"Roma" Review - A 100% Fresh Tale

Many of us wonder what a film would be like if a director could actually make a big budget movie the way they wanted. Sure, it has happened before, but I don’t there’s ever been a kind of independent film such as “Roma”. This film is truly genius, and it’s not to say that only someone like Alfonso Curon could make this kind of masterpiece, but you sure will fail if you haven’t trained for something this difficult to make.

The plot is razor thin, I will put that out right in front. If you are into a lot of dialogue and big flashy scenes, chances are you will not like this. But if you are even in the slightest good mood for great cinema, then this film will blow you away. It’s probably one of the very few films that lets the cinematography tell the story and actually succeeds! There are so many sharp one takes in this that it feels like you’re watching Birdman. Some takes I don’t even know how they were even accomplished, considering either what the context of the scene was, or what kind of sorcery Alfonso had behind the camera. Either way, it’s mesmerizing, gorgeous, and pure as hell magic that you can’t take your eyes off of. Considering something even more impressive is its use of black and white rather than color. This man is accomplishing cinematography of hall of famers without even a drop of color for the eye to see. The only skills Alfonso Curon relies on are the use of his lenses and his directing. It also helps when you have a talented and raw Spanish cast that absolutely takes you away through their heartbreaking yet beautiful performances.

In the end, this is Alfonso Curon’s baby, and it makes Prisoner of Azkaban look like Troll 2. If you’re going to watch this, either find a theatre to watch it in, or find the biggest screen in your house, turn off all the lights, and let yourself be taken away. Roma deserves your attention, so you better go in, and try to keep up.

Two Nebs Up!