Bella (Beauty) (2006)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Nicki M

  
  Quite a slow film, but engaging and moving. The cast are all fantastic, especially Tammy Blanchard as Nina. It reminded me a little of the Before Sunrise and Before Sunset films. Jose is an ex sports star who has fallen on hard times and is now working in his brother's Mexican… More
  Quite a slow film, but engaging and moving. The cast are all fantastic, especially Tammy Blanchard as Nina. It reminded me a little of the Before Sunrise and Before Sunset films. Jose is an ex sports star who has fallen on hard times and is now working in his brother's Mexican restaurant as a chef. When a co worker, Nina, is fired for being late, he goes after her and the pair spend the day together getting to know each other. Ultimately he does something very unselfish to help Nina, and also to ease his own guilt about past events. I actually thought this was a foreign film, but it is set in the US, and though there is a little Spanish in it, the majority is in English, so don't be put off if you're one of those people who don't like to read subtitles.

• Alice S

  
  Another 4-star movie derailed by a nicely pat ending. Every shot is visual poetry, and the relationship between Nina and Jose is tenuous and bittersweet. Eduardo Verastegui with the beard and crazy hair looks almost exactly like Jim Caviezel - it's astounding. I was in love.… More
  Another 4-star movie derailed by a nicely pat ending. Every shot is visual poetry, and the relationship between Nina and Jose is tenuous and bittersweet. Eduardo Verastegui with the beard and crazy hair looks almost exactly like Jim Caviezel - it's astounding. I was in love. Tammy Blanchard is gritty and endearingly aloof. She's got a great mouth for this role - a tough pout. Charming supporting characters, nice flashback/fantasy editing, effective mix of languages. The end leaves too many questions though. Where does Nina go for four years? Okay that's only one question, but without the answer and the turning point of Jose's choice, it just seems like a tacked-on happy ending.

• Rubia Carolina .

  
  I liked some little things like the "future" inside the present acting. The "insides" are not only from memories, but also from what will happen months after the scene we are seeing. In the other hand, these scenes could also be imagination of some of the two… More
  I liked some little things like the "future" inside the present acting. The "insides" are not only from memories, but also from what will happen months after the scene we are seeing. In the other hand, these scenes could also be imagination of some of the two characters and we actually just don´t know if they happened or not. There are two examples: when Nina is supposed to make an abortion, gives up and Jose is there to support her; or in the end, when he adopts her child. This last scene seems real and I think we all take it as real, but it could not be... maybe in another film. Despite that, everything is too obvious end expected: it´s clear that it will happen a car accident and it´s even clear when we see Jose, now with a long beard, watching a little girl at the beach, that some tragedy happend and that it has something to do with a child. Also, Eduardo Verástgui/Jose didn´t convince me at all! Predictable and not authentic. <br> <br> <br>

• Manu G

  
  A very profound and delicate yet great powerful movie. I absolutely loved it. Nina, a young, unmarried waitress at a Mexican restaurant, finds herself pregnant and without work after coming in late several days because of morning sickness. Jose, the restaurant's chef, is taken by… More
  A very profound and delicate yet great powerful movie. I absolutely loved it. Nina, a young, unmarried waitress at a Mexican restaurant, finds herself pregnant and without work after coming in late several days because of morning sickness. Jose, the restaurant's chef, is taken by Nina's plight and becomes her sole confidant. Jose helps her walk through her decision on what to do with her pregnancy. In the process, he bears secrets from his own mysterious past, which reveal his tenderness and passion for her and the child she is carrying.

• Walter M

  
  [font=Century Gothic]In "Bella," Nina(Tammy Blanchard)'s pregnancy has been making her sick, keeping her away from work for the past couple of days. When she is late again for her job as a waitress at a Mexican restaurant, her boss Manny(Manny Perez) fires her on the… More
  [font=Century Gothic]In "Bella," Nina(Tammy Blanchard)'s pregnancy has been making her sick, keeping her away from work for the past couple of days. When she is late again for her job as a waitress at a Mexican restaurant, her boss Manny(Manny Perez) fires her on the spot. Feeling sorry for her, Manny's brother and head chef Jose(Eduardo Verastegui) chases after her, deserting the restaurant during the busy lunch hour. But at least Nina and Jose enjoy lunch together where Nina gets a new job. Afterwards, they go to the beach...[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"Bella" starts off being just plain annoying as we get yet another magical New York City. The directing is amateurish and the acting is worse. Amazingly, the movie gets worse with an endless climactic scene that brings shamelessness to new heights before completely devolving into sanctimonious drivel by the end.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]On the plus side, Nina does make some good points about looking for a job and that being pregnant does not automatically make one a parent. But it is awkward siding with Manny who is supposed to be the villain. What is he supposed to do when nobody wants to bring anything to his attention?(I hate guessing games, by the way.) If his employees are that afraid of him, then why don't they quit?[/font]

