Rudo y Cursi (2008)

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

Director:

Carlos Cuarón

Writer:

Carlos Cuarón (screenplay)

Stars:

Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna, Guillermo Francella

1 win & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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 López
Axel Ricco	...	Mena
Harold Torres	...	Trompo Tovar
Gabino Rodríguez	...	Mafafo

Storyline

Mexican half brothers Beto and Tato--who will eventually be appropriately nicknamed Rudo (rough) and Cursi (corny), respectively--have a typical love/hate relationship with each other. They both work on a banana plantation and live with their extended family consisting of their mother, abusive stepfather, sister Nadia, and Beto's wife Toña and their children. The family are rural peasant class and are barely making ends meet. The brothers' fortunes change when into their lives comes Batuta, a soccer scout. Despite their advancing ages, both Beto and Tato are naturally gifted at soccer, Beto as a goaltender and Tato as a striker. Playing professionally has always been Beto's dream, although Tato has other professional thoughts on his mind. Batuta eventually recruits both for different teams in Mexico City. Beto's and Tato's fortunes rise and fall, the falls based on those things which hold more passion for the brothers. For Tato, he loves fast women, specifically television ...

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Plot Keywords:

soccer | gambling | mexican | banana | mexico city | 

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Taglines:

La Vida es Un Volado

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [France]

Country:

Mexico USA

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

15 May 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Rudo & Cursi

Filming Locations:

Cihuatlan, Mexico

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$211,460, 10 May 2009, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,826,674, 21 August 2009

Company Credits

Production Co:

Focus Features International (FFI), Universal International Pictures (UI), Canana Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The final soccer game was filmed in the Nemesio Diez Stadium, home of Toluca, a Mexican 1st soccer division team,

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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, ...
[...]

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Connections

Featured in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Inglourious Basterds/Post Grad/World's Greatest Dad (2009)

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Soundtracks

Amor del cielo
Written by Eddy Guerra
Performed by La Sonora Dinamita
Courtesy of Discos Fuentes / Edimúsica, SA
Courtesy of Representaciones Artísticas Apodaca

User Reviews

Gael & Diego Entertain But The Story Telling Is Average

I just screened this new flick out of Mexico at the Sundance 09' Premiere. I went into the movie very pleased to see the two ultra talents Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna reunited on screen with the filmmakers that brought us the classic Y tu Mama Tambien. Luna and Bernal are tremendous actors and their chemistry on screen is evident from the start, and throughout the movie they bring life to the two main characters Beto (Luna) and Toto (Bernal). Beto is rough, tough, and determined, Toto is unassuming, curious and also determined though in a more naive way. The story follows the two brothers lives as they go from "hick" banana farmers to professional futbol stars. The strength of the movie is in the diversity of the two brothers transition from nobodies to somebodies and how one brother embraces the fame and all its opportunities while the other is unable to leave behind his reckless habits. The background to the brotherly chaos is the insanity of the Mexican futbol league that is corrupt,cutting and beautiful at the same time. The rise to fame is glorious, but what must go up must come down. The weakness of the film is ultimately the sudden downturn which may be, as the director later told the audience, true to the Mexican way, but this truth hurts the film when it needs a golden ball to lift its spirits. In this day and time, why not give a little hope, a little success to those who would hope to succeed even though they can't help but screw it up? To each his own, but the pay off is not nearly as sweet, and not nearly as meaningful as one would hope for the two brothers.