Jesus Kid (2021) User Reviews

"I'm a writer of Westerns. Not a banana salesman."

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 31 January 2023]

There's more than a parody of Brazilian politics and cultural mores in this quirky film, but if you're unfamiliar with them as I am, you'll just have to take the word of multiple characters in the story who state that the script that writer Eugênio (Paulo Miklos) is working on is all nonsense. Contractually sequestered in a lavish hotel room, Eugênio got himself backed into a corner to write the biography of the Brazilian President, but all he has ever known is a single character he's written into twenty-four novels - The Jesus Kid. Not to be deterred, Jesus (Sergio Marone) makes an appearance to save the writer from himself, virtually taking over the Apple laptop left Eugênio by his producer agent Máximo (Fábio Silvestre). In some ways, Jesus calls to mind The Stranger from Clint Eastwood's spaghetti Western days, while the musical score does its best to channel Ennio Morricone. But this is not a down and dirty Euro West spectacle, not when a principal backer of a prospective film shows up touting his company's potato chips. Aside from The Kid, my favorite character had to be the guy listed in the credits as 'Homem misterioso' (Otavio Linhares), with the flashing red signet ring on his gloved hand. You can't get more parodied than that, though I didn't think it was cool that he drained Eugênio's aquarium and left his fish for dead.

A remarkable class of Brazilian dilemmas

[roger-99-171599 · 7/10 · 23 September 2021]

Excellent socio political critique. Funny, timely, well acted and imaginative. Miklos is outstanding- the role of a schizophrenic writer fits him like a glove.

Western on a lawless land

[andrevborba · 9/10 · 8 March 2023]

I watched the movie in in the JISFF, in a teather with the director and actor/producer of the movie. Really great movie, loved the idea of putting references of the Bolsonaro's government, and that's why i think the rating on the movie is low here. It's a mix of dark humor with the perfect action, nothing too much that makes us tired. The brazilian cinema need movies like this, it's bringing the politics, the social impact, all the trouble in our country but not putting the fun, action and the entertainment asides.

I think Muritiba's directing is really great, there's some angles and shots who are incredible. He directs the actors very good too, another great perfomance by Marone.

Watch it, great piece of art from Brazil! 9/10.

Parody and distopy in Bolsonaro's Brazil

[guisreis · 8/10 · 16 November 2021]

Dark humor comedy that mocks both on contemporary Brazilian politics and on references and clichés of cinema (not only spaghetti Western and Barton Fink) and its industry. It is very direct in criticizing many Brazilian right-wing "celebrities" (I am not naming them to avoid spoilers) and organizations (FIESP, some churches...). Indeed, there are hilarious moments and excellent ideas. Unfortunately, the movie, that could have been awesome, also has some drawbacks that made it not that good. While art direction is very good, acting is a little irregular: overacting would have worked, but the proper lever has not always been reached. The story, with very interesting mix of reality, metalanguage and fiction, could have been better developped in some parts, and also in the end. The merits, however, overcome the problems. It is a comedy that presents a distopy of Bolsonaro times.