Rating: 
Summary: Painfully boring and shallow
Review: "El Crimen del Padre Amaro" is apparently the highest grossing film in Mexican history, no doubt helped by the presence of Gael Garcia Bernal. I have greatly enjoyed several recent films from Mexico, including "Amores Perros" and "Y Tu Mama Tambien," both of which starred Bernal. This film is clearly trying to ride the wave of success of these films, but I found it to fall far short.The movie is based loosely on a book from the 1870s, but it is set in the present and tries to tackle the age-old tensions between passion, religion, and faith. Bernal plays a young priest who is assigned to a church in a small town. He immediately is embroiled in a number of political issues (mostly unclear and melodramatic) surrounding the church. At this point, his character is a saintly blank slate. As tensions increase in the church, he turns to a young, pious female church member. This relationship causes him to commit a serious of rather un-priestly behaviors. This scenario is potentially interesting, but the film is not deep enough to explore these issues. By the end of the film, he has changed completely to a rather unlikeable person who seems to think only of himself. The changes in his character are never explained and do not seem real. Bernal is also simply too likeable of an actor to pull off this role successfully. His matinee idol looks and the way that the camera often lingers on him in close-up do not help. Many people are likely to find this film controversial because of the issues of religion and sin that it addresses - I disliked it because it's a boring, melodramatic film. A real disappointment.
Rating: 
Summary: Fiction can barely keep up with real life
Review: "El Crimen del Padre Amaro" would have been considered far more controversial just a few years earlier. The current high profile scandals in the Catholic Church, however, now make the events of this story line appear like nothing out of the ordinary. A young priest, Father Amaro (Gael Garcia Bernal), is assigned to a small Mexican village. Many of the faithful adhere to a personal theology bordering on the heretical and superstitious. One woman even gives her sick cat consecrated communion wafers. Priestly celibacy is a take it or leave it proposition. The parishioners long ago learned to look away while their pastor Father Natalio (Damian Alcazar) pursues a sexual relationship with his housekeeper. They are treated like immature children and readily accept their role as mere lay people who should merely pay, pray, and obey. A large clinic is being built with funds from a local murderous drug lord. Hypocrisy and lying for the alleged sake of the Church are the norm. Father Amaro is soon confronted with the pious Amelia (Ana Claudio Talancon) who adores the very ground he walks on. She also tells him during confession about her lustful thoughts and desires. Amelia will gladly do his bidding and Fr. Amaro is more than willing to take advantage of the opportunity to debauch her. Father Amaro is a weak and manipulative creature unworthy of any respect whatsoever. We are soon nauseated each and every time he appears on the screen. He has no backbone and will do virtually anything to make his life easier. Father Amaro is both a coward and a cad. It is soon obvious that some sort of tragedy will occur. Should you see this movie? The themes surrounding priests who abandon their vow of celibacy have been worked to death in previous films. The fictional "El Crimen del Padre Amaro" can barely compete with real life. I can only give it four stars. Graham Greene's "The Power and the Glory" concerning the "whiskey priest" is over sixty years old. There's simply nothing all that new here. Nonetheless, the soundtrack of "El Crimen del Padre Amaro" is utterly fantastic. I enjoyed it immensely and have already ordered a copy from Amazon.com
Rating: 
Summary: Gael Garcia Bernal At His Finest As Always
Review: "El Crimen Del Padre Amaro"("The Crime of Padre Amaro") is one of the greatest mexican releases of 2002. It deservingly received an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Film. It stars rising star Gael Garcia Bernal as Padre Amaro. This film interprets and modernizes the 19th century book version beautifully. It combines drama, romance, erotica, and religion wonderfully, offering an unforgettable experience that will keep the audience watching every scene closely. Such controversial theme deserves much respect to the cast and crew. Many twists and turns arise as the young priest and a woman begin a relationship. Amaro risks his priesthood for such love and pleasure. Every scene and detail is flawless. Bernal proves in his lead performance that he continues to evolve as an actor as he has since his debut "Amores Perros"(2000). All other actors also performed their roles beautifully. "El Crimen Del Padre Amaro" is a great film for those looking for something eyeopening or dramatic. This is sure to please many.
Rating:
Summary: Gael Garcia Bernal At His Finest As Always
Review: "El Crimen Del Padre Amaro"("The Crime of Padre Amaro") is one of the greatest mexican releases of 2002. It deservingly received an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Film. It stars rising star Gael Garcia Bernal as Padre Amaro. This film interprets and modernizes the 19th century book version beautifully. It combines drama, romance, erotica, and religion wonderfully, offering an unforgettable experience that will keep the audience watching every scene closely. Such controversial theme deserves much respect to the cast and crew. Many twists and turns arise as the young priest and a woman begin a relationship. Amaro risks his priesthood for such love and pleasure. Every scene and detail is flawless. Bernal proves in his lead performance that he continues to evolve as an actor as he has since his debut "Amores Perros"(2000). All other actors also performed their roles beautifully. "El Crimen Del Padre Amaro" is a great film for those looking for something eyeopening or dramatic. This is sure to please many.
