Crónicas (2004)
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72% of critics liked it
(71 reviews) -
73% of users liked it
(2,726 ratings)
A man with a secret forms an uneasy alliance with an opportunistic reporter in this drama from Mexico. Manolo Bonilla (John Leguizamo) is a broadcast journalist for a Latin-American tabloid television series who has been sent to Ecuador to cover the funeral services of three children who fell victim… More A man with a secret forms an uneasy alliance with an opportunistic reporter in this drama from Mexico. Manolo Bonilla (John Leguizamo) is a broadcast journalist for a Latin-American tabloid television series who has been sent to Ecuador to cover the funeral services of three children who fell victim to a mass murderer known as "the Monster of Babahoyo." Shortly after Bonilla finishes interviewing a young mourner, the child is struck by a car driven by Vinicio Cepeda (Damián Alcázar), a traveling salesman who pedals bibles. The crowd assembled to pay their respects flies into a rage, pulling Cepeda from his car and nearly killing him. Bonilla's intervention ends up saving Cepeda's life, but the reporter is ashamed to admit that he and his cameraman didn't break through the crowd to save the driver, but in hopes of getting a better shot of those beating him. Cepeda is jailed for manslaughter, and when Bonilla visits him behind bars, he shares some unexpected news with the reporter -- he claims to know the identity of "the Monster of Babahoyo," and also knows where the killer has buried other victims. Cepeda is willing to share this information if Bonilla can help get him out of jail, but instead of handing the information to the police, Bonilla decides to investigate himself, certain that another scoop on the case will boost his ratings and his career. Crónicas was screened as part of the "Un Certain Regard" series at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Sebastián Cordero
- Written By
- Sebastián Cordero
- Genres
- Mystery & Suspense, Drama
R,
- In Theaters
- Jul 8, 2005 Wide
- Studio
- Palm Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter
A riveting exploration of good and evil where the line between the two is unclear.
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Janice Page, Boston Globe
Nothing in this would-be thriller grabs you by the throat, never mind reaches down to your guts.
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Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
As good a commentary on our present media age as you're likely to find.
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Ann Hornaday, Washington Post
An ambitious social-commentary melodrama that works about half the time -- until it engages in the very behavior it sets out to condemn.
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Jeff Shannon, Seattle Times
We've seen this cautionary tale before, and the outcome, while chilling from an ethical perspective, is almost a foregone conclusion.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Cast
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John Leguizamo
as Manolo Bonilla
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Leonor Watling
as Marisa
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Damián Alcázar
as Vinicio Cepeda
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Jose María Yazpik
as Iván, Iván, Iv
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Alfred Molina
as Victor
- Henry Lucho
