In La Bola Negra, Carlos (Milo Quifes), a young man, waits for result that will determine if he'll be accepted in social club, Sebastián (Guitarricadelafuente), a soldier, falls in love with a prisoner, Rafael (Miguel Bernardeau), during the Spanish Civil War, and Alberto (Carlos González) inherits a manuscript from his grandfather whom he was told by his mother, Teresa (Lola Dueñas), was dead. Each story takes place in different time periods: 1932, 1937, and 2017, respectively. Co-writers/directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi have made a spellbinding, sweeping and poetic saga with interconnected narratives. The less you know about the plot beforehand, the better because the connections aren't obvious right away. Fortunately, the screenplay handles exposition very effectively while cutting back and forth between each of the three narrative threads. Each of those threads could have easily been turned into separate films, but together they form a whole that's even more richer, intricate, suspenseful, profound and complex than the individual stories. With a less sensitive screenplay, La Bola Negra could've become a convoluted, overstuffed, clunky and tonally uneven mess, but it avoids those pitfalls..

      The entire ensemble cast gives terrific performances without a single one that's weak or even mediocre. The film's emotional depth comes mostly from the performances rather than the screenplay. Penelope Cruz and Glenn Close briefly show up later on in the film in scenes that won't be spoiled here, but they make the most out of their little time on-screen. The exquisite cinematography is also worth mentioning because it contributes both visual style and substance to the film. There's one particularly haunting scene that's brimming with visual poetry and surrealism. Although the running time clocks well past the 2 hour mark, La Bola Negra feels so captivating and engrossing that you won't feel its weight. This is the kind of sophisticated foreign film that Miramax used to release back in the 1980s and 90s. Yes, it's somewhat Oscar-baity, but it's an Oscar-bait that's well-worth taking. Just bring some tissues and be prepared to shed some tears, especially during the powerful third act where everything comes together. At 2 hours and 39 minutes, La Bola Negra opens at Angelika Film Center and The Paris Theater via Netflix.

 

       Bryan (Austin Abrams), a medical courier trying to deliver to Raccoon City, must fight for his life during a deadly outbreak that turns people into mutants in Resident Evil. Paul Walter Hauser plays Carl, an Umbrella Corporation scientist. Writer/director Zach Cregger and co-writer Shay Hatten have made a suspenseful, atmospheric and wickedly funny slice of sci-fi horror that delivers the goods for audiences who are looking to be terrified while having some fun along the way. The plot remains lean, simple and easy-to-follow without unnecessary padding. The filmmakers do a decent job with exposition with the exception of a clunky scene with lazy exposition when Bryan first meets Carl. Advice to future filmmakers: if you can't think of a way to add exposition without having two characters just sitting or standing while one of them explains something to the other, have them both do something else like eat or drink while they're doing the talking.

      Kudos to director Zach Cregger and screenwriter Shay Hatten for balancing the very grim, horrifying elements with just the right of comic relief including some witty, tongue-in-cheek dialogue. There are more than a few memorable over-the-top kills that will make audiences squirm in their seats and also some that will make them laugh at the absurdity. The visual effects, lighting, cinematography and set design are all terrific while providing the film with plenty of style. Beyond that, Resident Evil also boasts a solid performance by Austin Abrams who's charismatic with great comedic timing, and he even handles the emotional aspects of his role effectively, e.g. when Bryan cries---how often do you get to see the protagonist crying in a horror film? That alone makes Resident Evil a cut above an average horror film. At an ideal running time of 1 hour and 30 minutes, Resident Evil is now playing nationwide via Columbia Pictures.  

Number of times I checked my watch: 1  

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