Recommend any Spanish or Mexican films?

Monkey61 · 09-01-2009 6:20pm #1

Hey,

I did a search and couldn't find anything, but feel free to direct me to an old thread of this has already been asked!

I really like Spanish language films like Volver, Amores Perros, Y Tu Mama Tambien and such and wondered if anybody had any similar recommendations that are lesser known.

Thanks!

turly · 09-01-2009 6:25pm

If you like Horror/vaguely disquieting, I recommend REC and El Orfanato.

DenMan · 09-01-2009 6:29pm

Ugly Betty star America Ferrara is in a very good film with Tony Plana (who plays her on screen father Ignacio in Ugly Betty) called Hacia la oscuridad (Towards Darkness). I really liked it.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0826551/

DirkVoodoo · 09-01-2009 6:53pm

Well, I'm sure you have seen it but "City of God" (Cidade de Deus - Ok, so its Brazilian( portugese), close enough).

Amazing movie, borrows from pulp fiction's narrative style but crafts a much more visceral picture that really deserves to be watched. I was dragged to see this in the cinema, got stuck in the front row of a foreign language film (is there any worse setup) and yet I enjoyed every neck-aching, head-twisting moment of this film.

johnnyskeleton · 09-01-2009 7:01pm

Nuevos Reinas (or however you spell 9 queens) is a great Argentinian heist movie, if that fits the bill.

Otherwise, Abre los Ojos.

Fysh · 09-01-2009 7:02pm

I suggest you get your hands on the following:
Tesis
Abre Los Ojos (LAter remade as the far inferior Vanilla Sky)
El Dia De La Bestia
Sin Noticias De Dios
La Habitacion Del Niño

I'm also going to suggest checking out Mar Adentro (The Sea Inside) but I haven't seen it so I can't say for definite that it's good. That said, it stars Javier Bardem and is directed by Alejandro Amenabar who has a pretty good track record.

09-01-2009 7:09pm

Damn, I was going to recommend the "Open your Eyes" one, but I've been beaten to it!

monkeyfudge · 09-01-2009 7:13pm

Fysh wrote: »

I suggest you get your hands on the following:
Tesis
Abre Los Ojos (LAter remade as the far inferior Vanilla Sky)
El Dia De La Bestia
Sin Noticias De Dios
La Habitacion Del Niño

I'm also going to suggest checking out Mar Adentro (The Sea Inside) but I haven't seen it so I can't say for definite that it's good. That said, it stars Javier Bardem and is directed by Alejandro Amenabar who has a pretty good track record.

Good list.

Pretty much all the films I would have recommended.

Craft25 · 09-01-2009 7:28pm

Lucía y el sexo / Sex & Lucia

Nolanger · 09-01-2009 7:36pm

What Have I Done to Deserve This? - early Almodovar film from the mid'-80s. Concerns a group of people living in a council flat - very funny and good movie. Available on DVD.

dolliemix · 09-01-2009 7:38pm

Belle Epoque

Jamon Jamon

El Perro

Monkey61 · 09-01-2009 7:40pm

Cheers guys..can't wait to check these out!

Capt'n Midnight · 09-01-2009 7:49pm

¡Vampiros en La Habana! Cuban cartoon.

No te mueras sin decirme adónde vas Argentina, bit of a chick flick with a good non-Hollywood ending

Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios (1988) or anything by Almodóvar

Scoobydoobydoo · 09-01-2009 8:33pm

I saw a Mexican movie, about 10 years ago or so, it was called Like Water For Chocolate. I thought it was really good, and have looked out for it in recent times in shops but have never seen it. Probably have to get it on Amazon or something.

I just watched Volver today and thought that was quite good.

Neamhshuntasach · 09-01-2009 9:38pm

Intacto
Todo sobre mi madre
Diarios de motocicleta
Maria llena eres de gracia
El espíritu de la colmena (not sure if this is on dvd)
Voces Inocentes
La Espalda del diablo (not sure if title is right. it's called the devil's backbone in english)
Los lunes al sol
Hable con ella
El crimin del padre amero
Santitos
Sin dejar huella
Soy Cuba
Fresa y Chocolate
El Norte
El Silencio de Neto
Hombres Armados
Canoa
De Ida y Vuelta
La Boca del Lobo
El Pueblo Unido
Cronos

That's all i can thin of right now. And if you wanna see a great Brasilian movie check out Tropa de elite.

BenjAii · 09-01-2009 9:52pm

I would have to say exploring the oeuvre of Pedro Almodóvar is highly recommended. He's arguably Spain's greatest filmmaker.

'Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!', 'Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown ', 'All about my Mother' and 'Volver' are amongst his great films.

