Featured Audience Ratings

• danny d

  
  this is a very interesting film. the acting was wonderful and the dialogue very well written. as historical dramas go, this film was far more historical than it was drama, almost to the point of feeling like a documentary, but it carried enough interesting thematic elements and… More
  this is a very interesting film. the acting was wonderful and the dialogue very well written. as historical dramas go, this film was far more historical than it was drama, almost to the point of feeling like a documentary, but it carried enough interesting thematic elements and social commentary to make it very worthwhile.

• Mark H

  
  Director Pablo Larraín shoots the production like a documentary. He utilizes U-matic video tape, the kind used by newscasts in the 80s, to give the film the look from that era. At times it's a bit too grubby as the production almost looks ugly. He doesn't even utilize… More
  Director Pablo Larraín shoots the production like a documentary. He utilizes U-matic video tape, the kind used by newscasts in the 80s, to give the film the look from that era. At times it's a bit too grubby as the production almost looks ugly. He doesn't even utilize widescreen so news footage from 1988 is interspersed with fresh material. It's integrated so perfectly I often didn't notice the difference. He even showcases actual anti-Pinochet commercials with new scenes of them shooting the ad. The clips are full of people dancing and clapping urging the viewer to vote "No" in cheerful song. These displays are surprisingly light, particularly when contrasted with the reality of Pinochet's administration. The unexpected lighthearted tone is part of the film's brilliance but it's also the way it contrasts with an underlying climate of terror. fastfilmreviews.wordpress.com

• Carlos M

  
  With a magnetic performance by Bernal and appropriately filmed in videotape to recreate the looks of back then, this is an intensely engaging and thrilling account of an important episode of Chilean history and how dictatorship was defeated by a lot of courage and struggle.

• Walter M

  
  In 1988, after fifteen years of one man rule, Chilean President Augusto Pinochet is forced by international pressure to accede to a plebiscite as to whether he is deserving of another eight year term. Lucho Guzman(Alfredo Castro), an advertising executive, has agreed to work for the… More
  In 1988, after fifteen years of one man rule, Chilean President Augusto Pinochet is forced by international pressure to accede to a plebiscite as to whether he is deserving of another eight year term. Lucho Guzman(Alfredo Castro), an advertising executive, has agreed to work for the yes side. He so believes in his cause that he does not even like his subordinate Rene(Gael Garcia Bernal) talking with Jose Tomas Urrutia(Luis Gnecco) who may or may not be a Communist but is definitely working for the no side to which Rene agrees to work for. Set at a pivotal point in Chile's history, "No" shows not only how advertising actually managed to do some good for a change but also how it turned a negative to a positive, convincing Chile's population of the need for peaceful revolution, with a lot of inspiration coming from 'We Are the World.' Surprisingly, nobody goes that far below the belt in this year of Willie Horton. In any case, I have to agree with a recent New York Times article in wondering if it cannot possibly be this simple, as there is plenty of history here but no politics, as advertising shows the clueless leftists how it is all done. On the other hand, as much as Rene becomes enlightened over the course of the film, we do get many more scenes of him being a dutiful single father. I mean I love model train sets as much as the next guy but...

• The Movie W

  
  Chile, 1988. Under pressure from the west, the ruling General Pinochet calls a referendum on whether he should remain in power for a further eight years. The numerous opposition groups work together in their campaign against the dictator and are labelled "Communists",… More
  Chile, 1988. Under pressure from the west, the ruling General Pinochet calls a referendum on whether he should remain in power for a further eight years. The numerous opposition groups work together in their campaign against the dictator and are labelled "Communists", regardless of their political leanings. In the weeks leading to the vote, the "Yes" and "No" campaigns are allotted 15 minutes of TV time each evening to put across their message. With the TV networks under the control of Pinochet, the "No" campaign's 15 minutes take on huge importance. A young advertising man (Bernal) is hired to lead the campaign against the wishes of his agency's head (Castro) who is working for the opposing "Yes" campaign. The disparities of 'No' are as great as those which existed between the ruling and working classes of Pinochet's Chile. Larrain's film tells its hi-fi story in a lo-fi manner, like a biopic of Michael Bay directed by Robert Altman. The flashy (for 1988) nature of Bernal's American-inspired commercials are in stark contrast to the old-school video (think Altman's 1988 campaign expose 'Tanner 88') employed by Larrain. Bernal's character is the son of a left-wing dissident while Larrain's own father was a right-wing "Yes" voter. To the dismay of his socialist clients, Bernal sells their ideals with the same techniques he employs to flog Soap-Operas and Coke knock-offs. Rather than hiring a songwriter to compose an "anthem" for the campaign, Bernal uses a jingle-writer. (The jingle will be stuck in your head for days after seeing the film.) Apart from a helpful scroll over the credits to explain the backstory, 'No' refuses to pander to its audience. You're either on board or you aren't. I for one was gripped from beginning to end. The lo-fi video format is jarring for a couple of minutes but, ultimately, it's a brilliant decision, one which transports you back to its era far more impressively than the Top-40 tunes and retro beards of the similarly themed 'Argo'. The images blend in perfectly with archive footage of the time without resorting to cheesy 'Forrest Gump' tricks. When Bernal gets caught up in a riot, it's a terrifying moment because it looks so authentic. The great film-makers can take a big theme and distill it down to a smaller, more recognizable one. Against a larger backdrop, Larrain tells a simple story of an employee attempting to get one over on his boss. The relationship between the two is fascinating. Despite Castro at times threatening Bernal's family, the level of animosity simmers somewhere below the level of two co-workers who support rival football teams. It's a stark, and wholly refreshing, contrast to the black-and-white characterization rampant in modern cinema. Blunt self-congratulatory films like 'Argo' may be the choice of a generation but you would do well to just say 'No'. What's the worst that could happen?

• Christopher H

  
  With a dark humor and riveting performance from Gael Garcia Bernal, this Academy Award nominated foreign film from Chile takes a look at blooming democracy during a Chilean dictatorship in the 80's. Bernal plays an advertising executive, Rene Saavedra who is contacted to help… More
  With a dark humor and riveting performance from Gael Garcia Bernal, this Academy Award nominated foreign film from Chile takes a look at blooming democracy during a Chilean dictatorship in the 80's. Bernal plays an advertising executive, Rene Saavedra who is contacted to help lead the strike campaign in voting YES or NO in keeping the dictator in office, thus starting the debate for a real democracy. The film is shot in a strange aspect ratio and most often looks like a home video, VHS quality format, taking some of the enjoyment out of what should be an escapist media. Instead, you're focused on the poor quality and not the well told story or spectacular performances. However, the actual commercials and segments that are played are the highlight of the film and throughout the film you anticipate this moments where the commercials are played.

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