Friday, March 21, 2014

Gloria (2013)

This story of a 50-something free-spirited Chilean woman's search for love is fun but a reviewer's "nearly perfect" puzzled Jack and me. It drags here and there and, although there's definitely a plot, Gloria doesn't transform the way we'd expect in a "nearly perfect" movie. Paulina García shines (and occasionally gets naked) in the title role, which earned her a couple of film festival best actress awards. Sebastián Lelio (new to me) directs and co-wrote the screenplay with Gonzalo Maza (ditto), his writing partner on a few other projects as well. Winning and nominated for a handful of awards, this played locally for a week last month.

Considering the raves, averaging 99% from critics on rottentomatoes (65 audiences) I feel snarky criticizing this much-loved movie. Jack says I'm simply displaying human nature and he adds that the most nearly perfect movie ever made is still Zombieland. If you do watch Gloria, available on DVD at the end of April, and probably streaming later, you'll be treated to a number of disco hits as she dances the night away in Santiago clubs, beginning with Donna Summer's I Feel Love and ending with Laura Branigan's Gloria.

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