This movie is based in Portuguese myths. Some say that the movie is larger than it should be, but it is not. The story could be told in mere 10 minutes, but the other 52 are criticizing Portuguese community, showing us the life of the lowest-middle layer of social groups in a way totally exaggerated and making lots of parodies like the car f****** scene, the "flour guy", the guy totally drugged (that dude would be dead at this time...), the 2000$ scene (hylarious) and the digging of the weapons scene. Instead of being a movie with 10 minutes telling the story, Luís Ismael made a movie where us all could laugh and try someway to understand those guys' life (or not...). The second movie had much more dedication and is way better than the first in cinematography terms, but the first is and will always be a myth movie to us Portuguese teenagers.
7 Reviews
Good, but could have been shorter
BogPoet15 March 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Balas&Bolinhos is one of those movies that it's great to watch when you've got nothing better to do... in this case, for about an hour. The movie is fun, well thought out, but its main problem is that it could be done in about half the time and tell the same story. The characters make rambling after rambling, which, although really funny (especially if you know Portuguese society) don't add much to the story. It does have a lot of swearing, no doubt, but I felt it was more part of the characters' characterizations and not really an attempt to be funny. Great highlights in the movie include the junkie Bino (very funny, in spite of not saying much more than "Yo!") and the Pulp Fiction parody near the end.
Über-amateurism and not in a funny way
Santosguito29 March 2009
Godawful movie, even for amateurs.
Story about a group of inept criminals trying to do the job of their lives. Swearing is expected, no problems there, but would it hurt to write a good story before trying to film it?
The problems have nothing to do with the very small budget - it's just that the story and the acting are absolutely childish. If you enjoy badly acted predictable humor based on a stereotype of human misery, go for it.
Don't waste your time if you are searching for an alternative intelligent funny movie.
Story about a group of inept criminals trying to do the job of their lives. Swearing is expected, no problems there, but would it hurt to write a good story before trying to film it?
The problems have nothing to do with the very small budget - it's just that the story and the acting are absolutely childish. If you enjoy badly acted predictable humor based on a stereotype of human misery, go for it.
Don't waste your time if you are searching for an alternative intelligent funny movie.
Why I loved it, as a self proclaimed film amateur myself
cregox5 October 2015
I'm highly biased and giving random stars from 0 to 10 is way too subjective. But I loved this film despite not being able to understand much of what they say - even if my mother language is Portuguese (from Brazil).
The scenes and photography are well chosen, despite the limited crew. They had nobody dedicated for this (or any off screen job, on the credits) and, yet, did a superb job as a side job there.
The camera movement and rhythm is just in time. It does get slow sometimes, but it is apparently all on purpose because the slowness is spread in moments across all the movie.
I heard their budget was around 1500. Now, that's even more amazing. It means every actor there were doing it for free. Sure, all amateurs, but enjoyable and entertaining never the less. Have you tried gathering people for filming? Just try it.
I never thought it was possible to achieve a long film with such a low budget in such a country with no culture for it. Amazing. And really well accomplished feat.
I sure enjoyed watching it, and I may even watch again eventually. Yes, I think it has enough value for re-watching.
True, the film doesn't stand too good by itself, as a story telling. But, again, it's still quite enjoyable. I also love how the dialogs don't really matter, as the images speak for themselves. That's how movies should be done, in my humble opinion. Not soundless, but the video must always speak for itself.
The scenes and photography are well chosen, despite the limited crew. They had nobody dedicated for this (or any off screen job, on the credits) and, yet, did a superb job as a side job there.
The camera movement and rhythm is just in time. It does get slow sometimes, but it is apparently all on purpose because the slowness is spread in moments across all the movie.
I heard their budget was around 1500. Now, that's even more amazing. It means every actor there were doing it for free. Sure, all amateurs, but enjoyable and entertaining never the less. Have you tried gathering people for filming? Just try it.
I never thought it was possible to achieve a long film with such a low budget in such a country with no culture for it. Amazing. And really well accomplished feat.
I sure enjoyed watching it, and I may even watch again eventually. Yes, I think it has enough value for re-watching.
True, the film doesn't stand too good by itself, as a story telling. But, again, it's still quite enjoyable. I also love how the dialogs don't really matter, as the images speak for themselves. That's how movies should be done, in my humble opinion. Not soundless, but the video must always speak for itself.
Bad but worthwhile
ruimsl29 April 2015
This movie is a true expression of amateur filmography that we can see in every aspect of the picture.
From the actors that are all amateurs, to the technical staff which are well intentioned persons that curiously ended up making a movie.
The script is basic, and exploits the Portuguese stereotypes of the small time burglars, in a gang of four, with narrow minded plans taken to the extreme.
The story of a disbanded gang of four intriguing characters, that when their leader gets out of jail after a 5 year stretch, comes up with a brilliant plan, that will take them all to retire in Brasil, by robbing a gas station.
This fab four gang is made of a drug dealer – Rato, an unemployed guy that liked to steal from his boss – Culatra, a drunk and dope-head – Bino, and the leader of the pack, the man with all the solutions – Tone.
This is a relatively bad movie with poor quality but is worth seeing because it represents the willpower of a group of guys that really wanted to make a movie, with very little means.
It is another great example of "where there's a will there's a way".
Good on you guys. We need people like them in the Portuguese movies.
From the actors that are all amateurs, to the technical staff which are well intentioned persons that curiously ended up making a movie.
The script is basic, and exploits the Portuguese stereotypes of the small time burglars, in a gang of four, with narrow minded plans taken to the extreme.
The story of a disbanded gang of four intriguing characters, that when their leader gets out of jail after a 5 year stretch, comes up with a brilliant plan, that will take them all to retire in Brasil, by robbing a gas station.
This fab four gang is made of a drug dealer – Rato, an unemployed guy that liked to steal from his boss – Culatra, a drunk and dope-head – Bino, and the leader of the pack, the man with all the solutions – Tone.
This is a relatively bad movie with poor quality but is worth seeing because it represents the willpower of a group of guys that really wanted to make a movie, with very little means.
It is another great example of "where there's a will there's a way".
Good on you guys. We need people like them in the Portuguese movies.
My only problem with the film
rfljaques23 February 2020
Tone has been in jail for 5 years and gets out in 2001 I'll assume, but he gets out in a Pokémon t shirt Pokémon started in 1996 same year tone was arrested being Portugal the trends didn't get here quick, I know this cause I has born in 2001 and in the 4th grade a friend of mine had a Gameboy with Pokémon blue and that was an old console but in Portugal it was a new thing so I doubt t shirt of the brand where widely available in Portugal in 1996 and I doubt it even more that prisons bue clothes for its inmates when they get out
Low cost but high quality
rmtloureiro26 February 2019
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