By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 1.5 cats
Director: Pablo Larraín
Starring: Alfredo Castro | Amparo Noguero | Elsa Poblete | Hector Morales | Paola Lattus
Country: brazil, chile
Year: 2008
Running time: 98
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1223975/
Bruce says: “***Disgusting Spoilers***
“Who remembers Tony Romero? He is the character John Travolta immortalized in SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, not high on my list of favorite films. It is not a particular treat to see Tony back on screen in the form of a Chilean thug named Raúl who serves as a metaphor for the Pinochet regime. As the film begins Raúl shows up at a TV station to participate in a look-alike contest. He got the dates confused and finds himself in a lineup of Chuck Norris look-alikes. Later that day, looking out the window of his apartment, he sees an old lady walking home from the local bodega. She is mugged by a group of young boys. Raúl rushes out to the street, picks her up and walks her home. Once inside he gets her comfortable. Seconds later he spots a color TV at the other end of the living room and before you can say ‘Verrazano’ Raúl bashes her head in, steals her money and TV. Before he leaves he feeds the cat, Samaritan that he is.
“Raúl works at a cheesy restaurant that provides less-than-mediocre entertainment for the diners. Wilma (Elsa Poblete) owns the joint and has the hots for him. His lady is Conni (Amparo Noguero) whose teen daughter Pauli (Paola Lattus) may be pregnant as a result of furtive lovemaking with another dancer, Goyo (Hector Morales). Raúl has his eye on Pauli and is biding his time until he can force himself upon her. Goyo and Pauli are involved in an underground organization that is fighting Pinochet’s dictatorship. During the course of the next few days Raúl kills a junk dealer when he raises the price of glass bricks Raúl needs to create a glass dance floor in Wilma’s dive. Raúl shows no remorse. In the background Pinochet’s army is patrolling the streets, enforcing the curfew.
“As the day approaches for the Travolta look-alike contest, Raúl gets wind that Goyo is planning on entering, too. Fearing that Goyo might be better, Raúl takes matters in hand. Raúl sneaks into Goyo’s room, gets the signature white suit out of the closet, squats and shits all over it. Fortunately for Raúl, he has diarrhea so the smearing part is made easy. If you are still wondering what happens in the contest, please see the film.
“Pablo Larrain shows promise in the way he direct his actors, creates his scenes and paces his film. Hopefully we will get another chance to see his talents displayed in a less scatological form. TONY MANERO is void of kindness, disgusting and depressing. 1.5 cats
“TONY MANERO screened at the 2008 New York Film Festival.”