| This could possibly be the greatest film ever made. It gives every contrast in every aspect of everything, and then - relates and unites the opposites. Just remember to be careful to not hang your underwear on the wrong criminal’s clothesline at the wrong time, because then the Brazilian government will come in and kill everyone. If you can’t say this is the greatest film ever, you have to be able to at least say it is the greatest prison movie. It touches on the guilt of murderers, the love between brothers, the ties of loyalty and respect, and then breaks them all. One amazing part of the movie is how the story of a character is introduced, you have a tie to him - and instantly he is gone. No one cares, and they aren’t mentioned again. Thats it. At first, it is quite confusing to see inmates hopping from cell to cell as if it were an insanely disgusting college dorm house (as if they aren’t actually disgusting) and making | decisions like they are free men. Essentially - they are, except they are surrounded by fences and walls. You are exposed to fear, confusion, happiness, humor, and just about everything else. Just as two men are getting married and you think to yourself “this movie is completely ridiculous” you begin to understand in the form of a question “is it really?” All I can say is that after seeing this, along with City of God, I don’t think I’ll ever be taking a trip to Brazil! But, the sheer insaneness sure as hell makes for some of the greatest films in history. |  |