Los lobos de Washington (1999) User Reviews

Interesting and exciting drama/triller about unfortunate thieves played by first-range Spanish actors

[ma-cortes · 6/10 · 6 April 2012]

Drama about about deeply troubled thieves but developed in ups and downs . It deals with a misfit group who face off each other as Alberto (Javier Bardem , also producer) and Miguel (Eduard Fernandez) who have schemed to steal amount of money from their old pal named Claudio (an excellent Jose Sancho , as usual) , a big-time swindler . Alberto and Miguel have a simple bar where also lives Pablo (Ernesto Alterio) , a dimmed-wit young and friend's Alberto . The drunk Alberto is divorced to Sara (Maria Pujalte) and have a son . Their old friend Claudio is very rich and they wish a good life and need steal money to do it . Problems grow when Claudio's wife (Vicenta N'Dongo) has an affair with a postman (Alberto San Juan) who attempts to kill Claudio . Meanwhile , in a circus next all this , ¨The Washington wolves¨ are the silent witnesses of all that happens that tormentous night . At the end takes place a violent meeting among the diverse criminals . At the circus , a bullet-man ejecting from a cannon will have the final key .

Dramatic and dark film about an unfortunate motley group whose things are not going very well and need urgently to get out of this black hole and and they then are planning to steal a lot of money from an old friend . This thriller contains intrigue , intense drama , a little bit of action and violence . Casting is frankly excellent , it is formed by an all-star-Spanish-cast as Javier Bardem , Ernesto Alterio , Eduardo Fernandez , Maria Pujalte , Albert San Juan and special mention to veteran Jose Sancho . The picture is middling narrated , it happens improbable events and situations with no much sense , though has some good moments here and there . Atmospheric and thrilling musical score by Bingen Mendizabal though composed by synthesizer . Dark and mediocre cinematography by Nestor Calvo , being necessary a perfect remastering . The motion picture is regularly directed by Mariano Barroso . He has directed various films with similar players and with moderated success such as ¨My soul brother¨ at his best , ¨Extasis¨ with Javier Bardem , ¨Kasbah¨ with Ernest Alterio and Jose Sancho and ¨Ants in mouth¨ with Eduard Fernandez . Rating : 5,5 . Acceptable and passable . The movie will appeal to Javier Bardem fans . It's an entertaining film but some moments being dull and confuse , only for Bardem enthusiasts .

A dark drama about deeply troubled criminals fighting over what's theirs.

[southerland-1 · 7/10 · 15 May 2006]

True, this movie is about Spanish low-lives. The plot is strange and not especially harrowing either. But these drawbacks are blown away by the quality of Bardem and the other actors' performances. There is something mesmerizing about the interaction between the characters that, and it's a shame, will be inevitably lost when viewed with dubs or subtitles. Bardem delivers a perfect performance as a troubled alcoholic hoodlum and definitely makes it come alive. This movie is first and foremost about interplay of characters, and that part of it is amazing. It's rewarding through several viewings, though no one is going to be blown away by the storyline. No need to be angry about how the Spaniards must pander to the white majority in Europe and America, Bardem proves he can impress no matter what role he plays, and any fan of cinema should be able to see it plain as day.

Javier, drop this 'dime a dozen' drama from your resume'

[gonz30 · 7/10 · 16 December 2000]

