Matteo

"A Battle In Heaven" - "Batalla en el Cielo"- Subtitled, Mexico, 2005. playing at the Angelika film Center.

I have to admit that this was the worst movie I have ever seen. Okay maybe not the worst, after all i have been known to watch the TBS movies they play on saturday mornings while i sit there chomping down cinamon toast crunch.

The Plot

Marcos and his wife kidnap a baby for ransom money, but it goes tragically wrong when the infant dies. In another world is Ana, the daughter of the general he drives for, who prostitutes herself for pleasure. Marcos confesses his guilt to her in his troubled search for relief. And then finds himself on his knees amidst the multitude of believers moving slowly towards the Basilica in honor of the Lady of Guadalupe.


Alright, so there's the plot.

Director Carlos Reygadas (A mexico city native) seems to be trying to tell a story while giving it an overkilling injection of needless shock value.
I mean if a 5 minute detailed blowjob scene (not that i'm against blowjobs) was that necessary then i just dont get it. The story itself had enough shock value, and unlike the love scenes in Y Tu Mama Tambien, with Heaven they felt a little awkwardly placed.

While male viewers will without a doubt feel an attraction towards young Ana, the Lolita of the movie, female viewers are left with an overweight bearded male- profusely sweating and moaning, and the goodlooking best guy friend who's cameo is short and insignificant.


Now that we've discussed the sexual appeal, or better, the lack of sexual appeal, we can try to question why the story was so shaky.
the kidnapping spoken about in previews, was only briefly brought up- if this was the underlying backbone of the movie, then i feel a little more emphasis could have been put on it.
We see the generals daughter and even get turned on by her durring parts of the film, but come on! Couldnt we at least meet the general for more than a split second so that we can feel bad for this girl or understand her, or even know where she came from and why she is where she is?
Is that too much to ask?

I won't ruin the end for anyone, but you could see where the story was going from the second scene.

I sat there dumbfounded the entire time and had to fight the urge to join the 10 people who walked out midway through the film.

For shock value and a few nice portraits of Mexico City, go see this film. For something to discuss or feel satisfied with after- stay home and watch a straightforward porn flick.

lauren

Haha I prefer to stay home and watch a straight forward porn flic.