'Broken Embraces'

'Broken Embraces' (R) **1/2

Written and Directed By Pedro Almodovar
Starring: Penelope Cruz, Lluis Homar, Blanca Portillo, Jose Luis Gomez, Ruben Ochendiano, Tamar Novas

Pedro Almodovar movies remind me of the old women's pictures of the 40's with Bette Davis, Katherine Hepburn and Joan Crawford. His best movies deal with a beautiful woman at the center surrounded by melodrama and multiple supporting characters. His favorite collaborator these days is Penelope Cruz who gave a fantastic performance in his last movie "Volver". Their new movie "Broken Embraces" is not as strong as "Volver" but still contains another great performance by Penelope Cruz. She is really coming on strong in her acting and more assured from one film to the next. The screen loves her and she has that great glamour and screen presence of the grand actresses of the 30's and 40's. "Broken Embraces" deals with an actress who was once a former call girl and her affair with a movie director. The plot becomes very full and complicated as she is being followed by her boyfriend who is rich and has her followed and filmed on camera as she is making a new movie with her director. The movie is chock full of melodrama, sly humor and a Little noir mystery. I liked the look of the film and the performances but I found the movie to be a pale copy of his two best movies "Women On the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown" and "All About My Mother". He even makes the film that is being shot in the movie a play on "Women of the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown" and that even makes it seem even weaker. Penelope Cruz is again outstanding and Almodovar is a good writer of dialogue. The only problem I had was that I expected a little stronger movie instead of a fluff piece that needed to be more dramatic and funnier. I never really felt for any of the characters except for the Cruz character. Though I do love Almodovar's love of movies and old time melodrama and he knows how to shoot a movie for this one looks very beautiful.