed 92.7 mil. $ to date. It has so far also hauled home 34.3 mil. $ from China and 28.7 mil. $ from the UK. Its last big opening as far as the schedule looks at the moment is in France today 12/13. The sequel teased in the film' end, Murder on the Nile, is likely to materialize, since the film is such a hit, - however, the 55 mil. $ budget seems quite cheap considering the international, multi-star, luxurious production, and it may have actually been higher. Branagh is set to return as director-star with Murder on the Nile and as director on YA adaptation Artemis Fowl (2019) for Disney. Murder on the Orient Express is rotten at 58 % with a 6.1 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Murder on the Orient Express?

Live Flesh/Carne Trémula (1997) or, A Spanish Fix

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+ Best Erotic Movie of the Year + Best Spanish Movie of the Year

Red-hot poster for Pedro Almodóvar's Live Flesh

QUICK REVIEW:

A true 'ménage a cinq' [five!] is the source of the plot in this erotic-romantic drama-thriller, which could only have come from Spain's very own, the incomparable Pedro Almodóvar (Bad Education (2004)).
The story of the bus-born Victor, who is unfortunate enough to end up in prison and from then on seriously ends up in a spider's web of troubles; between two women and their men.
Live Flesh is a sensual, passionate film with lovely actors. But it isn't as visually stunning as some of Almodóvar's other films, especially more recent ones such as the eminent Talk to Her/Habla con Ella (2002).

 

Related post:

 

1997 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess

Liberto Rabal betwen someone's legs in Pedro Almodóvar's sensual, erotic Live Flesh

See the trailer here

Cost: Unknown
Box office: 1.7 mil. $ (US only)
= Uncertainty

What do you think of Live Flesh?
What is Almodóvar's hottest film in your opinion?