Che (2008)starring: Benecio del Toro, Demian Bichir, Rodrigo Santoro, Julia Ormond
dir. Steven Soderbergh
I find it interesting that we sit around and complain about the standard structure of the biopic and then when someone comes and messes with it, we get upset about it. It's kind of ridiculous and then I discovered Steven Soderbergh has said the same thing about his epic tale of Ernesto "Che" Guevara. Great minds think alike. But it's true, Che is unlike any other biopic and deserves kudos for beings as such.
This isn't a movie about getting us to sympathize with Guevara's cause or hating him for being a killer, but showing the process of how the Cuban revolution took place and what his feelings were about it and why he was involved. AT this the film succeeds with flying colors. Flashing between Che's trip to the UN in 1964 and his push through the jungles of Cuba as they move towards Havana, helps create the psychology and conviciton of his beliefs. It's laid out for the audience to witness and either accept or reject it, but it cannot be dissmissed that we see why he did what he did. That is the power of Soderbergh's film and the power of a one of a kind performance by Benico del Toro.
Del Toro gives a flawless turn, never playing on our sympathies or hatred. He just plays it for keeps, a man with a series of beliefs who will stick to them no matter what the cost. But it is never through grand gestures or giant monologues rousing the troops to take action. It's all about small moments and that's where this deviates from your standard biopic. This is a film about small moments and not about grand gestures or giant confrontations. It's about the brief moment of disappointment when learning Fidel wants him to train instead of lead. The passing off of a medical bag as he moves from being a doctor to become a guerrilla. A laugh shared with friends late at night around the table.
Che is a film based on the notes in between the notes. The events that seem very minor or inconsequential, but say just as much if not more about a person than the sweeping portraits that are portrayed in history books. This isn't Lawrence of Arabia (1962), because it's not intended to be. That's the greatest achievement of this film. For once a viewer is allowed to decide for themselves and not be persuaded by cinematic intervention.
Che is a man who has entered the pop culture lexicon and become representative than more than the sum of his parts. Now we can see the parts and decide for ourselves what the myth of Che Guevara means to us as individuals and not as a social conscious.
Del Toro gives a flawless turn, never playing on our sympathies or hatred. He just plays it for keeps, a man with a series of beliefs who will stick to them no matter what the cost. But it is never through grand gestures or giant monologues rousing the troops to take action. It's all about small moments and that's where this deviates from your standard biopic. This is a film about small moments and not about grand gestures or giant confrontations. It's about the brief moment of disappointment when learning Fidel wants him to train instead of lead. The passing off of a medical bag as he moves from being a doctor to become a guerrilla. A laugh shared with friends late at night around the table.
Che is a film based on the notes in between the notes. The events that seem very minor or inconsequential, but say just as much if not more about a person than the sweeping portraits that are portrayed in history books. This isn't Lawrence of Arabia (1962), because it's not intended to be. That's the greatest achievement of this film. For once a viewer is allowed to decide for themselves and not be persuaded by cinematic intervention.
Che is a man who has entered the pop culture lexicon and become representative than more than the sum of his parts. Now we can see the parts and decide for ourselves what the myth of Che Guevara means to us as individuals and not as a social conscious.
9.5 out of 10
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