The subject of spousal abuse is too important to be treated in the superficial manner of a TV-movie of-the-week. So it's encouraging that some filmmakers are treating it in a more realistic fashion.
Two new movies actually confront the issue head-on, one as its main theme and the other as a subplot that drives the film to a tragic conclusion:- HOW IRONIC THAT it took another screenwriter to get Spanish director Pedro Almodovar back on track. After floundering on his previous couple of efforts, he has staged a comeback with "Live Flesh," a sexually charged drama/thriller based on the novel by Ruth Rendell.
The movie follows Victor Plaza (Liberto Rabal), a sexually naive young man sent to prison for shooting and wounding a police officer named David (Javier Bardem) during a crime of passion.
When Victor is freed years later, he intends to exact his revenge on David and his former flame Elena (Francesca Neri), who married the now-paralyzed ex-cop. While stalking Elena, though, Victor encounters Clara (Angela Molina) and the two become lovers.
Complications ensue, naturally. It turns out that Clara is married to an abusive detective who used to be David's partner (Jose Sancho) and that there are some ugly secrets in everyone's past.
Almodovar's storytelling is as outrageously stylish and compelling as it's ever been, though some of the character developments are disappointingly downbeat. He's aided by a charismatic cast, including Rabal, who resembles a younger Antonio Banderas, and Bardem, who bulked up to play a wheelchair athlete.
"Live Flesh" is rated R for simulated sex, nudity, profanity, vulgar slang, violent gunplay, drug use and brief gore.
- BLEAK. UNRELENTING. PROFANE. These words (and many others) describe "Nil By Mouth," which marks the directorial debut of actor Gary Oldman.
This dark drama is not an easy film to watch. The violence that is depicted, both verbal and physical, is overwhelming and almost suffocating. And its extensive use of four-letter words and vulgar phrases would nearly justify an NC-17 rating, if it's possible for a film to receive one on that basis.
Based loosely on events from Oldman's formative years, when he lived in an abusive household, "Nil By Mouth" examines the relationship between Raymond (Ray Win-stone), a chronic alcoholic prone to violent fits of anger, and his long-suffering wife, Valerie (Kathy Burke), who often bears the brunt of his outbursts.
As a director, Oldman has an eye for unflattering but realistic staging. However, as a storyteller he needs to learn to pace scenes better. Also, the somewhat optimistic ending seems like a copout.
Of course, the whole thing would topple without Winstone and Burke's superb performances, as well as Eric Clapton's somber score.
"Nil By Mouth" is rated R for profanity, violent fistfights, simulated drug use, vulgar slang and references, nudity and racial epithets.