Motorcycle Diaries Discuss Bus

9 out of 10

Glad to hear this. The trailer made the film look great!

Yay! this will so be playing at the liberal/fag/student theatre on campus. I like the new forum already.

Saw the trailer last week and it looks very good.

Saw the film this evening, and I thought it was excellent. Beautiful images. Both humorous and thought provoking (I'm being particularly vague and cliched, my apologies). I don't know much about Che Guevara, and this film has encouraged me to find out more, though I imagine most sources will cover his revolutionary work, while the film shows only early catalysts to his eventual actions. Makes me want to travel through South America, too.

When does it arrive in the States?

Im from Argentina, and i saw this movie already.

Its good, but not THAT good. And people who thinks its great its because they don't know too much about Che Guevara.

The best thing about this movie; Rodrigo De La Serna. He is the best young actor of my country, and im glad that he will be recognized around the world with this role. He totally deserves it.

The music by Gustavo Santaolalla kicks ASS.

This is my most anticipated film for the rest of the year, with The Life Aquatic and Sideways following shortly behind. The cinematography in the trailer does look spectacular, and the coming-of-age story of someone who did achieve greatness (whether you agree with him or not) sounds like promising cinema.

I've very anxious to see this.

just been released in the UK. As a coming-of-age / road trip movie with interesting characters, great acting, directing, music and scenery it succeeds. I liked the characters a lot, and it was suprisinly humorous.
The scenes with the lepers are very moving.
The trouble with the film is what it misses out, the political angle. It skims over the rest of his life, simply adding a foot note about him being murdered with the help of the CIA. I'm sure that's true, but it ignores too much, like his firing squads, hatred of minorities (eg homosexuals), central planning of cuba which wrecked the economy, causing many to flee the country, and that's just for starters.
Some may think this doesn't matter, but the film shows the experiences which supposedly made him who he was. I don't think you then leave out the consequences.there is also a lot of hatred in the diary.
However, none of this negates the fine acting and technical aspects of the film.

my review...

Poltical revolution gets a sexy young face in THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES, the new Walter Salles-directed drama. Sweaty and propulsive, it is an interesting wrinkle amongst this fall’s biographic pictures in that it goes the route not often traveled, depicting the life of Cuban revolutionary Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara before he came to power, before he made history as a future college wall poster template.

Gael Garcia Bernal stars as the young firebrand, who desires only to see South America with his best buddy, Alberto Granado (Rodrigo de la Sorno). They head out on a shared motorcycle, on their way to complete a medical residency at a leper colony, the intention being to celebrate their youth, party hard, and meet girls along the way.

There’s many moments in the film where scenes can get political, when there can be a chance to drop hints about the type of person young Che will become, but it never happens. THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES attempts to humanize the icon, to show how the seeds were planted that made him change from Ernesto to Che. Gael Barnal’s performance goes a long way: his Guevara is a confident, strong, but uncertain asthmatic, lost amidst countries torn apart by the tyranny of those disrespectful of the past. In such a story, his character arc is riveting: the story begins with Guevara as a fun loving youth and it ends with him finding himself drawn away from his friends, from his allies, for a higher calling. Bernal’s grounded performance and world-weary good looks genuinely help the audience understand that the Che of THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES is a young man in flux, a gentle soul seeking a higher understanding.

Just because the film refuses to be political, however, doesn’t mean it’s afraid of being maudlin. As Guevara becomes more humanistic, more understanding of the unfortunate ones around him, he becomes slightly less believable. After the fifth or so scene involving the lower class describe their misfortune to Guevara is followed by a closeup of a thoughtful Che mulling things over, the movie is ready to elevate the young doctor to improbable and unmerited sainthood.

THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES benefits largely from it’s location setting. It’s hard to say that the South American wilderness has been captured on film in such sumptuous detail, as many shots are meant to illustrate the massively beautiful expansiveness of the poorest of South American countries. It’s too bad that the film portrays the beauty of South America more accurately than the goodwill of it’s young protagonist. B

Might as well post my review too ..

I've never seen a film about a controversial political figure that didn't really touch on the politics or the controversy of the time. The closest I've seen was Max, starring John Cusack, which portrayed Adolf Hitler as a young, idealistic artist who was tempted by the politics of the time. Yet, even that movie eventually showed Hitler's "path to the dark side", his degradation, and it did condemn the ideology that he eventually followed. I'm not comparing Che Guevara to Hitler (although some with conservative leanings might think it a fair comparison), but they are both enigmatic figures who were tempted toward another profession during their youth. Unlike Max, The Motorcycle Diaries is not a political story, but instead it is a story of self-discovery; how someone's world-view and personality is shaped by his surroundings. It is a tale of how significantly a man's life can be changed just over the course of two seasons, and it is told remarkably well.

Taking a brief break from medical school, future revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara and his biochemist buddy Alberto Granada decide to tour the coast of Latin America. Their ultimate goal is to reach a leper colony in Peru, in order to undertake a medical residency. Along the way they hope to find fame and adventure, while also seeing the outside world for the first time. What they find changes them both drastically, yet also forges an unlikely bond between two men who are idealistically worlds apart. Guevara is more reserved, disciplined and honest, while Granada is care-free, manipulative, and has questionable ethics. Both men find themselves forever changed by the trip, which shapes the course of each of their lives.

