Ranking Alex De La Iglesia
Still to watch:
800 Bullets (2002)
The Bar (2017)
The order is subject to change with more reflection and rewatches
800 Bullets (2002)
The Bar (2017)
The order is subject to change with more reflection and rewatches
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- DirectorÁlex de la IglesiaStarsCarlos ArecesAntonio de la TorreCarolina BangA young trapeze artist must decide between her lust for Sergio, the Happy Clown, or her affection for Javier, the Sad Clown, both of whom are deeply disturbed.IMO this is Iglesia's magus opus. An epic and operatic black comedy and a truly unique viewing experience. I have however seen many people consider this one of his worst so your experience may be different. Everything in cinema is obviously subjective. I however think that this may be the most passion Igelsia put into a film. It's also highly entertaining with a clever premise and great execution (acting, editing, set design). Everything just clicks for me in this movie and I just cannot understand the naysayers.
- DirectorÁlex de la IglesiaStarsSantiago SeguraEl Gran WyomingÁlex AnguloNino and Bruno are two comedians who reach the heights of success with their duo act, turning them into huge TV celebrities. However, the hate between them grows as fast, and as much, as their fame.Oddly enough my 2nd favorite Iglesia movie can be seen as the older less energetic and extravagant brother to The Last Circus. The premise of 2 rivals in show business is essentially the same as the 2 clowns fighting in The Last Circus. The dynamics are essentially the same with a few important differences. That being said Iglesia executes both films differently giving them their own special feel. The heightened reality of The Last Circus makes the realism Dying of Laughter seem gritter and darker in comparison. This movie is the darkest comedy Iglesia made so far where it's absurdity threatens to turn it into a horror film (as Iglesia teases with the soundtrack). The Last Circus' epic feel gives it the first place spot but Dying of Laughter is definitely worth hunting down.
- DirectorÁlex de la IglesiaStarsHugo SilvaMario CasasPepón NietoA gang of armed robbers finds a safe haven in a secluded village crammed with witches--only to encounter the bizarre, the unexpected, and the occult. Can they save themselves, and the rest of the world from the next witch apocalypse?Tied with The Day of the Beast.
Heist movie turned horror comedy that satires gender dynamics through the use of pseudo-misogyny aind cliches such as the nagging wife. Fun from start to finish. - DirectorÁlex de la IglesiaStarsÁlex AnguloArmando De RazzaSantiago SeguraBent on committing as many sins as possible to avert the birth of the beast, a Catholic priest teams up with a Black Metal aficionado and an Italian connoisseur of the occult. Now, he must become an unrelenting sinner. Is there still hope?Tied with Witching and Bitching.
You won't find a more ridiculous premise for a Christmas movie (or any kind of movie for that matter). One of the few Iglesia movies were the characters are not caricatures (not that there is anything wrong with that, see my #1 movie choice). - DirectorÁlex de la IglesiaStarsGuillermo ToledoMónica CerveraEnrique VillénAn ambitious salesman will do anything for that big promotion he's been chasing, but inevitably, he will learn that there is no such thing as the perfect crime.Despite being a dark comedy (it's centered around the disposal of a body) like most of Igelsia's movies this is probably the most "feel good" movie he ever made. Shares similar themes to Witching and Bitching in terms of gender dynamics as well as with the Last Circus and Dying of Laughter (two equally despicable people going at each other's throats). Incredibly entertaining
- DirectorÁlex de la IglesiaStarsAntonio ResinesÁlex AnguloFrédérique FederIn a future ruled by attractive people, mutant terrorists kidnap a rich man's daughter to claim rights for the ugly. Escaping police, the mutant leader crashes into a planet of crazy miners where no women live.The first film of Iglesia I watched. It was not exactly love at first site (the 2nd film I watched of him was Witching and Bitching. I didn't know it was the same director until after watching it though). I found the middle section quite weak a meandering, however once the action reaches the planet without women it's an absurd and grotesque thrill ride till the end. It is an impressive debut with tons of imagination even if it is a little rough around the edges.
- DirectorÁlex de la IglesiaStarsCarmen MauraEduardo AntuñaMaría AsquerinoThe accidental discovery of a big fortune hidden in the apartment of a deceased man will fill the heart of a real estate agent with greed and dreams of a luxurious life, but the neighbours think otherwise.I see this at the top of many people's list, however for me it didn't quite click together as a masterpiece. Its still a very good film which I perhaps may appreciate more and rank higher after a rewatch.
- DirectorÁlex de la IglesiaStarsRosie PerezJavier BardemHarley CrossA psychotic criminal couple kidnaps a random teenage couple. The woman rapes the male captive, and lets him watch his lover being raped by the man. They then plan to sacrifice the couple.
- DirectorÁlex de la IglesiaStarsJavier GutiérrezLeonor WatlingSancho GraciaIn Spain, the sports journalist Juan has a perfect life with his wife Sonia: they have just had a baby and moved to an old house that needs to be repaired in a fancy neighborhood. When Juan's sister and her husband visit the couple, they give them an electronic nanny to monitor the baby's room. During the night, Juan and Sonia hear voices in the room but they do not find anybody. On the next day, Juan hires an alarm system for the house and a monitor to observe the baby's room. When Juan sees a man in the room, he gets a knife to protect his son. However, Sonia believes her husband is insane and moves to her mother's house. Juan investigates the happening with the former journalist Domingo, who explains him the paradoxical experiment Schrodinger's Cat and the existence of parallel worlds. Further, he advises the obsessed Juan to leave the house otherwise could be trapped in another world.Suprisingly good TV horror film played straight. Perhaps it doesn't display much of Igelsia's vision but it's well made and acted with an original feeling twist (even though the film definitely borrows from standard haunted house fare it never feels cheap like so many other modern horror movies). It probably helped that my expectations so we're so low going into it. Its definitely not a "good" movie and features some padding but its definitely worth a watch for the atmosphere and tension. I'm just as surprised it's as high on my list as you probably are.
- DirectorÁlex de la IglesiaStarsJosé MotaSalma HayekBlanca PortilloAn out-of-work publicist who suffers an accident looks to sell the exclusive interview rights to the highest bidder in an attempt to provide for his family.Another movie I went into with low expectations due to the reviews and left pleasantly surprised. It has an emotional core which helps to elevate it from being just OK to quite good.
- DirectorÁlex de la IglesiaStarsRaphaelMario CasasPepón NietoDuring the never-ending TV taping for a New Year's Eve program, peoples personal lives clash and eventually explode out into the open.The first film on this list which is just OK for me. Largely forgettable. Lots of comedy is probably lost in translation, however, I still do not think it would be very high on my list if I got the cultural jokes anyways. Even so it's fast pace and many subplots makes it entertaining throughout even if it doesn't come together as a cohesive whole.
- DirectorÁlex de la IglesiaStarsElijah WoodJohn HurtLeonor WatlingAt Oxford University, a professor and a grad student work together to try to stop a potential series of murders seemingly linked by mathematical symbols.First movie on the list that would say is not worth watching. Obviously made just for the money. Mediocre in every way except for Hurt's acting (Wood does a suprisingly poor job with some hilariously bad line delivery). It's unfortunate that Iglesia's only English language film is his worst. It contains none of his style or vision and probably could have been direcited by any hired director.
