Live Flesh (Carne trémula) (1997)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Cynthia S

  
  Javier Bardem, and Liberto Rabal, are easy on the eyes and make the movie worth watching. It's a mildly interesting story, somewhat predictable, and with its fair share of slow moments. And as is so often the case in Almodovar movies, the intense connection between characters is… More
  Javier Bardem, and Liberto Rabal, are easy on the eyes and make the movie worth watching. It's a mildly interesting story, somewhat predictable, and with its fair share of slow moments. And as is so often the case in Almodovar movies, the intense connection between characters is shown through melodrama...not character development. If you are a fan of Almodovar, you will enjoy this. I, apparently, am not really a fan. I don't think that I have really liked any of his movies too much.

• Wahida K

  
  Life, love, desire...and everything in between.

• Drew S

  
  I've only seen three other Almodovar movies and they all impressed me immensely, but Live Flesh is sort of a dud. The last thing I would call this, contrary to its Flixster page, is "restrained"; those telenovela moments that Almodovar is so good at concocting are… More
  I've only seen three other Almodovar movies and they all impressed me immensely, but Live Flesh is sort of a dud. The last thing I would call this, contrary to its Flixster page, is "restrained"; those telenovela moments that Almodovar is so good at concocting are pretty much the only thing keeping this movie alive. There are plenty of hysterical dramatic highlights, like a birth on a bus, an unhappy lover bombarding her husband with hairspray, a shootout in an apartment, and a terrifically bloody climax. The rest of the movie is inert and dramatically unchallenging, trying to bill itself as subdued, but let's call a spade a spade here. This is a prototype for Almodovar's later formula - a fusion of campy melodrama and quiet human introspection - but despite some strong ideas, this overarching story isn't strong enough to sustain said formula. It's too simple and sort of random; none of the characters seem to behave with much thought. I dunno, I'm not too coherent about this one but I really didn't care for it. Maybe it's me.

• Lanning :

  
  The more I see of Bardem, the more I like him. Given that my first notice of him came via <i>No Country for Old Men</i> -- which you must see for his performance in that one -- I grow more and more to appreciate what an amazing range he has. This film too, like… More
  The more I see of Bardem, the more I like him. Given that my first notice of him came via <i>No Country for Old Men</i> -- which you must see for his performance in that one -- I grow more and more to appreciate what an amazing range he has. This film too, like <i>In Bruges</i>, is a kind of fairy tale, albeit not one you would read to your kiddies at bedtime. A great cast brings a very intricate story of love, revenge, and redemption to beautiful fruition, and I'm getting to appreciate Penélope Cruz more and more in all kinds of ways : ) Oh yeah, baby!

• Anthony L

  
  My first Pedro Almodovar film. Also my first Javier Bardem. Both have got me hooked!

• Randy T

  
  Arguably one of his more conservative efforts, <i>Live Flesh</i> still remains true to the Pedro Almodóvar form. Like a magician plucking a rabbit out of his hat, Pedro finds tenderness and romance in some very dark & unromantic places. And, if you've only seen… More
  Arguably one of his more conservative efforts, <i>Live Flesh</i> still remains true to the Pedro Almodóvar form. Like a magician plucking a rabbit out of his hat, Pedro finds tenderness and romance in some very dark & unromantic places. And, if you've only seen Javier Bardem in <i>No Country For Old Men</i>, check your preconceptions at the door.

• Lady D

  
  Another enjoyable film from Almodovar. A story of betrayal, love and revenge, with some great characters.

• Luke B

  
  I haven't been this captivated by a film in a while. Literally didn't take my eyes off the screen for the entire running time. It seems shorter than it actually is. The films strength is the fact is doesn't follow a typical story, instead it follows people and their… More
  I haven't been this captivated by a film in a while. Literally didn't take my eyes off the screen for the entire running time. It seems shorter than it actually is. The films strength is the fact is doesn't follow a typical story, instead it follows people and their pasts and presents. The film shows the dangers of passion and how it can turn into obsession and then madness, but at the same time shows these themes in a very circular narrative where madness becomes obsession and back into passion. The twists and turns are very unexpected and as such revelations about characters can make you feel betrayed like the characters in the film itself. The film also details how chance events and coincidences can shape our lives and some mistakes can't be forgotten. Bardem is incredible and Neri is captivating in both her looks and performance. Spectacular just about describes this film.

• Robert C

  
  More complicated quirky love, Almadovar style. Also my introduction to the great Javier Bardem.

• Fernando Rafael Q

  
  Finally, I got the chance to see CARNE TREMULA, by one of my favorite directors, PEDRO ALMODOVAR. It's a fantastic drama/erotic thriller, with great writing and directing, gorgeous color and terrific music. The best performances are by the guys: JAVIER BARDEM and Liberto Rabal.… More
  Finally, I got the chance to see CARNE TREMULA, by one of my favorite directors, PEDRO ALMODOVAR. It's a fantastic drama/erotic thriller, with great writing and directing, gorgeous color and terrific music. The best performances are by the guys: JAVIER BARDEM and Liberto Rabal. The other members of the cast are just OK: Francesca Neri, Angela Molina and José Sancho. Special appearance by Penélope Cruz.