• Jeff B

  
  It stands to reason that so many of modern cinema’s true success stories stem from a modest budget (Clerks, Swingers, Once). Feasibility aside (mega-budget spectaculars invariably recoup the studio’s initial investment), these ‘smaller pictures’ usually forsake expensive digital… More
  It stands to reason that so many of modern cinema’s true success stories stem from a modest budget (Clerks, Swingers, Once). Feasibility aside (mega-budget spectaculars invariably recoup the studio’s initial investment), these ‘smaller pictures’ usually forsake expensive digital effects and A-list actors to rely on the proven formula of simple storytelling. Bella’s could not be simpler—and delightfully so. While there is nothing overly insightful about this satisfying non-love love story, the magnetic performances cannot help but draw filmgoers in. Though your reviewer would not go so far as to call the drama a character study a la John Cassavetes (Faces, A Woman Under the Influence), the players are the thing…and the thing proves to be pure bliss. In this PG-13-rated indie romantic drama, a chef with a mysterious past (Verastequi) befriends a waitress (Tammy Blanchard) who gets fired from a New York City Mexican restaurant due to an unwanted pregnancy. The story is far from momentous, but intelligent enough not to be predictable—rewardingly, ‘romantic’ does not necessarily mean traditional romance. At the root of Bella lies a plain truth: Sometimes, people just need a friend. While this statement may seem simplistic to the point of tedium, it proves so innately identifiable that audiences will seamlessly fall into the film’s easy-going rhythm. Thanks to Verastequi and Blanchard (and their well-written alter-egos), the slight semblance of a plot works. While the problems of these lil’ people don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world (to paraphrase Rick in Casablanca), it does account for empathy. Bottom line: Blissfully keeps it simple, stupid.

• Dannielle A

  
  It was a good movie. I enjoyed the ending. I saw it coming from a mile away though. Still, I enjoyed the symbolism and how the movie didn't move in sequence but sort of skipped around.

• William G

  
  As maudlin a melodrama can get w/o actually disturbing any heartstrings.

• Lovable M

  
  I enjoyed it. I felt it was lacking in some areas, but overall it was a good movie.

• Jared H

  
  The huge gap that separates the amount of praise this has received from audiences (Toronto Film Festival Viewers, theatergoers, "Flixter Users") and the negative reviews it received from critics has EVERYTHING to do with the fact that in this movie, a woman is talked out of… More
  The huge gap that separates the amount of praise this has received from audiences (Toronto Film Festival Viewers, theatergoers, "Flixter Users") and the negative reviews it received from critics has EVERYTHING to do with the fact that in this movie, a woman is talked out of getting an abortion. Those liberal critics need to look themselves in the mirror and really ask themselves why the hell they're so passionate about women killing their unborn children. Really liberals....really. As both a Latino and a person of faith, I really really love how this film portrays...people. It has such a great message about the importance of family, and redemption, and learning to appreciate life that I really just felt so much better about everthing after watching it. Once you learn the tone of the film, and the personality of the characters, you pretty much know how this movie is going to end. But that didn't really matter to me. Why not make a movie about truly good-hearted people trying to do the right thing under difficult circumstances? Isn't that what life should be about? Anyways...this movie didn't really feel much like a movie, or a compelling film-story. It kind of felt like a nice hug. That's the best way I can describe it. And that's a good thing. It pulls at your heart and gives a wonderful message without overdoing it, unlike some of those "made for Christians" movies out there, like "Fireproof," which preaches and smothers your face with its message. "Bella" is something much more real, much more beautiful, and I think it's guaranteed to make its viewers appreciate life a little bit more than they did before.

• Brad J

  
  This movie is a gem - go rent it. First time movie from a new production company, new director - this is a great story. Won People's Choice award at 2006 Toronto Film Festival - took to 2008 to get theater distribution - this story will touch you. It IS in English.

• deb .

  
  Bella is an unusual love story. There is love there but not romantic love...almost a type of deeper more intimate love that doesn't fully reveal itself until the end.<br><br> The film enfolds in a backwards and forwards (past/present) rhythm. Jose (Eduardo… More
  Bella is an unusual love story. There is love there but not romantic love...almost a type of deeper more intimate love that doesn't fully reveal itself until the end.<br><br> The film enfolds in a backwards and forwards (past/present) rhythm. Jose (Eduardo Verastegui) and Nina (Tammy Blanchard) share guilt...guilt over their past and present situations. <br><br>Bella is a good movie, which has won numerous awards, however I didn't like the way the director came to the final conclusion. Too many loose ends and unanswered questions. BTW...Eduardo Verastegui is hot!!

• Daisy M

  
  I was impressed, inspired, uplifted after seeing this movie. It is powerful and provoking and so real. Each scene moved perfectly into the next, creating a detailed story. The actors make choices that are simple yet powerful. Every character lets their humanity show in a way that… More
  I was impressed, inspired, uplifted after seeing this movie. It is powerful and provoking and so real. Each scene moved perfectly into the next, creating a detailed story. The actors make choices that are simple yet powerful. Every character lets their humanity show in a way that causes the audience to fall in love with them throughout the course of the movie. Both the story and the characters are realistic and every scene of the movie is packed with truth. Audiences can see aspects of their own lives and situations in every scene of this masterfully composed story. Thanks Ela, was simply marvelous.

• Sunil J

  
  I have mixed feeling. Parts of it were really sweet but it's very cliche.

• Leo L

  
  Beautiful movie! Intriguing story plot about a young woman named Nina. She gets fired from her present job, and also realizes that she's pregnant. Suddenly, she's overwhelmed. Choices. Life: Past, present, and future. The connection and friendship she kindles with a former… More
  Beautiful movie! Intriguing story plot about a young woman named Nina. She gets fired from her present job, and also realizes that she's pregnant. Suddenly, she's overwhelmed. Choices. Life: Past, present, and future. The connection and friendship she kindles with a former co-worker, Jose. In the end, their friendship marks a remarkable change for the better, in their lives. This marks a beautiful outlook into a family structure in a movie, one cannot help but explore and feel the dynamics of such a world. The relationship between siblings, especially between Manny and Jose is absolutely fantastic. Kinship, very rare. Sophie Nyweide and Eduardo Verastegui, and Manny Perez are simply outstanding. A must-see! Great music.

• Sarah P

  
  I thought this was a very touching movie, and while I really enjoyed the ending, the film lacked fluidity.

Read all 16 featured audience ratings