Che: Part 1

Figures in history don't get much more controversial than the man they call Che. Ernesto "Che" Guevara is both reviled and adored by people all over the world. So any film to tackle his life as a revolutionary and guerrilla soldier in Cuba has a lot to contend with. Personal feelings about Che and his methods are not my concern, but my thoughts on Che are. Wait, what? I love Steven Soderbergh's ability to jump from independent features to big-budget flicks and back, but I'm especially impressed when he can blend the two, in the sense that you can't quite tell what type of film he's made. Che is one of his more independent films, but you'd be hard pressed to differentiate it from a big-budget flick tackling the same issue. And the best part? Che has enough action and smarts to keep you interested. Politics are certainly prevalent throughout the film, but never enough to deter you. Agreeing, or sympathizing, with Che and his fellow revolutionaries isn't the point, but getting another viewpoint is. But these political statements are sandwiched between interesting character moments and rapid fire gun battles, so there's something for everyone. Something must also be said of Benicio Del Toro, who disappears into the role of Che Guevara. In fact, with Del Toro being the only recognizable face, the rest of the acting triumphs, because it adds to the realism. The story doesn't end with Che: Part 1, as you might have guessed, and much more of the Che story is yet to be told.

Genre - Biopic/Drama (3.5)

Screenplay (3)
Acting (4)
Production (3)
Directing (4)