In Europe, unlike in America, actors are always working: 5 or 6 film shoots a year are not unusual. Even living legends like Catherine Deneuve shoot four a year........ It's their work culture, and ultimately, their lot. Even Deneuve and BARDEM are paid pittances (by US standards). These great actors' main objective is to stay out there, and not be forgotten. In brief, the movie business IS the TV business. This is a TV Film, and this is a TV appearance by the great Spanish actor Javier Bardem........Alas, life is not fair, and we have had to see him more than once in roles way beneath him. This is one more. Had he been born speaking flawless English, he'd be a great actor. His range is unbelievable, having played as many sides of the human psyches as come to mind now. His looks allow him to go from a monster to a drop dead gorgeous matinee idol. But he needs to get out there and work, even if it's as a thug, a gypsy, a Mexican. In short, he and the other actors (all thugs) in this film must do the most the can do. Hey, with his unbelievable talent and looks, he'll be lucky to play Don Quixote in twenty years (by the way, the last Don Q. was an Anglo. And Dulcinea was the beautiful African-American Vanessa Williams. Sancho Panza and the Duchess, in fact all the others, were of any nationality but Spanish). So even there the latest HALLMARK OF FAME production; yeah, fame of the Anglo-British world, they are discriminated against. What's left??? Well, play the Iberian thug, pimp, or scoundrel that the Northern "White" Community demands and expects. This is what this does. It especially casts Bardem, and all characters in this light: the unsavory (aren't they all?) Latin types.......... "White" Anglo-Saxons, Nordics and Scandinavians like to see it on TV, but not on their next penny-pinching vacation to the Spanish Coast........... Maybe (if anybody sees it), BEFORE NIGHT FALLS will catapult him to the heights he has long reached, served, but has gotten little or no credit for. He'd be wise to drop this film from his resume' if he ever gets where he deserves. This B version of a bad NYPD BLUES Episode can only entertain a die-hard fan of the genre, who will put up with, AND understand the equally "ruggedness" (to be nice) of the "macho" Madrid thug accent. Only the trite dialogue, with its total vocabulary of about 500 words, of which 50 are synonimous expletives, make it easier to understand.......But, are there potential viewers of this trash who will make this linguistic connection? I did. But I only succeeded on my third try, and as a personal dare. When they show it on TV in Belgium and Germany, it will of course be dubbed. So this is a moot point. They can understand, and have a laugh at the Southern Barbarians. The DVD now available only has English subtitles, no dubbing...Not yet!.....There had never been a Javier Bardem movie I couldn't sit through. He even makes delightful comedies a la Hugh Grant (MOUTH TO MOUTH, and others). But the "white" audience will only as a miracle accept him. They've already embraced the at least equally talented Antonio Banderas, and are in the process of accepting Penelope Cruz (though of course only as a "Latin woman : a Mexican cowgirl, a mulatta cook from Brazil, and other such dignified female roles, let's say the truth, as sensuous WHORES!)....... By the way, HEY WORLD! There are more than two types of Caucasians in the World. Yes, there is European humanity beyond the Anglo Saxons, and the LATINS (I include the French, Portuguese, Italian, etc. who are all pretty much equally stereotyped. Most people don't know the difference. Hell, throw the Greeks, Turks, and a dark Irishman in there too)........... Being German, is of course, unfortunately, still tricky and taboo. In fact, this mention will probably be censored. Verzeihung! They are also stigmatized. But hey, at least they still get to appear in polished boots, beautiful uniforms, great hair, and gorgeous vintage cars, full of the world's most beautiful women in the most wonderful 30s and 40s fashions. And of course, always commanding respect. The Latins are still dirty, unshaven, and in rags............Now being Eastern European opens up a world of roles as pimps, prostitutes, contract murderers, child traders, just... general low lives. But those are the people of the "East." Back to our Southern, scummy neighbors, there will be a time when this will change. But this movie won't do it. BELIEVE ME! This is not it. This is the same old pan-European movie showing the amusingly savage people of the "South." Javier BARDEM, here, is but the typical Spanish low-life that will sell to the anti-Latin (anti-Southern) right wingers of Europe, who will come in search of this seediness in their campers next summer. CANAL PLUS AND THE OTHERS will undoubtedly sell plenty of cheap beer and cigarettes (until that is forbidden by the EU) when they show this trash. This is not Spanish society; this is trash masquerading as Spanish life. Don't believe it. Don't see it. It's a waste of time, anyhow. From any point of view.