| Before Night Falls | |
Directed by Julian Schnabel Written by Cunningham O'Keefe, Lazaro Gomez Carriles and Mr. Schnabel, based on the autobiography of Reinaldo Arenas; directors of photography, Xavier Perez Grobet and Guillermo Rosas; edited by Michael Berenbaum; music by Carter Burwell, with additional music by Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson; production designer, Salvador Parra; produced by Jon Kilik; released by Fine Line Features. Running time: 125 minutes. This film is not rated. Cast: Javier Bardem (Reinaldo), Johnny Depp (Bon Bon and Lieutenant Victor), Andrea Di Stefano (Pepe Malas), Olatz Lopez Garmendia (Reinaldo's Mother), Olivier Martinez (Lázaro), Sean Penn (Cuco Sánchez) and Michael Wincott (Heberto Zorilla Ochoa). |
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The
New York Times
Like many of Mr. Schnabel's paintings, this cinematic canvas is consciously
heroic in its scale. Yet "Before Night Falls" is mercifully neither
hagiographic nor politically strident. And for all the brutality Arenas endured
in his life, the movie is surprisingly gentle and free of jarring shocks. If
"Before Night Falls" doesn't give us Arenas's life as he actually
experienced it, it offers penetrating glimpses into his life as he may have
dreamed it.
Salon
"Before Night Falls" is such a vivid experience that it holds you
fully in each moment. Even if you've read the memoir of the Cuban novelist and
poet Reinaldo Arenas on which the film is based, from scene to scene there's
no telling how painter-turned-director Julian Schnabel, or his wonderful star,
Javier Bardem, will tackle what comes next.
James
Berardinelli
Unlike Ed Harris' Pollock, another film about a marquee 20th century
art figure, Before Night Falls gives us some insight into the lead character's
mindset, rather than simply regurgitating the facts of his biography. It is
an intriguing and sporadically powerful motion picture with a stellar central
performance.
