Mandy

Panos Cosmatos finalmente ha encontrado un tema adecuado para sus experimentos con LSD distintivos y visualmente extravagantes: una pesadilla de leñadores con malas drogas y orgías brutalmente sangrientas, motosierras y excursionistas del infierno. Solo los pasajes alucinógenos y la música demoníacamente psicodélica de Jóhan Jóhannsson salvan la primera mitad y su ritmo extraordinariamente lento, pero luego comienza un corte trash metal tan sectario que es difícil no sucumbirse, aunque la predisposición a la violencia extrema es una condición necesaria. La loca actuación de Nicolas Cage pertenece a la categoría de placer culposo. Mandy es una película cruel y malvada, pero igualmente distintiva. (30.06.2018)

Alucinante carnicería de venganza grindhouse, con un corazón enamorado que se consume en la oscuridad cósmica. Sorprendentemente convincente y conceptualmente coherente, con todos sus filtros cursis y un presupuesto B. Y también es un refresco agradable en el ambiente habitual del festival. Lo más destacado de la escena es, cómo no, un Cage borracho con pantalones cortos blancos y una camiseta de tigre naranja. [Cannes] (14.05.2018)

La esencia de lo que un espectador espera de una proyección de medianoche en un festival y que normalmente no obtiene. Una increíble carnicería hecha a la medida de los aficionados al terror. Y está hecho con corazón. Y es el mejor Nicolas Cage en años. Después de que te sorprendas de lo económica e íntima que es la actuación de Cage en la primera mitad, en la segunda te saca del error y entrega una de las creaciones más furiosas de su carrera. Me quito el sombrero ante el director Cosmatos por haberlo conseguido. Seguiré de cerca sus próximas aventuras como director. Y por último, pero no por ello menos importante, me quito el sombrero ante la música del recientemente fallecido Jóhann Jóhannsson: una gran despedida. ¡Mandy es una bomba total! [KVIFF 2018] (30.06.2018)

It's like Jodorowsky fathered a child with Panos's daddy George. Definitely a distinctive film, visually impressive, from a man with a vision. Interesting color palette, functionally applied filters, but at least in the first half (which many here criticize, but I liked it better) brimming with atmosphere and remarkable visual ideas, all underscored by a unique soundtrack. The second half is grindhouse carnage, uncompromisingly straightforward and simple, but still retaining a visual identity. The half-deranged Cage is a casting triumph, Riseborough has something magical in his intriguing, deadpan face, and Roache is a charismatic villain but also a woefully comic figure, and this is not an easy thing to grasp as an actor. Mandy is a remarkable film, it's not for everyone, certainly not for the mainstream, but it beats with the heart of a filmmaker who’s not bland and loves to tell simple stories through atmospheric imagery. PS: I enjoyed it even more on a second screening. This film is so out of step with 99% of filmmaking, and yet it's not stupid; hats off to it. I'm not surprised by the worldwide enthusiastic critical response (currently 8.2 on Metacritic) and I’m happy for Cosmatos from the bottom of my heart. (16.09.2018)

Of course… who else should star in this movie if not Nicolas Cage. He is currently the only Hollywood actor who turned acting into a completely extravagant experience. If he is in pain, physically or mentally, you’ll simply feel it too. And since he keeps appearing in films which are outside the norm, you can count on Nicolas Cage being in complete mental and physical pain. When it came to the execution of the movie, I was quite upset. The first half was mostly for show. The director played with purple filters and half the time I couldn’t even see what was going on in a scene. But the important thing is that it is glamorous. The second half of the movie was hardcore, though. That’s actually when the dark side of Nicolas comes to life together in a surreal ride full of such shit you won’t believe your eyes. An unbelievable crazy trip. Again, one of those films that try to shock you creatively and it is pretty successful in doing that. (03.11.2018)