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Movies / On DVD / Live Flesh
Live Flesh

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Live Flesh (1997)

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Reviews Counted:36

Fresh:28

Rotten:8

Average Rating:7/10

Runtime: 1 hr 41 mins

Genre: Foreign Films

Synopsis: A shooting in the Madrid apartment of Elena (Francesca Neri), an Italian dope addict, leaves policeman David (Javier Bardem) a paraplegic and Victor (Liberto Rabal), her would-be date, in prison.... A shooting in the Madrid apartment of Elena (Francesca Neri), an Italian dope addict, leaves policeman David (Javier Bardem) a paraplegic and Victor (Liberto Rabal), her would-be date, in prison. Years later, Victor gets out of jail but is obsessed with Elena, now clean, sober, and married to David, who has transcended his handicap by becoming a wheelchair basketball champion. The brooding, resentful Victor starts sleeping with their friend Clara (Ángela Molina), the sexually restless wife of David's jealous, alcoholic former cop partner, and finds out some harsh truths about what really happened that fateful night. Eventually love, desire, obsession, and betrayal all whirlwind into confrontations both deadly and intensely sexual. Based on the novel by Ruth Rendell, this colorful, vibrant film from Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar overflows with rich, sensual performances and beauty captured by graceful camerawork, enhanced by a sizzling musical score by Alberto Iglesias. Penélope Cruz appears as Victor's mother, a prostitute who gives birth to him on a bus in the film's brilliant opening. [More]

Starring: Javier Bardem, Francesca Neri, Liberto Rabal, Ángela Molina

Starring: Javier Bardem, Francesca Neri, Liberto Rabal, Ángela Molina, José Sancho, Penélope Cruz, Pilar Bardem

Director: Pedro Almodóvar

Director: Pedro Almodóvar
Story: Ruth Rendell
Composer: Alberto Iglesias
Producer: Agustin Almodovar
Screenwriter: Pedro Almodóvar

[See More Credits]

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Reviews for Live Flesh

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1 - 20 (sorted by source; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

While despair underlies Almodovar's film...the director attempts to lighten up with some misplaced jokes. These, though, are never any more than a brief respite from the irritating mess in which the characters embroil themselves.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
01/01/00
Giala Murray
Giala Murray
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

gripping and gorgeous

comment Comment
09/19/04
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Geoff Andrew
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Almodovar has a keen eye with the camera, and this helps keep us interested. His love of coincidence also creates some moments of the unexpected.

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
01/01/00
Dan Jardine
Dan Jardine
Apollo Guide

No review available.

comment Comment
12/23/02
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

It's an impressive display of range from one of film's true maverick talents.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
01/01/00
Russell Smith
Russell Smith
Austin Chronicle

The film lacks the anarchic weirdness of some of his best, and without the camp elements it becomes obvious just how like a telenovela the goings-on are.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
06/05/02
Cathy Thompson-Georges
Cathy Thompson-Georges
Boxoffice Magazine

No review available.

comment Comment
02/17/06
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
09/23/06
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

Remarkably taut, logical, even well framed, featuring the usual elements which make life worth living: revenge, lust, and guilt and redemption.

Full Review Source: Compuserve | comment Comment
01/01/00
Harvey S. Karten
Harvey S. Karten
Compuserve

Almodovar's storytelling is as outrageously stylish and compelling as it's ever been, though some of the character developments are disappointingly downbeat.

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
01/01/00
Jeff Vice
Jeff Vice
Deseret News, Salt Lake City

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Detroit News | comment Comment
01/01/00
Susan Stark
Susan Stark
Detroit News

A stylishly steamy tale of passion and revenge.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
01/01/00
E! Online

No review available.

comment Comment
06/29/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

Pedro Almodovar is finally back on track.

Full Review Source: eye WEEKLY | comment Comment
01/01/00
Gemma Files
Gemma Files
eye WEEKLY

No review available.

comment Comment
03/09/06
Jake Euker
Jake Euker
F5 (Wichita, KS)

The film also feels curiously underpopulated, unenlivened by any sparky character bits.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
07/13/07
David Noh
David Noh
Film Journal International
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
01/01/00
Film Journal International

Witness the increasing promise of Pedro Almodóvar, in a film that has gone largely unnoticed in his career but stands as a worthy and mostly mainstream entry into his unique style of twisted relationship movies.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
07/03/04
Christopher Null
Christopher Null
Filmcritic.com

The overall purpose of Live Flesh, the latest and reputedly most 'mature' work from Spanish bad-boy director Pedro Almodovar, remains engigmatic.

Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | comment Comment
04/12/02
Liam Lacey
Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by source; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 >> >|
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Latest News for Live Flesh

February 08, 2005: Cruz and Almodovar Collaborate Again
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