• Ross C

  
  An average story of the destinys of five characters leading intertwined (love) lives in Madrid.

• Eric B

  
  "Live Flesh" has less visual style than most Pedro Alm&oacute;dovar films, but it has something even better: a good screenplay. Based on a 1986 novella, this melodrama revolves around five intertwined characters: two former police partners and their seductive wives, plus… More
  "Live Flesh" has less visual style than most Pedro Alm&oacute;dovar films, but it has something even better: a good screenplay. Based on a 1986 novella, this melodrama revolves around five intertwined characters: two former police partners and their seductive wives, plus a desirable lad with a knack for stumbling into unhealthy situations. The film opens with a lengthy, pointless flashback to the latter's chaotic delivery, a segment which only seems to exist because Penelope Cruz was itching to do a childbirth scene. From there, Cruz exits and the story jumps ahead 20 years. Her now-grown son Victor wants a second chance with temporary fling Elena, but a gun-waving argument breaks out in her apartment. Policemen David and Sancho are sent to the scene, but David gets shot (and tragically paralyzed from the waist down). Convicted of the shooting, Victor goes to prison for six years. During this period, David marries the sympathetic Elena and also becomes an implausible superstar of wheelchair basketball. Meanwhile, Sancho's heavy drinking and fiery temperament continue to test his relationship with wife Clara. When Victor is finally released, he tracks down Elena and David for revenge. But his anger softens and, not knowing Clara's background, he ends up in a happenstance affair with her (he views her more as a sexual tutor than a romantic partner, much to her dismay). David discovers this secret, but puts off telling Sancho due to a longstanding conflict they share. Infidelities, passions and jealousies continue to bubble within the group, and of course these tensions build to an explosive climax. The story is flawlessly paced and structured beyond the indulgent opening, but the film's prime weapon is the young Javier Bardem as David. Even in a wheelchair, his magnetic intensity just devours the rest of the cast (and his maneuvering skills are quite polished, besides -- he must have practiced awhile). Film buffs who like to draw connections between Almodovar and Luis Bunuel will enjoy at least three explicit nods in "Live Flesh." "Rehearsal for a Crime" is showing on television in one scene, and a soundtrack tune mentions an Andalusian dog. But the most delightful touch is the casting of Clara -- it's Angela Molina, best known for co-starring in Bunuel's final film, "That Obscure Object of Desire." She is 20 years older but, yes, still desirable.

• Daniel P

  
  <i>"I'm not asking you to love me. I can do that enough for both of us."</i> <p>Wow this is good. My lovefest for Pedro Almodóvar continues unabated - this is a fantastically written and constructed melodrama-slash-thriller. The lives of two policemen,… More
  <i>"I'm not asking you to love me. I can do that enough for both of us."</i> <p>Wow this is good. My lovefest for Pedro Almodóvar continues unabated - this is a fantastically written and constructed melodrama-slash-thriller. The lives of two policemen, a teenager and the women he is infatuated with are all brought together by a bullet fired in an altercation. Over the years, their paths continue to cross in a tale of lust, love, and revenge (and the pointlessness of vengeance). <p>Rich, warmly directed, fantastically acted across the board and incredibly satisfying, the story is very, very clever with lots of twists that are earned and enhance the plot and the emotional connectivity rather than cheapen it. Brilliant.

• Daisy M

  
  Carne Tremula was another Pedro Aldomovar movie and definitely one more of his genius works.A woman beard a child in a bus and it was that boy, Victor, who the story was all about. He was an ordinary guy, being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and his whole life got twisted as he… More
  Carne Tremula was another Pedro Aldomovar movie and definitely one more of his genius works.A woman beard a child in a bus and it was that boy, Victor, who the story was all about. He was an ordinary guy, being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and his whole life got twisted as he became the victim from two policemen acting on revenge.Like so many other movies by Aldomovar, the magic of the movie was found in its storytelling, which in the beginning it wont make much sense but then its unfold into a perfect, surprising story.All the actors were top notch, specially Javier Bardem. Great music, cinematography and direction made this movie a satisfying one.Penelope Cruz was very brief in the beginning, I wished she had a longer role.Carne Tremula was one more of Aldomovar's great work which gave you all the answers even if you had to wait till the end of the movie. It was worthy !

• Ina S

  
  Not your typical Almodovar with its rather restrained direction, this is an intense drama with immaculate acting and a perfectly written plot. One of the most impressive Almodovar films I have seen so far.

• Emily B

  
  At times a comedy, a drama and a thriller, Almodovar has created an intriguing film evolving around the connected lives of the five main characters. 'Carne trémula' shows how Almodovar has matured and sets us up for his later films. Overall one of Almodovar's best.… More
  At times a comedy, a drama and a thriller, Almodovar has created an intriguing film evolving around the connected lives of the five main characters. 'Carne trémula' shows how Almodovar has matured and sets us up for his later films. Overall one of Almodovar's best. Also the first performance I've seen by Javier Bardem, and what a great performance it was!

• Wu C

  
  Wonderful movie. Great story with some very good performances.

Read all 17 featured audience ratings