Carmen

"Carmen" is a film based on the opera of the same name and whose script is masterfully adapted to the current era. Carmen must leave her native Mexico to escape some criminals and illegally crosses the border into the United States, meeting a racist subject and another with a lot of humanity. Aidan is the young man full of humanity who understands between justice and injustice and becomes the model of the liberal American who gives Carmen security. The theme of the problem of traffickers in the border cities of Mexico and the racism of closed-minded US border cities is well achieved, giving the characters of Carmen and Aidan the best of both countries, in addition the script touches elements of magical realism that manage to stand out. The cinematography full of chiaroscuro is a visual delight, the choreographies together with the songs are tremendous. For her part, Melissa Barrera plays Carmen with passion, demonstrating once again that in addition to being a scream queen, she is prepared for deep dramas, she also dances and sings beautifully. Paul Mescal is extraordinary as Aidan, showing his acting talent and Rossy de Palma is fabulous in her performance. A wonderful film that demonstrates the beauty of art cinema.

It uses the short story of Prosper Merimee, the opera by Georges Bizet as pretext for an impressive show.

This is the first feeling seeing it and it is not just wrong; only not enough.

It is a large puzzle the border immigration, the old myths, music and, especialy dance, the lights are used almost with volupty.

Nice job of Melissa Barrera, fair work of Paul Mescal ( one of main motives, for me, to see the film ) and useful performance of Rossy de Palma.

A provocative remind of essential pieces defining life, from tradition, love, freedom to sacrifice offering staight to each of them.

The sin - the powerful feeling , to the second part of it, to be only an inconsistent improvisation, the dialogue using, too easy, pathetic cliches, the dance being the only matter thing, the sensation to see a puzzle with pieces from many others.

In essence, for me, entire film can be reduced at the dance of Marina Tamayo, reminding more Garcia Lorca than Prosper Merimee or Georges Bizet. For this dance, indeed, Carmen deserves to be seen. So, a two hours ( almost ) film being just beautiful for only three minutes. And this is all.

Predictable and quite basic storyline. Yet, the movie is beautifully done!

If you are into action movies, or dramas - you will find yourself scratching your head a little.. but take it as a new type of presentation.. After all, aren't you already tired of the same gangster, mob stories with racing cars and heavy shootings? (I am! All of the action movies are the same: no real plot line just chasings and gory images.. )

For me, Carmen was like a realistic play that we watch on stages: dialogues are mingled with dance and music to express feelings more than mere images, at times alternating the past and the present, the cause and the effect, the reality and the imaginary..

It's 'almost' an art movie because the image was not spectacular.. Instead, the soundtrack was. Among others, Paul Mescal (I had no idea who he was) sang a song amazingly, reminding me I wanted to learn how to play the guitar..

Carmen is a film that's difficult to pigeonhole. It skillfully combines genres, including a captivating love story, a mythical narrative, a musical extravaganza, and a modern interpretation of a timeless opera. Under the guidance of Benjamin Millepied, a dancer and choreographer, we are taken on a journey to the rugged landscapes of the U. S.-Mexico border, where passion, violence and beauty intersect and intertwine.

The central character, played by Melissa Barrera, infuses Carmen with life. After witnessing her mother's demise at the hands of a drug cartel in Mexico, Carmen manages to escape. Along her journey, she encounters Aidan (portrayed by Paul Mescal), a former Marine who has become a vigilante patrolling the border. Despite their backgrounds, they discover love amidst the chaos and uncertainty. On their quest to evade capture and stay ahead of the cartel and the authorities, they cross paths with individuals like Masilda (brought to life by Rossy de Palma), a friend of Carmen's mother who runs a dance club in Los Angeles.

Carmen doesn't adhere to Bizet's opera; it deviates from its songs and music. Nicholas Britell has crafted a score that seamlessly blends flamenco and pop influences. The dance sequences are mesmerising, showcasing Millepied's choreography and Barrera's talent as a dancer.

One aspect that stands out in the movie is its cinematography, skillfully executed by Jörg Widmer. He magnificently captures the essence of the desert, the city, and the night sky, creating visuals that possess a dreamlike mythical quality with a touch of reality. The film delves into thought-provoking themes such as immigration, identity and freedom, handling them subtly without preaching or oversimplification.

Some areas could be improved - moments of confusion in the plot, elements that stretch believability in the third act, and the characters could have been fully developed and their motivations clearer. Some of the dialogue occasionally leans towards clichés and melodrama making it challenging for the film to find its tone as it shifts between romance, action, comedy and tragedy.

Carmen ambitiously tackles a range of subjects. But it doesn't always succeed in doing so. Nevertheless, it remains a beautiful film that captivated me despite its shortcomings. However, others may not connect with it on such a level. Regardless Carmen deserves recognition for its originality and vision despite some flaws in execution and overall coherence.

I liked watching it, although I didn't fall in love with it.

Benjamin Millepied is a Filmaker. The three lead characters are fabulous. Melissa Barrera, she can sing, she can dance and she's able to embody a character. Paul mescal in a different kind of character we used to know him : a TOUGH guy (soldier)... I'm glad a director was visionnary enough, to explore the captivating charisma of Rossy de Palma. The dance sequences are fascinating, i love seeing the differents slow-motion used during the whole movie to bring a unique tone to this picture... Marvelous i am pleasantly surprised, and for the future i want to see more pictures signed by Benjamin Millepied.