Bella
(2006/Lionsgate)
Picture: B- Sound: B- Extras: C+ Film: B-
Alejandro
Monteverde’s Bella is the well-done story about a world class soccer player
(Eduardo Verástegui) n the rise when a terrible event permanently derails his
big career. Years later a cook, he is
sick of working for his brothers at a top restaurant and when his brother fires
a pregnant woman (Tammy Blanchard) he cannot take it anymore and quits, despite
the fallout.
The rest
of the film vies between the relationship between ex-employees, his family
maters and a past he still has yet to come to grips with the recent pain
of. Usually, these melodrama films are
lame, tired and predicable, but the cast is terrific and the screenplay co-written
by the director manages to miss many narrative landmines to its credit. No wonder Bella has received the praise it
did. It actually earned it.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image is pretty good looking, with a solid
look, good consistent color, some good detail and even depth. The Dolby Digital 5.1 has good dialogue,
decent use of surrounds despite so much dialogue and the combination is a
pleasant surprise. Extras include
trailer, TV spot, a Music Video and two featurettes about the production.
- Nicholas Sheffo
