"The Crime of Padre Amaro" DVD Review

Pros

• Gael García Bernal is charismatic
• Memorable images, many interesting characters
• Cynical view of human nature gives noirish feel

Cons

• Sometimes feels like a soap opera
• Occasionally campy
• May be offensive to some Roman Catholics

Description

• DVD containing Mexican melodrama "The Crime of Padre Amaro" (2002)
• Movie nominated for Academy Award in Best Foreign Language Film category
• DVD permits watching film either with original Spanish dialogue or dubbed into English
• DVD provides optional English or Spanish or French subtitles
• Film stars Gael García Bernal ("Y Tu Mamá También," "Amores Perros")
• DVD provides a few special features
• Excellent picture quality
• Excellent sound quality

Guide Review - "The Crime of Padre Amaro" DVD Review

In this movie, Gael García Bernal is charismatic as Father Amaro, a young Roman Catholic priest in a diocese that is linked to drugs and guerrillas. While dealing with these problems, he becomes sexually involved with a 16-year-old girl. But even as Father Amaro continues to profess his idealism, he always puts preserving his lifestyle above doing the right thing. I like "The Crime of Padre Amaro" for its memorable imagery, fascinating characters, and noirish feel. But I'll admit that it sometimes feels like a soap opera and is occasionally campy. I don't think the film is particularly good as a character study, but I still found it to be an interesting portrait of a young man’s capitulation to moral bankruptcy.

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