A Basque in Cleveland

Well, not exactly him, but his movies.

The Cinematheque will be featuring films by Alex de la Iglesia, here you have the note via Cleveland.com:

MOVIES REVIEW Mutant Action (Spain/France, 1993)Directed by Alex de la Iglesia. Not rated. Running time: 95 minutes. When: 7 tonight, 8:50 p.m. Sunday. Where: Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque, inside the Cleveland Institute of Art, 11141 East Blvd. Tickets are $5 for members, $8 for nonmembers. Call 216-421-7450. Grade: B-

Cinematheque features films by de la Iglesia

Thursday, November 03, 2005

Julie E. Washington

Plain Dealer Reporter

"Mutant Action," the first film by Basque filmmaker Alex de la Iglesia, takes a potentially offensive route to the tart point it's making.

If you're not able to laugh at a gang of bumbling terrorists who shoot up a wedding and kidnap the bride, then "Mutant Action" isn't for you.

But amid the gunfire and blood is de la Iglesia's humorous indictment of modern society's preoccupation with money, flat abs and designer water. That's evident in the wedding-reception scene, a raucous revel where tipsy rich women dissect other people's lives.

"Mutant Action" kicks off the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque's "Men on the Verge: The Films of Alex de la Iglesia" series, which runs through Sunday, Nov. 20.

The film (in Spanish with subtitles) focuses on a terrorist gang of the same name. A news report -- the pervasiveness of the media is another theme -- tells us the gang is full of misfits, such as two conjoined twins.

The leader, Ramon, has just been released from jail. After spending years behind bars watching Mutant Action's screw-ups on the news, Ramon has planned the ultimate job, which involves ransom and a trip to an alien planet.

"We don't want to smell good or lose weight!" Ramon rants to rally his men.

Dreamlike sets and shadows lend an appropriate underworld, "Mad Max" feeling to the film.

Here are the other films in the Cinematheque's "Men on the Verge" series:

"Perdita Durango," 9:15 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, and 8:50 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13.
"Day of the Beast," 9:35 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12.
"El Crimen Perfecto," 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18; 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19; and 9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
jwashington@plaind.com, 216-999-4539

Just one more thing, if you live in Cleveland or withing driving distance, don't miss the chance to see these films!

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