Rating: 
Summary: flawed but timely drama
Review: ***1/2 How quickly the events in the news can inure us to the ugly realities of life. In the wake of all those priest sex scandals that have come to light in recent times, "El Crimen Del Padre Amaro" comes across as more timely, yet less shocking, to us today than it would have had it been released a few years back. This Oscar-nominated film from Mexico, written by Vincent Lenero and directed by Carlos Carrera, features priests who fornicate, priests who launder drug money, priests who arm guerrillas, priests who pay for abortions, priests, in short, who seem to do everything imaginable except what they were originally ordained to do. Not only is the Church hierarchy in this film in bed with drug runners (as well as half the female members of the parish, apparently), but it even dictates to the local newspaper what it will report about the Church and where on the front page such stories will go. It's safe to say that many devout Catholics will see this film as yet another anti-papist screed designed to further degrade the image of the world's most powerful religious organization. But the makers of "El Crimen Del Padre Amaro" seem less concerned with attacking the Church than with examining the human frailties that motivate the characters' actions. Part of their argument seems to be that the complexities of life and of human nature make it virtually impossible for anyone of flesh and blood to remain saintly for very long. This is particularly true in a setting like rural Mexico where the day-to-day struggle for survival overwhelms all other concerns - spiritual as well as temporal. Father Benito is the leader of the parish who rationalizes his dealings with the local drug dealers by arguing that "bad money becomes good money" when it is used in the service of the Lord. How else is he going to get the funds necessary to build the new hospital for his people? Father Natalio, an espouser of "liberation theology," finds himself at loggerheads with Father Benito, actually arming the very guerillas who fight against those same drug lords. Natalio suffers no qualms about having men killed if that is what is necessary to achieve his goals for his people. Finally, Father Amaro, the focal point of the film, has his own demons to confront. Barely out of seminary, this idealistic young man (played by Gael Garcia Bernal, one of the leads of "Y Tu Mama Tambien") arrives in town determined to make his mark as a priest who does good for his parishioners. What he doesn't bank on is the corrosive effect of the corrupt system into which he is sent or his own susceptibility to the weaknesses of the flesh. Being young and handsome, Father Amaro soon finds himself the target of an amorous young woman who confuses pious sentiment with plain and simple erotic desire. What makes Father Amaro interesting is that he is never as righteous as we think he should be in the beginning and never as unredeemably corrupt as we think he should be at the end. In many ways, he is just like anyone else who looks for the easiest way out for himself when the going gets tough. Many viewers may want Amaro to assume the role of conventional hero, stepping in to right the wrongs taking place in this village. Yet, he will not accept that role. What makes the story tragic is not that Amaro is a man of potential greatness brought down by his own weaknesses or the machinations of others, but the fact that he is basically just an ordinary kid trying hard to be "extraordinary" (choosing the priesthood as his way of achieving it), yet lacking the intestinal fortitude and strength of character men must have if they hope to be great. That Amaro slips so easily into the amoral role set up for him by the likes of Father Benito (even though the old priest seems to find some redemption at the end) is what gives the film its air of frustrating hopelessness. Who, we are led to ask, will finally put an end to this vicious cycle? We know it will not be Amaro. In many ways, the filmmakers may be trying to do too much in this film. Each of the stories involving the three priests could make an interesting movie in its own right. As it is, we sometimes get the sense that the film, in trying to create a full-blown tapestry of Catholicism in Mexico, ends up giving short shrift to some of the more fascinating elements of the story. So much time is spent on the sexual dalliances of Father Amaro and the girl, Amelia, that we don't really get to see enough of the other forms of controversy and corruption with which the film is dealing. The Liberation Theology movement, in particular, is dealt with in rather too sketchy a fashion, leaving us generally puzzled and unenlightened on that topic. The actors do a superb job bringing their characters to life. In addition to the aforementioned Bernal, Sancho Gracia and Damian Alcazar are excellent as Amaro's fellow troubled priests and Ana Claudia Talancon is pretty and poised as the young girl drawn by lust, love and passion to this weak-souled priest. Viewers will most likely find "El Crimen Del Padre Amaro" to be either a brave film or an offensive one, depending on which side of the religious divide they happen to come down on. But after the recent stories in the news, very few of us should really be shocked by what we see here on the screen.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful, Troubling Film
Review: After seeing this film, I wasn't surprised to find out that representatives of the Roman Catholic Church had decried it. That predictable response to any form of social criticism against the social institution of the church is a little tired. As far as the movie goes, I found it to be an interesting story on how sin can turn us around. Virtually every character in this film (yes, even priests!) is in some way compromised by sin in their life, skewing the productivity of their intentions. In terms of my personal compromise, I thoroughly enjoyed the acting of Ana Claudia Talancón! If you're in the mood for a film that displays issues of corruption, health, and faith...and then refuses to `tidy' them up in the end, preferring a conclusion of tension, then this film is for you!
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful, Troubling Film
Review: After seeing this film, I wasn't surprised to find out that representatives of the Roman Catholic Church had decried it. That predictable response to any form of social criticism against the social institution of the church is a little tired. As far as the movie goes, I found it to be an interesting story on how sin can turn us around. Virtually every character in this film (yes, even priests!) is in some way compromised by sin in their life, skewing the productivity of their intentions. In terms of my personal compromise, I thoroughly enjoyed the acting of Ana Claudia Talancón! If you're in the mood for a film that displays issues of corruption, health, and faith...and then refuses to 'tidy' them up in the end, preferring a conclusion of tension, then this film is for you!
Rating:
Summary: Controversial!!!
Review: An eye opening view of the status quo catholic church. A great combination of story line and competent actors. A good example of the thin line between saint and sinner. You got to see it!
Rating:
Summary: The sin that has been the same throu the years.
Review: Believe it or not, the Padre Amaros's crime, which in my opinion should be also called, "sin of Padre Amaro", does not have anything new, except for the fact, that this old novel has been taken to the big screen. This caused a big controversy not only in Mexico, but worldwide. The feelings of thousands of people have been hurt with this explicit film where its shows the reality of a part of the catholicism. Crowds demostraited their anger, right in front of the theatres where the film was playing. The Padre Amaro's crime is not an aisled case, for the last decade we have seen too many cases around the world and in particular in USA where a crime has less impunity.
Rating:
Summary: Brave movie
Review: Brave movie, worth watching. Parental guidance is required though
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