Conejo en la luna (2004) User Reviews

It is good depending the appreciation

[carlosrenan · 7/10 · 11 October 2004]

This history is common in the Mexican films, even so I was stuck to the seat all the moment, because I'm Mexican I feel what the protagonist feels in the film, for that reason I mention that this film is good depending on the appreciation of each spectator, if you never feel injustice at your country maybe don't understand this movie. This is not an art work, is not the best Mexican film but helps us to reveal the injustice that can be given in this country and that makes think us. This films was in competition at The Morelia International Film Festival but not win, also has pretty attended. I recommend this movie but I'm sure that no everybody will like it.

A Film Worth Watching

[sheldonmeister · 7/10 · 31 October 2012]

I was a practicing attorney for almost 50 years, so I got familiar with the workings of bureaucracy. This film, I found chillingly accurate and realistic in so many ways. Although conscious that i was watching fiction, I found myself getting quite involved in the female protagonist's effort to get to the British embassy with her infant. There was real palpable tension there. i found myself watching the film twice in rapid succession so as not to miss any nuances in the early exposition. many thrillers are not worth a second viewing. This film is worth the time and viewing effort of any person interested in learning how the world actually works.

Potential Mexican thriller rendered achingly lifeless

[oneloveall · 3/10 · 25 February 2007]

What was set up to be a provocative look into Mexico's staggering levels of political and police corruption falls completely flat from third-rate performances, scriptwriting, production, and direction. It is a shame that a project with such noble intent on producing an eye-opening view into being stuck in the midst of this bureaucratic nightmare that is Mexican justice still cannot provide any believability in a dull, flat pulse that mires every scene in boredom. With the largely amateur cast, c-movie technical standards, and monotonous camera-work, Rabbit on the Moon's potentially engaging plot line is rendered limp, even unwatchable, in the important social context it is served. Moderately successful in it's home country, I cannot imagine the movie appealing to anyone else besides the precise demographic it caters to simply due to budget constraints.

Brilliant

[Pursewarden · 9/10 · 22 October 2004]

This is probably the first Mexican urban thriller that doesn't fall into goofyness or folkloric gags to keep the audience in. The director doesn't go for joking himself out of horrible situations, they stand as serious as a political execution. Its a hard movie, with a terrible subject and a wonderful realization. OK, its portrait of Mexico fits more a decade ago, but that's not a problem in a narrative full of corruption, souless souls, great dialogues, creepy characters and horrible situations. The political game hasn't been shown as fully since the wonderful HEROD'S LAW. One of the movie's asset is the way the narrative focuses in many characters, jumping from one site to the other to build up suspense. The whole English setting could have been easily a cheapy, instead the production work it carefully to provide it with something all recent Mexican urban thrillers lack: verosimilitude. If the worst problems this movie has are in some production values, the acting and the screenplay are worth it. Even if Jesus Ochoa plays the same role he does so well, this portrait is probably his finest (just compare to the shallow cardboard he played in MAN ON FIRE), he is creepy and somehow likable. When a "first world" citizen looks for refuge in his own country's embassy just to get a "huy mam, come back tomorrow at eight" from a night watchman, you get a glimpse at the director's good eye for the reality touch. One of Mexico's best of this year.

A good fictional portray of Mexican reality

[mynystry · 8/10 · 25 May 2006]

This is definitely a very good Mexican film, which is inspired in the unforgettable "Herods Law" and follow the same line; showing a little bit of how things work for Mexican politicians... but is it fiction? yes and no I would say, I think for someone who has not lived under such circumstances it is hard to believe that these things could happen... well, i think that there are even worse things going on sometimes with the corrupted politicians... but indeed, it is not a historical film and it tells a fictional story, it has also a dose of that very Mexican black humor which is hard to understand. Many non-mexicans have asked me how is it possible that mexicans laugh in some scenes of Herod's law and Conejo en la Luna, when what they are showing is our own misery... I say, well my friends, when crying seem to be useless, there are not much way out than laughter... but i know this may sound cynical.

-spoilers coming!- One thing I really enjoy of this film is the end... no happy bullsh*t Hollywood end, but bitter reality, the English government giving the poor guy to the Mexican authorities... damn! but what else could happen? The guy that plays the chief of the PGR (something like the Mexican FBI) portrays very well the image that this police division have in Mexican society, can you imagine that in Mexico people are more afraid of cops than thieves, or murderers? although they are actually the same people, with some exceptions I presume. Just watch the film, it's a good one, and although it is fiction, believe when I tell that it is not so far away from reality.

By the way... you may be wondering why the film is called "Rabbit on the Moon"... well, i heard it from the mouth of the director on the Berlinale... he explained of course because of the painting that the designer gives to the English girl... the relation is that we mexicans are told when we are children to look for the rabbit shape on the moon, that's different of the "man in the moon" version which i've heard about in Europe... When I look to the moon as a Mexican I see a rabbit, as well as when I see as the Mexican government I see filth... Europeans tend to see a Man on the moon, and what's their image about our government? a rabbit maybe?

Excellent film the best of the year by far

[cinefilomx · 10/10 · 20 October 2004]

I have also seen this film in Morelia film festival and it really surprised me. The story is told in the best way the thriller genre can give and reflects the real situation in Mexico today. It flows and really catches the audience. In Morelia during the festival people were took by surprise by this excellent film, most of the people I have discussed later said they were sweating with the tension of the film. By the way, Morelia Festival is only competitive for shorts and docus, this feature film was screened as a special screening-gala. I highly recommend this film that has the best Mexican cast possible and an excellent British cast too.

Solid thriller

[roadmr · 8/10 · 13 October 2004]

It's a pleasure to see a well-achieved Mexican production such as this one. This surprisingly effective thriller gives you a good insight into Mexican politics and justice, mixed up with a nice, tangled plot based on political murder which reminds us of the Ruiz Massieu affair, which unravels adequately at the end, and above all some excellently executed suspense moments. Acting is decent, perhaps the only performance worth mentioning is that of the Macedonio Ramírez character, a dead-on portrayal of a Mexican judicial agent in a position of power. Production values are adequate, perhaps owing to British involvement in the production, and there are some goofs and inconsistencies here and there, but overall the movie feels pretty solid and will please and thrill viewers from beginning to end.

A must see masterpiece!

[corfuisland · 9/10 · 6 March 2023]

A dark and scary film about corruption and fear that will keep you riveted for 110 minutes, literally! The villains of the case are very bad and obnoxious while the corrupt lawyer could be proclaimed as the absolute king of corruption. The relentless mental and physical violence is so intense that it leaves you stunned and without hope. The concept of justice and noble rivalry has no place here and people are pawns in a dark game of power where it depends on which side you are on. The quick editing as well as the complex premise is the key to this amazing thriller masterpiece. Without a doubt one of the best thrillers...