Everybody Has a Plan (2012)
"Todos tenemos un plan" (original title)

A man who assumes the identity of his deceased twin in Argentina.

Director:

Ana Piterbarg

Writers:

Ana Piterbarg (screenplay), Ana Cohan (collaboration)

Stars:

Viggo Mortensen, Soledad Villamil, Daniel Fanego

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Viggo Mortensen	...	Agustín / Pedro
Soledad Villamil	...	Claudia
Daniel Fanego	...	Adrián
Javier Godino	...	Rubén
Sofía Gala	...	Rosa
Oscar Alegre
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joaquín Daniel
Carolina Román

Storyline

A man who assumes the identity of his deceased twin in Argentina.

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Plot Keywords:

title directed by female

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some brutal violence, language and sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Argentina Spain Germany

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

30 August 2012 (Argentina)

Also Known As:

Everybody Has a Plan

Filming Locations:

Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ars Magna Films, Castafiore Films, Fox International Productions (FIP)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Though Viggo Mortensen lived in Argentina for more than 10 years during his childhood, and he speaks fluent "argentine" Spanish, this is the first time he filmed there. His first movie in Spanish was "Alatriste"

User Reviews

A good Mortensen (times two) can't overcome sluggish pacing

Everybody Has A Plan marks the fourth Spanish-language film for Viggo Mortensen, who spent a number of years in his youth living in Argentina. His latest project finds him playing identical twin brothers in the film noir from Argentinian first-time feature director Ana Piterbarg, who also co-wrote the screenplay.

The premise: Agustín (played by Mortensen) would appear to have the ideal life. He's a pediatrician with an attractive wife (Claudia, played by Soledad Villamil) living quite comfortably in Buenos Aires. The couple's plan to adopt a baby derails when Agustín changes his mind at the last minute, leading to a huge rift that brings to the surface the true unfulfillment that Agustín feels with his life. In the midst of a depressive episode where Agustín decides to lock himself in a room, Claudia leaves for some time away and Agustín soon receives a visit from his estranged twin brother, Pedro (also played by Mortensen), a beekeeper who reveals he has terminal lung cancer. Certain circumstances lead to Agustín eventually escaping his obligation-filled existence and assuming his brother's identity, taking up residence in Pedro's rundown shack in Argentina's Tigre Delta island region where the brothers grew up. A romance develops with one of Pedro's much younger bee farm helpers (Rosa, played by Sofía Gala Castaglione), while Agustín becomes caught up in the fallout from Pedro's past criminal affairs with some shady locals.

Mortensen is solid as the brothers, who only share a few scenes simultaneously. Sometimes it could be difficult telling them apart, although the Pedro character tended to be a little more rough around the edges and frankly, I couldn't distinguish the characters' subtle accent differences Mortensen talked about using at the post- screening Q & A. Regardless, his comfort level with the Spanish language is certainly never an issue. Villamil and Castaglione turn in quite fine supporting work, but Daniel Fanego as the proverbial villain is a definite weak link in the film. Other than looking rather creepy, I found the role underwritten and the actor lacking in screen presence.

Piterbarg and cinematographer Lucio Bonelli do a nice job of capturing the dank and swampy atmosphere of the isolated delta area, which not surprisingly is a magnet for criminals and outcasts and makes for a nice backdrop for the malfeasance that drives the narrative. The director also specifically lets a number of questions hang, adding to the film's mystery, but occasionally there's some story choices that are befuddling. Most glaring are the ease with which Agustín sells to others that he's Pedro, as well as the fact that Agustín doesn't bolt after being beaten by locals thinking he's Pedro, just shortly after arriving in the Tigre Delta.

Everybody Has A Plan's flaws, not the least of which also includes some overly languid pacing, results in a decidedly unremarkable viewing experience.