Sadly Over-hyped

Please don't spend money on this.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

I saw this film last weekend on DVD and can't get it out of my mind. It seems a dark commentary with a dark humour on the violence that many experience and feel threatened by in certain parts of Brazilian cities. While the main character's becoming a neighbourhood hero through vigilante justice may be a caricature, the film speaks (through its characters) of the racial and social stereotyping that that may be a problem in Brazilian society. There is a scene where one of Dr. Carvalho's circle describes being burglarized by a nervous young black who claims to be committing the crime out of desperate poverty. In telling of this, Dr. Carvalho's companion treats this with contempt. But perhaps less poverty would mean less crime.While it's obviously very unpleasant being robbed, there was an unpleasant lack of empathy there. The police, too, seem just as bad as those they are supposed to jail. Anyway, while I won't say this was a better film that "Cidade de Dios," it affected me more.

or that's what we say in Denmark. Anyways, this movie starts out extremely well - actually like a masterpiece. There are great characters and some really creative twists amongst the characters that stand out as so unrealistic and it gives the movie a kind of surreal touch because it simply works. Also there's the whole social commentary thing going on - same theme as in La Zona. It's good for about two thirds.But then the movie begins to act out like any of those Snatch-inspired shoot 'em up action movies. Trust me, the end really doesn't match the beginning and should be viewed with extreme caution! La Zona took things a little too far, but at least managed to keep its style. Man of the Year totally loses its style.

Did anyone count the cans of coke in this movie?Non-spot advertising, like in-script sponsoring, is a huge trend. Examples are when you see someone work on a Mac with the Apple logo real clear on screen, or someone eating Ben & Jerry's ice-cream.The big brands are choosing for non-spot more and more. The choose to show us the brand in it's natural environment instead of putting it in the spotlights (e.g. like in radio en television commercials.)When I watched this movie last night I really was disturbed by all the cans of coke that kept coming. Did anyone else notice this?Non-spot: Yes, but in small amounts please! Don't give us an O.D. of advertising which will spoil the movie! I really don't understand that big enterprises, like Coca Cola, don't rails that 'too much' will only have negative effects on their corporate image.

I have seen this movie in its brazilian premiére. If I had to say that this motion picture is about how some people loose control of their lives and get led by the hands of fate I would not be misunderstood. Sometimes we are taken through strange ways that lead to an obvious ending. Sometimes we're not. Get ready to know some particular characters and know all the reasons that turned a simple man into a busy and respected personal killer that all the crime bosses wanted to hire. The well-built script is a real pearl and its rare sense of humour and nonsense leads the story to some unexpected and hilarious situations. Murilo Benício (Máiquel) plays his character in a very decent and talented way and so does Cláudia Abreu (Cledir). However the best performance must be credit to Natália Lage. She's really amazing as the essencially funny and delightful part of this bizarre love triangle. Although her former succeed carreer in supporting roles in several TV series she is the best surprise of this motion picture. Absolutely. At last but not at least: do not try to help falling in love with Máiquel's tiny little pig. I'm afraid it's impossible. Hey, Miss Piggy... I guess you got a date!