Otis Driftwood · 09-01-2009 10:13pm

They havnt been mentioned(I think)and its likely youve seen em but

Pans Labyrinth
Cronos
The Devils Backbone
El Mariachi

Snake Plisken · 09-01-2009 10:14pm

Golden Balls! starring Javier Bardem
The Torrente trilogy is a good laugh

09-01-2009 10:32pm

nedtheshed wrote: »

They havnt been mentioned(I think)and its likely youve seen em but

Pans Labyrinth

Suprised no one mentioned it :eek:

Capt'n Midnight · 09-01-2009 10:39pm

Scoobydoobydoo wrote: »

I saw a Mexican movie, about 10 years ago or so, it was called Like Water For Chocolate. I thought it was really good, and have looked out for it in recent times in shops but have never seen it.

yes that was good

Has anyone mentioned the best $7,000 film ? (even Bad Taste cost more - a gem of low budget black comedy / horror )
El Mariachi

this one looks "interesting"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Robot_vs._The_Aztec_Mummy
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050717/

Fysh · 09-01-2009 11:13pm

Snake Plisken wrote: »

The Torrente trilogy is a good laugh

:eek: We're talking about the same Torrente series in which the Rock of Gibraltar is destroyed, yes? "Good" is not a word I would've used to describe those films; I mean, start off down that road and you'll end up watching Chiquito De La Calzada films before you know it, and nothing good can come of that...

dolliemix · 10-01-2009 12:19am

Scoobydoobydoo wrote: »

I saw a Mexican movie, about 10 years ago or so, it was called Like Water For Chocolate. I thought it was really good, and have looked out for it in recent times in shops but have never seen it. Probably have to get it on Amazon or something.

Like Water for Chocalate....was trying to think of that one.....loved it! And Pans Labyrinth - highly recommend it.

The Orphange -not as good but still worth watching

Snake Plisken · 10-01-2009 1:04am

Fysh wrote: »

:eek: We're talking about the same Torrente series in which the Rock of Gibraltar is destroyed, yes? "Good" is not a word I would've used to describe those films; I mean, start off down that road and you'll end up watching Chiquito De La Calzada films before you know it, and nothing good can come of that...

Yep he's a cult hero in Spain Sabtiago Segura can do no wrong in my eyes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-31mdTn16M

He's good friends with Del Toro as well having small parts in Blade 2, and both Hellboys, also check out Izi & Dzi and another classic El Dia de la bestia

kraggy · 10-01-2009 6:49am

Neamhshuntasach wrote: »

Intacto
Todo sobre mi madre
Diarios de motocicleta
Maria llena eres de gracia
El espíritu de la colmena (not sure if this is on dvd)
Voces Inocentes
La Espalda del diablo (not sure if title is right. it's called the devil's backbone in english)
Los lunes al sol
Hable con ella
El crimin del padre amero
Santitos
Sin dejar huella
Soy Cuba
Fresa y Chocolate
El Norte
El Silencio de Neto
Hombres Armados
Canoa
De Ida y Vuelta
La Boca del Lobo
El Pueblo Unido
Cronos

That's all i can thin of right now. And if you wanna see a great Brasilian movie check out Tropa de elite.

Neamh, I think it would be better to give the English titles as well, if not instead, cause when looking on shelves some of the above would be in English, not Spanish.

e.g. Talk to her
All about my mother
I am Cuba
The crimes of Father...
Motorcycle Diaries

Something that hasn't been mentioned by anyone else (I think) is The Sea Inside. Beautiful film.

And not as good (by a longshot) but worth the watch is Maria Full of Grace.

K.

PS Definitely watch The Orphanage. I really don't see why people think Pan's Labyrinth is better. But each to their own.

dolliemix · 10-01-2009 11:17am

The Sea Inside....I was actually in convulsions in the cinema watching that film. But I agree it was a beautiful film

Neamhshuntasach · 10-01-2009 11:32am

kraggy wrote: »

Neamh, I think it would be better to give the English titles as well, if not instead, cause when looking on shelves some of the above would be in English, not Spanish.

e.g. Talk to her
All about my mother
I am Cuba
The crimes of Father...
Motorcycle Diaries

Something that hasn't been mentioned by anyone else (I think) is The Sea Inside. Beautiful film.

And not as good (by a longshot) but worth the watch is Maria Full of Grace.

K.

PS Definitely watch The Orphanage. I really don't see why people think Pan's Labyrinth is better. But each to their own.

Well if he sticks them into imdb i'm sure he'll get the english title. the reason i didn't translate them is because i only know them by their spanish titles. And if i did translate them they are not always the exact title in English. It's not always a literally translation. Such as Tie me up, Tie me down is simply Átame.

ginoginelli · 10-01-2009 6:20pm

Some good ones listed..Heres some others..

Nueve reines
El Aura
El Bola
Amores Perros
La Zona
Secuestro Express

Talliesin · 11-01-2009 1:56am

Rather than wrack my brain too much I'll just suggest one of each:

Mexico:
Cronos is the best vampire film ever made (it's not strictly a vampire film, just like Alien isn't strictly a haunted-house film, but it is really).

Spain:
While there is a clear French influence (the Spanish director co-wrote it with a French collaborator based on a Pierre Louÿs novel), that may make it not quite what you are looking for, That Obscure Object of Desire is a wonderful flower of a film. I dislike sex comedies, but not only is there much more to this film than just a sex comedy, the sex comedy part is so deftly handled that one can't but enjoy it.

ginoginelli · 11-01-2009 7:57am

"Mexico: vampire film ever made (it's not strictly a vampire film, just like Alien isn't strictly a haunted-house film, but it is really)."

Already suggested twice.

If you want to go Brazilian - Carandiru is a classic