The Motorcycle Diaries is extremely moving, not just because of the gorgeous Latin countryside (the cinematography is quite impressive), but also because of the tribulations the pair must undergo, and what they witness along the way. The trip is hardly eventless, and the pair have to fight many battles in order to survive, some against each other. At some point the movie switches gears and focuses more on what they see around them. The most telling sequence is at a mine, where poor locals travel in hope of work. The employer only chooses the most able, while the others are sent away. This seems like injustice to Guevara, who knows that those looking for work are suffering, and it motivates his rebellious spirit. Scenes such as this strengthen Guevara's resolve, but his full transformation isn't consummated during the film. The images show how attractive the idealogy of communism could be to someone living in that economic climate (not that it's much better now), plus they develop the character of Guevara, specifically his passion, as one who could become consumed by it. The film effectively develops him for what he would become. He was passionate and principled, no doubt, with a fiery temper. I have to admire Salles for not taking a stance on whether he was ultimately right; instead he just shows that Guevara felt he was right.

A project such as this is doomed without talented lead actors. First of all, Gael Garcia Bernal really comes into his own here. He has shown potential in Y Tu Mama Tambien, Amores Perros and The Crime of Padre Amaro, but has finally become realized as a true, deserving top international actor. His portrayal as Guevara is pitch-perfect, easily the best of his career. He captures the reserved, stoic demeanor of the young Guevara, while still showing the young temper and insecurity with himself. He is one of the finest actors today and I hope he continues to receive roles such as this. His partner, Rodrigo De la Serna, having only a television background before this film, does a good job at playing the boisterous sidekick, while bringing some light humor to the film. The chemistry between the two is phenomenal, throughout the highs and the lows. You can understand why they get so infuriated at each other, but also why there is such a connection. They make this a "buddy movie" like no other.

Many will criticize this film for romanticizing communism, and understandably so. Depending on who you ask today, Che Guevara was either an evil terrorist, a propaganda tool, a true revolutionary leader, or an influential fashion statement. Those who dislike his politics (most of America), may reject the social conditions as they are portrayed in the film as liberal propaganda. I, however, had a different take. The division between rich and poor in South America has always been present, and what Salles shows is not groundbreaking stuff. Guevara is portrayed here as a principled idiot, more or less, without much influence from liberal or conservative political philosophies. Yet, he is motivated by the social and economic conditions of the time and Salles shows us his perception, through his own eyes, which were documented in his own words. Again, let me reiterate, this is not a political movie, which makes it that much easier to admire.

Rating: 9/10

Wow, this sounds like a really intriguing film. I am a big fan of road trip movies, and if they are layered with a lot of social and political meaning so much the better. I don't know much about Che Guevara other than that he is on t-shirts everywhere, but I'm planning on learning his basic history before seeing the movie so I have a better understanding of what is going on.

I have to agree with Devin and dissent. I saw the film last night and I would easily give it a 9 out of 10. Just a wonderful, beautifully-shot film with endearing and humorous performances from Gael Garcia Bernal and Rodrigo De la Serna. I can only imagine what an extraordinary adventure it was for Guevara and Granado to take this trip and director Walter Salles excels in telling their story. This film certainly goes on my top 10 of the year!

Ha! I didn't notice that.

I dont disagree with either of them they both have have the film nailed

one thing that struck me when i saw the film was the way the early part of the film
showed the zest for life of the people of South America during the fifties and the way
the people at the leper colony were still able to show now life must go on when your
suffering from terrible afflictions ...big softy that i am that part raised a tear....

i suppose basically the film is a buddy buddy road trip where the good
natured sidekick shows how fun life can be while the main charactor
grows into a larger awareness of the world but it isnt done in such a way
that the future politics of Ernesto/Che is forced on you ....which i prefered
frankly because i would have left the cinema thinking about the Icon he
became, and not the man he was before the "legend".........the film is about
Ernesto after all not Che

Posted my views in the review thread Dev created the other week. Needless to say, it's a picture that's stayed wallowing in my mind for the last few weeks. Just wonderful filmmaking by future master, I'm sure. I liked Salles Central Station a lot. But this is such a mature and beautiful work. I hope everyone's read Devin's fantastic interviews with the two leads and director a couple weeks ago. Eye opening, jaw dropping stuff about how guerilla the making of this picture was. That it's so controlled, measured and beautifully realised is a testament to all involved.

And so this morning the picture fallen through the cracks laid out amid the weird Foreign Language Oscar rules (has to be filmed in one coutry, in one specific language for a certain majority percentage....etc etc etc). Do I think it stands a chance in the feature catagory ? I don't know how political the Academy Awards will become next year, but it's as good as any picture this year. Supporting Actor, screenplay, cinematography and direction seem like no brainers to me...

