I have just seen one of the first passes of the new Pedro Almodóvar movie. I think I've got to see it again, but the first adjective that comes to my mind is "excellent". Soon people and critics will start to compare this one to "Hable con ella" and "Todo sobre mi madre", and if I have to do it myself I will say this is the best. But, speaking about this film...there are millions of things to admire, starting with Almodóvar's writing and directing. This is the most complex and original film of the Spanish filmmaker, a black story about catholic (mis)education in the sixties' Spain, murder and revenge in the seventies...and a filmmaker who, in the eighties, makes a movie about all that. The surprises will appear on the three decades, making the movie even more interesting. With this premise Almodóvar treats his favorite topics, especially movies inside the movies. There are lots of excellent things on this film, as the performances of the main characters by Gael García Bernal, Fele Martínez, Daniel Giménez-Cacho...Javier Cámara, the star of "Hable con ella", also plays a supporting role that, I think, will report him many film awards.

One of the great virtues of the film is the cinematography by José Luis Alcaine, giving the movie the colours and light of earlier Almodóvar films as "Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios" and "¡Átame!". Also, the Alberto Iglesias' score, making the tragedy bigger, is also very good.

One of the best Spanish films of this early 2004, and with no doubt the most international of the year...at least until Alejandro Amenábar releases his new movie.

One of the most consistently great directors I've come across continues to amaze me with his wonderful blend of surreal and artistic beauty within a narrative you'd expect from a soap opera or trashy romance novel. Brilliant storytelling interweaving back and forth between past and present and a masterful way of bringing the truth to light. Gael García Bernal gives a world class performance and the rest of the cast follows suit. A truly fantastic and terrifyingly mesmerising film.

Fascinatingly complex nourish mystery. A film-maker is reunited with a boyhood lover, who wants to tell a dark story from their Catholic school days. But is the story true? And who's story is it really? Gael Garcia Bernal is terrific, and all the acting is very good. Gorgeously shot, with a great score.

I wish I felt more emotionally, but my mind was always completely absorbed, even if my heart stayed a little cool. Maybe that's the nature of a film where everyone is hustling and using each other.

(mild spoilers ahead)

A bit obvious and self-conscious in a few spots, and pederastic Catholic priests is a cliché the film only partially transcends (although the humanity given to the priest makes it far more interesting), and a couple of the climactic twists feel less motivated than what comes before. But worth it for the 'Vertigo' like layers of reality that keep getting pulled back and forcing us to keep reassessing 'good', 'bad', 'art' and 'real.' Many critics consider this Almodovar's masterpiece – and I could see re-watching a third time and liking it even more, given the film's many layers.)