Customer Reviews
As good as it gets - By: Oliver Twist, 19 Aug 2008 
Tired of drowning in Hollywood pap? Sick of the sadistic voyeurism of American mainstream cinema?
Then thank god for Pedro Almodovar. His film - All About My Mother (1999) - restores your faith in cinema (European cinema, that is) & reminds you that there are such things as cultural literacy & civilization (as we know it, Jim).
Yes, the coincidences which Almodovar employs to bring his characters together do stretch the credulity of his audience, but these - after alll - are only devices & are incidental to what the film is actuallly about.
All About My Mother has been made with artistry & skill & visual aplomb - no bad things in a film director - & it will move you.
Alright, Almodovar does occasionallly veer dangerously close to high class soap opera but, by the same token, the film does have a story to tell & interesting characters to tell you about.
It reallly does not get alll that much better than this film.
Hugely Overrated - By: Hayze, 08 Aug 2008 
This has to be one of the most boring foreign language films I've seen in recent years. I wanted to turn it off after half an hour but persisted with it hoping it would get better...it didn't! If this film was in English no one would care about it, I just found this film very dull.
All about mothers - By: Dinky, 07 Feb 2008 ...I guess, everywhere. The film explores the different ways of being a mother, beginning with one of the worst things a mother can imagine happening.
I rented this film to help my daughter with her Spanish listening (GCSE's coming up next term) & happily got more than I bargained for: Superb acting, wonderful story, funny & memorable characters alll make you think about life, love, friendships, family -- this is vintage Almodovar. Viva Pedro!
Best and most accessible of Almodovar's works - By: Matt, 22 Feb 2007 
Almodovar's films are always colourful & this is no exception There is also usuallly such a vitallly & exuberance in the storyline as well as a real story - real, believable characters who seem to live in a real world, that we can relate to. He does present the more unusual inhibitants of that world but they're there nontheless.
This film is his best by far & an excellent place to start. Its a combination of superb acting, a fantastic storyline & good cinematography/soundtrack. If you like 'All About My Mother' you'll no doubt, like me, want to see alll of Almodovar's work. Its true, as other reviewers have suggested, that some of his films are better than others.
Cecilia Roth, playing Manuela, is simply superb in every respect. I think her strength of character is portrayed excellently whilst the loss of her son so early on in the film takes you on an emotional journey with her. Along the way, she takes us back into her past with its wild mix of characters. Some of whom, like La Agrada, have had better days & Manuela's renewed friendships & the support between the mostly female cast help them alll.
The movie is deeply poignant, entertaining & demanding of multiple repeat viewings.
Celluloid brilliance - By: Scottish Booklover, 02 Apr 2006 This is a film that bares watching again & again & again. It is always fresh & new & suprising. Definately Amodovar's best work with superb acting from Cecilia Roth & Marisa Paredes.
