Carmen

Based on Bizet's opera but adapted to today. Few dialogues and a lot to tell with choreographies. Paul Mescal does spectacular and Melissa Barrera does well. Not for everyone.

I love this movie. The passion for life and the film's tangible sensuality are spellbinding. I was compelled to watch. Paul Mescal's character, Auden, is understated to convey the inner turmoil of the marine suffering ptsd while maintaining a shared humanity. His performance is outstanding particularly in the final dance scene where his authenticity shines. The other best thing about the film is Rossy de Palms as Masilda - totally amazing performance!

Melissa Barerra's performance is incredible it could not have been played by anyone else

Carmen is a musical drama that is an adaptation of the 1845 novella of the same name and is loosely adapted from the Opera of the same name. The movie stars Melissa Barrera and Paul Mescal in the lead roles as Mescal plays Aiden, a former marine that gets a job as a border patrol officer and after an incident occurs with him saving Carmen played by Barrera, they flee and go on a journey from Mexico to Los Angeles. The best part of this movie for me has to be the chemistry and romance between Mescal and Barrera as their dynamic starts to come together but I feel like their relationship didn't develop enough to become as close as they did in the movie. The story also has a lot of great messages to be told and I think that's what the movie tries to mostly do through the art that is dance but I am someone who doesn't understand dancing like that and there are a lot of sequences where it's Barrera's character dancing which seems powerful and breathtaking but it's just something that I personally don't understand. As for the dramatic aspect to the movie, I think it more applies to the dancing as well as I think it's labeled as dramatic dance. There are a few tense moments between our main leads but for the most part this movie just feels like a movie that was trying to tell some great and powerful messages, but with an underdeveloped and rushed story. Overall, Barrera and Mescal's performances are amazing in this movie but this movie has story issues that either I just don't understand as someone who's not into dancing, or because it is just not developed well. Either way I give Carmen a C-.

Carmen - 7/10. A retelling of the famous opera, this Melissa Barrera and Paul Mescal starrer is a musical drama that is a very visually and auditory based film. When the movie is firing on all cylinders, it works wonders. The performances from both the leads are good, and they both have incredible chemistry with each other. The music by Nicholas Britell is haunting, and really works as almost a third character here. Visually stunning as well. An interesting different take on the famous source material, but this reimagining is certainly entertaining because of the two leads, the music, and visuals!

Weird times we're a leaving in; you became half famous for who knows what reason and automatically you gain skills to write books and direct films. Please half famous people… leave films and books to professionals.

Carmen is a film that's difficult to pigeonhole. It skillfully combines genres, including a captivating love story, a mythical narrative, a musical extravaganza, and a modern interpretation of a timeless opera. Under the guidance of Benjamin Millepied, a dancer and choreographer, we are taken on a journey to the rugged landscapes of the U.S.-Mexico border, where passion, violence and beauty intersect and intertwine. The central character, played by Melissa Barrera, infuses Carmen with life. After witnessing her mother's demise at the hands of a drug cartel in Mexico, Carmen manages to escape. Along her journey, she encounters Aidan (portrayed by Paul Mescal), a former Marine who has become a vigilante patrolling the border. Despite their backgrounds, they discover love amidst the chaos and uncertainty. On their quest to evade capture and stay ahead of the cartel and the authorities, they cross paths with individuals like Masilda (brought to life by Rossy de Palma), a friend of Carmen's mother who runs a dance club in Los Angeles. Carmen doesn't adhere to Bizet's opera; it deviates from its songs and music. Nicholas Britell has crafted a score that seamlessly blends flamenco and pop influences. The dance sequences are mesmerising, showcasing Millepied's choreography and Barrera's talent as a dancer. One aspect that stands out in the movie is its cinematography, skillfully executed by Jörg Widmer. He magnificently captures the essence of the desert, the city, and the night sky, creating visuals that possess a dreamlike mythical quality with a touch of reality. The film delves into thought-provoking themes such as immigration, identity and freedom, handling them subtly without preaching or oversimplification. Some areas could be improved – moments of confusion in the plot, elements that stretch believability in the third act, and the characters could have been fully developed and their motivations clearer. Some of the dialogue occasionally leans towards clichés and melodrama making it challenging for the film to find its tone as it shifts between romance, action, comedy and tragedy. Carmen ambitiously tackles a range of subjects. But it doesn't always succeed in doing so. Nevertheless, it remains a beautiful film that captivated me despite its shortcomings. However, others may not connect with it on such a level. Regardless Carmen deserves recognition for its originality and vision despite some flaws in execution and overall coherence. I liked watching it, although I didn't fall in love with it.

Overall, Carmen delivers excellent performances combined with touching choreography thanks to the directional debut of Benjamin Millepied. The various locations in Australia are beautiful, and there's a clever use of lighting throughout. The dance and music numbers shown throughout are highly entertaining and impressive. If you are highly familiar with the original story, you may find some finer details have been altered, as this feature is a whole new interpretation of the famous opera by Bizet. The transition between the second and third acts is prolonged and almost puts the film at a standstill before a touching grand finale which I found to be deeply impacting.

Choreographer turned director Benjamin Millepied's feverish re-imagining of Bizet's sensualist classic is not going to be everyone's bag but it sure in the heck hell was mine.

Different ways of demonstrating love with body, voice and expression. Beautiful story telling. Melissa barrera performance was brilliant and stunning.