Bad Education (2004) (AKA La Mala educacion)
"This is probably the darkest
movie I've done since 'Matador.'" - Pedro Almodovar
in FLM Magazine
Almodovar. The mere mention of the
name can start hours-long conversations between film
lovers. The promise of a new Almodovar movie is met
with the kind of anticipation usually reserved for
the arrival of Christmas in children, or of sexual
climax in adults. Almodovar. The name can send shivers
of anticipation down your spine.
With "Bad Education," Almodovar
returns to the style of filmmaking that thrust him
into the limelight in the 80's. Of late, in the 90's
and post-millennium, Almodovar's films have become
more classy and realistic. While still focused on
sexuality and on the outsider, such as his numerous
transgendered characters, Almodovar seemed to mature
as a filmmaker and offered up far more emotional and
insightful stories than in his earlier work. This
film begins to negate that progress and turns back
the stylistic clock for the director. In a way, it
is a turn in reverse for the worst.
"Bad Education" is set in the 80's,
so perhaps it is important to the director to return
to the style of filmmaking that catapulted him to
cinematic prominence with this film. But ultimately
it is a situation that does not and cannot work. Almodovar's
story is so muddled and so full of flashbacks within
flashbacks that the entire house of cards implodes
upon itself. The story here is nearly nonsensical
and it would require repeated viewing to even somewhat
understand the events that unfold in a chronological
order.
I suppose that since Almodovar is
Spanish and Catholic one should assume that a film
called "Bad Education" is going to have pedophilic
priests. But the inclusion of them here seems typical
and trite. It feels like we've seen this situation
in films far too many times. There is a point when
things move from au currant to passe. Even though
Almodovar's story twists the main character of this
type of story into a somewhat interesting subplot,
this storyline becomes so difficult to follow that
the inclusion of such a character is not forgivable.
Nothing much else in the film works either. It's all
too complicated and ridiculous. There's a film within
a film within a film construct that is so obtuse as
to be completely unfollowable.
Ultimately the only reason to watch
"Bad Education" is to see hottie Gael Garcia Bernal
in drag and kissing other guys. Bernal is one of the
most interesting and important young actors working
in film today but his appearance here is a complete
failure. His drag queen is so over-the-top and offensive
that we simply cannot accept him as a character, even
when it is revealed that perhaps he shouldn't be a
very good drag queen. And his sexual romps with other
men are rarely exciting. Who can forgive that even
when it is revealed that perhaps he is posing? Watching
Bernal work here is kind of like watching a circus
performance. See the cute, young actor kiss other
guys. See him wear a dress and high heels. There is
the curiosity of seeing this to prompt a viewing of
this film but nothing more. "Bad Education" is also
pretty bad at providing characters for the audience
to be interested in for anything other reason than
their looks.
At least, as is Almodovar's wont,
the images here are magnificent. If this were an exercise
in style over substance, it might be a beautiful film.
But Almodovar thinks he is making some sort of clever,
intricate, witty mystery and it just doesn't come
together. In that respect, "Bad Education" is a very
bad movie.
Notes:
In Spanish with subtitles.
Written by Almodovar.
The script in the film within a
film subplot is named "La Visitas" ("The Visitors")
leading some to speculate that this would be the title
of the finished film.
The film has been nominated for
several awards including an Independent Spirit Award
nod for Best Foreign Film
The film debuted in Spain in March
2004 and began a U.S. arthouse run in December of
the same year.
Viewed at a press sneak at the Dobie
in December 2004. Many members of the press were there
including Marjorie Baumgarten of the "Austin Chronicle,"
Chris Garcia of "The Austin American-Statesman," Liz
Lopez of "El Mundo," Corey from the cable access TV
review show "The Reel Deal," and new Austin film celeb
John Pierson.
