Rudo y Cursi (2008)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Carlos Cuarón

Writer:

Carlos Cuarón (screenplay)

Release Date:

19 December 2008 (Mexico)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Sport

Tagline:

La Vida es Un Volado

Plot:

Two siblings rival each other inside the world of professional soccer.

Plot Keywords:

Soccer | Debt | Adultery | Brother Brother Relationship | Monkey

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Gael García Bernal	...	Tato
Diego Luna	...	Beto
Guillermo Francella	...	Batuta
Dolores Heredia	...	Elvira
Adriana Paz	...	Toña
Jessica Mas	...	Maya
Salvador Zerboni	...	Jorge W
Tania Esmeralda Aguilar	...	Nadia
Joaquín Cosio	...	Arnulfo
Alfredo Alfonso	...	Don Casimiro
Fermín Martínez	...	DT. Obdulio
Eduardo Von	...	DT. Bruno Lopéz
Jorge Zárate	...	Voz Bruno López
Axel Ricco	...	Mena
Harold Torres	...	Trompo Tovar

Also Known As:

Rough and Vulgar (International: English title) (informal literal title)
Toto (Mexico) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive language, sexual content and brief drug use.

Runtime:

Netherlands:103 min | USA:103 min | Argentina:103 min

Country:

USA | Mexico

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:R | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (British Columbia) | Canada:18A (Ontario) | Mexico:B15 | Netherlands:12 | Ireland:16 | Portugal:M/12 | UK:15 | Argentina:13 | Peru:14

Filming Locations:

Cihuatlan, Mexico

Company:

Canana Films

Trivia:

The two sports commentators are voiced over by David Faitelson and Antonio Rosique, two popular TV personalities in Mexico.

Quotes:

Jorge W: Catch me up Rudo, it's not me, I'm just the executive, I lead the operation, it's just that they want their money, that's obvious.
Beto: Well, tell them to rise my credit.
Jorge W: I swear you man, I'm really ashamed but that's impossible. You got a Tsunami like debt, dude.
Beto: I can over pay them if they want, just give me more time, please.
Jorge W: No Rudo, I'd love to but I really can't
[Asks a Market Attendant]
Jorge W: Excuse me, you got Pampers Ultra Supreme?
[the attendant says no]
Jorge W: Shiiit! Look Rudo, you ain't got a limit, you make huge bets, you love blow man.
Beto: No, I only use that stuff because it helps me with the game.
[...]

Soundtrack:

I Want You To Want Me

Brotherly Love

In 2001, Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna starred in Y tu mama tambien, a film I would place in the top ten for this decade. Their dynamic on screen was palpable. The combination of a their performances as well as a gripping story from the Cuaron brothers, Carlos and Alfonso. Alfonso directed the film and went on to direct Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Children of Men, the latter being a gem. Now, Carlos has taken the reigns as director for his first feature with Rudo y Cursi.

He reuintes with his Y tu mama stars Bernal and Luna, who have had stellar careers since 2001. Here they play brothers in a small Mexican town who dream of one day leaving and making it big. Beto (Luna) wants to become the greatest goalie in the country while Tato (Bernal) wants to be a singer, but can play soccer better than he can sing. They are discovered by Batuta (Guillermo Francella) during one of their games and offers one of them the chance of a life time: to become a professional football player. The scene to decide who gets to go is one of the best in the film, so I won't ruin it.

The majority of the film centers on the two brothers trying to fulfill their dreams but struggling along the way with gambling, women, and the sport they love. What I love so much about this film are the characters of Beto and Tato. They are so developed. You can tell exactly what their life has been life without knowing too much about them. They are simple folk and talk as such, regardless of how rich or destitute they become. Cuaron makes this unbelievable story as believable as possible, throwing the characters curveballs, much as life does.

Luna and Bernal work so well together. They look nothing alike yet I believe that they are brothers here. There is a scene where Luna is very upset with his brother and venting about it to his wife, but when she chimes in and talks down about Bernal, Luna tells her not to speak about his brother like that. It's the little things that they do that give their characters depth and feeling.

Cuaron uses narration throughout the course of the film, much like he did with Alfonso in Y tu mama tambien. This narrator however has an identity (Batuta) while in the other film it is anonymous. I think I would have liked it better that way or simply done without. The anonymous narrator can bring some interesting details and histories to the story, almost like watching a documentary. This narrating is bias and doesn't get quite as personal. It could have been dealt with in a better manner.

Although Carlos has been involved with several movies, I was very impressed with his directorial debut. Some people are born screenwriters, but step behind the camera and things fall apart. Luckily for us Carlos is multi talented like his brother. There are some very nice scenes here with solid camera work. One particular shot of the two brothers sitting across from each other at a table was beautiful in my opinion.

After the film was over and the credits began to roll, I happened to notice the names under the "Produced by" title. They were Alfonso Cuaron, Alejandoro Gonzalez Inarritu, and Guillermo Del Toro. They recently made a production company called Cha Cha Cha films. These three filmmakers won world wide acclaim in 2006 when they each released brilliant pieces of cinema. Cuaron with Children of Men, Inarritu with Babel, and Del Toro with Pan's Labyrinth. A pretty impressive threesome to have on your film's credits. I was impressed.

Rudo y Cursi is a very satisfying film for those who aren't looking for a typical story. Some might get mad at the ending but that's understandable. Such is life. Not everybody can be happy. I guess that's the film's underlying message that if you accept what life has dealt you, happiness will come to you.