Awesome movie. The depth Salles' got out of adouble treck through south america really shines, especially during the scene in Cuzco. (Side note: that scene gave me childhood flashbacks to Prisoners of the Sun, where Tintin goes to Peru to rescue Professor Calculus from the Inca — I did search-out Prisoners of the Sun on my bookshelf; it's published in 1949, a few years before MD and there's an earie level of congruence between it and the movie, especially re: the plight of native south americans.)

I like how they refer to south america as america.

Saw it at the wonderful Arclight.

I liked parts of the movies, I was expecting more and the more never came, I know is hard to do a trip movie in 2 hours, but I felt that the movie was a bit rushed in some places, it jumped from place to place too quickly sometimes. Gael is great but he still can't top his performance in AMORES PERROS.

The ending kinda ruined the whole film for me, I mean you spend this two hours showing this amazing trip, then at the end they just said how Che was killed, it may be viewed as if this trip meant, nothing or everyhting it depends how you view it, and it was like a big Fuck You!! to the CIA.
I could have done without that, just showing the real De la Serna would have been great.

My gf loved it and cried during the movie...then again she's in a group called RAZA here in Long Beach University. Where they love Che, I was going to see FINDING NEVERLAND too but Velvet Revolver played for free in a parking lot two blocks away from the Arclight, my gf saw it she knows that Depp is my favorite actor ever, and told me you will cry alot during this movie, the director was there, if Johnny had been there I would have kick myself forever....

I saw it last night and really liked it. I really wished I could speak Spanish because I thought some things were lost in translation, plus, the shots were pretty great and I was all distracted reading.

Good movie, though.

Overall, I enjoyed the movie but I didn't think it was too great. I loved the imagery and I think the two actors did a terrific job, but the movie jumps to conclusions. At the end Che tells Alberto that what they saw during their trip had changed him and he felt that there was too much injustice and something had to be done about it. It made no sense because the entire movie didn't really show much. He visits a leper colony, sees poor miners, and goes to Macchu Picchu, and all of a sudden we're supposed to believe that this man becomes a revolutionary? How did he go from point A and jump all the way to point B and become a changed man if he didn't really see much of anything? I think Salles dropped the ball, because he could have shown a lot more about what made Che become who he is. Rather than showing Alberto gambling, trying to fuck some prostitute on a boat, he should have showed more of Che and what they saw during their trip.

He wasn't a revolutionary at the end of the film. In real life Ernesto went home and finished school after the trip. He was a man whose eyes had been opened, though, and future experiences would make him a revolutionary.

I think you kind of missed the point of what their trip meant to them. Even though it took place years before he ever became "revolutionary", Che Guevera says himself it was that trip that cemented his ideas and desire to bring about change. Not once during their trek do Alberto or Ernesto become revolutionaries. And if the film focused on his ideas and revelations more than the journey the two men had, I think it would have been this detached hodgepodge of "Che's Principles" and we would not feel any attachment to Guevera as a human character. He would be a kind of distant figure who we only know through action instead of motive.

I just Netflicked this film last week and am mulling over whether to buy it or not. The performances by de la Serna and Garcia Bernal were amazing. Even though one is the main character, I would value both roles equally. The two men carried each other throughout the film, and that is what good chemistry is all about. It's quite interesting that this wonderful film is supposedly not even Gael Garcia Bernal's best performance of 2004. I'll be getting Bad Education as soon as it hits dvd. It's also too bad that Bernal's counterpart from Y Tu Mama Tambien, Diego Luna, is in the process of trying to sell out while Bernal himself is turning in career performances at such a young age.

In addition, I didn't even mention the gorgeous cinematography. I just added a visit to South America to my "Things to Talk about Doing Someday" List. And the music was perfect... Jorge Drexler and Gustavo Santaolalla did a wonderful job that was beautifully present but not overwhelming nor intrusive ever throughout the film.

I'm not a very cosistent judge of film, and I often modify over time any type of rating I give. But as of right now, The Motorcycle Diaries garners an even 9.0.

I enjoyed the cinematography, which was, quite frankly, stunning.

The problem I had was in connecting a line between the influences on the character and his decision to assume a role of South American political proto-revolutionary. I could understand why he felt sympathy for the plight of the poor and downtrodden: his experiences in the Leper camp and the quarry serve as perfectly acceptable motivation.

Unfortunately I couldn’t get to grips with what made him suddenly (this comes pretty much out of nowhere in the final fifth of the movie) want to see the South American people unite in rebellion against their “oppressive” leaders (his native Argentineans aren’t shown as being particularly hard done to). Throughout the film he demonstrates little, if any, political inclination. Indeed, his sentiments appear to be entirely anti-political.

As for the “heroic”, rites-of-passage swim across the river. I thought that was a touch too sentimental and one step too far toward deifying Guevara, who wasn’t, in “real life”, anywhere near the philanthropist this movie attempts to paint him. But then, I am a hopeless cynic, best ignored.

I thought it was a beautiful movie, and I like how in addition to making a point about the development of Che's political beliefs they movie also told the great story of a close friendship and also made me laugh a lot. I am sorry I could not qualify to be nominated for best foreign film, but am glad it got best song even though I don't remember the music really standing out.