If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

"BELLA" just made my top ten movie list! It helped me understand why I've chosen the path I'm on: I've taken a life, and must atone, or give one back by sacrificing for another. For my friend Anna MacariI LOVE the way it made me think for about 5 minutes at the end, to figure out what the happened! this movie does not play to ignorance, as American movies do.The main character, Jose, is a very likable and inspirational example. Don't be fooled by the harsh mistake the characters make...or judge them or others, or Yourself...everyone must suffer to learn true compassion.

When Erin loaned me this movie, I was unsure of what to expect. The cover of it has the handsome Eduardo Verástegui as the star and I was expecting this movie to be more of a "chick flick". However, I started watching with an open mind and my suspicions were quickly put to rest. This movie had more of an "independent movie" feel to it.I liked this movie and Jose, the main character - was a joy to watch. At first, it shows him with short hair and just some stubble. Then fast forward many years and there he is in a kitchen as a chef with a huge beard and long hair. His older brother (I think it's his older brother) is named Manny. At first I really hated Manny for firing his waitress, Nina for being late. But I grew to like him later on. Speaking of Nina, I really liked her also. She seemed like a great fit for Jose. There was a good connection between the two but they never really did more than just hang out with each other. I liked the family dynamic of Jose's family. I was very much expecting a LOT more drama in this movie than there actually was. Sure, Jose killed that girl by accident in his car, but this movie did not dwell on that too badly. I've seen other movies which have such a thing happen and the remainder of the movie is painful to watch. When I watched BELLA, I was feeling good more than bad. Why? Because there was more happiness in this movie than tragedy.I am guessing that at the end of the movie, Jose agreed to watch over the baby, who I assume is named Bella, while Nina got her life pieced back together. The last part of the movie has Nina meeting her child for the first time. It was touching.Again, this movie was NOT a dramatic movie like CRASH by any means. It was just a slice of life movie where the interaction between the characters was enjoyable to watch, specifically Jose and Nina, The Mother and Non English speaking father - and Jose's brothers. I am glad that Erin suggested this movie to me.

I realize that "most average" sounds silly but so does the fact that this film got the Toronto Film Festival Audience Award. This award speaks volumes not about the film but rather about the public that votes at such a festival. If you like soap operas with soccer players turned into cooks turned into saviours you may enjoy this. If you like shocking plots involving totally cute little girls plastered over the pavement in a car accident - you may like it even more. Add some syrupy story, bland lines and good old criticism of labour practices in Mexican restaurants staffed with undocumented migrants. This film will not appeal to your intelligence, does not ask questions, does not entertain. It's not even a decent chick flick.

There is basically no drama in it; extremely boring; a few Hispanics speaking accented English; the photographer shot the movie by carrying a constantly very shaky camera -- thereby making me feel like throwing up quickly -- like feeling sea sick or car sick.I do not know how the writers and director could create such a piece of junk. I am also surprised how could the actresses and actors would be willing to waste their time like this.Basically the scenes were boring and boring. The camera was pretty shaky. It does not tell why the woman in the film got pregnant and why the guy (Jose) just wanted to adopt her daughter. It does not tell why in the end Jose got her daughter and she had not spent anytime with her own daughter. The talkings are very faked, acted.I really regret renting this terrible junk. I suggest you do not waste time on this one.