Amores
Perros (2001) (AKA Love's a Bitch )
Note: Some spoilers!
There is a title card at the beginning
of Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's epic "Amores Perros"
that points out the supposed fact that no animals
were harmed in the making of the film. That's important
because, even though it seems some animals were put
at a slight risk, the assault many animals appear
to take here is quite violent and repulsive. The opening
section of the film features a story about a young
man who fights his dog (kinda like in a cockfight
only with dogs) that is grisly and nauseating at times.
In fact, at first, disgusted with the use of animals
in such violent scenes and thinking I understood the
film's Hispanic machismo factor, I almost left. The
testosterone driven Hispanic culture; with it's customary
traits of violence, homophobia and uncivilized behavior,
does not really appeal to me. And with a translated
title like "Love's a bitch," I thought I understood
the film right away. Humans are animals. We are dogs.
I didn't want to wallow in this for 90 minutes. As
Kurt Vonnegut says, "Got it. Got it. Got it. For God's
sake, end it!" I thought I got it. I'm glad I was
patient.
I will not lie. The film began to interest
me because one of the young actors in the cast, playing
the part of Octavio, was quite attractive to me. But
eventually the story became quite intriguing and added
many layers, making me wonder what might happen next.
Then, in an unexpected turn, Inarritu's film began
to incorporate several stories and, when all was said
and done, took almost 2 hours and 45 minutes to play
out. After the first hour, I was hooked. I was dying
to see where the film would go next.
"Amores Perros" opens with what seems
like a bad idea. It tells the conclusion of the film
at the beginning. This detracts from some of the drama
to come out of the story. But when we discover, at
an hour into the film, that this is NOT the end of
the film, we are suddenly surprised. Where will the
story go now? Again Inarritu surprises us by taking
what had seemed to be nonsensical and uninteresting
asides and making them the focus of the next segment.
The film, when finished, actually has three complete,
unique and interesting stories to tell, which intertwine
just enough to make us realize this is more than three
short films sandwiched together. Also, the film's
share the themes of "dogs" and "love" which bind them
to. But finally, and most importantly, as a whole,
the piece comes full circle as well, commenting on
it's beginning notion that "all humans are animals"
by showing us that the thing which separates us from
animals is reason and intellect. Perhaps this is why
his early protagonists are young while the final episode
of the triumvirate features an old man. Perhaps indeed.
"Amores Perros" is a massive film.
Epic and important, it creates a vision of the animalistic
side of man's nature before evolving into a piece
about love and compassion, the human side of man's
nature. Along the way, filmmaker Inarritu draws on
influences as diverse as Tom Twyker's "Run Lola Run,"
Tarantino, Hitchcock and Danny Boyle. In addition
to a midsection as tense and edgy as any Hitchcock
film with Grace Kelly, the film features Tarantinoesque
use of chronology. Jumping back and forth in time,
the film allows us, as spectators, to piece together
the plot. It often shows us what is important at the
moment in the story, whether it is in the correct
chronological order or not. The puzzle created here
allows us, as viewer, to create the story in our heads.
Thaumaturgy.
Nominated for a 2001 Academy Award,
this film is surely deserving of such an accolade.
Don't let "Crouching
Tiger's" illumination, as deserved as it may be,
outshine the luster of this film. It's important and
riveting.
Note:
In Spanish with subtitles which are,
by the way, intelligent and generally treat the audience
as knowledgeable about the Spanish language.
Script by Guillermo Arriaga.
The score of mainly Mexican pop music
also features The Hollies' "Long Cool Woman."
Report Card Script: A Acting: A+ Cinematography\Lighting:
A Special Effects\Make Up: A Music: A Final Grade:
A+
