Friday, March 29, 2024

“Roma” Redux? Netflix Buys New Film from Mexican Director Alejandro Iñárritu for Coming Oscar Season

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It was only a couple of seasons ago that Netflix went to the mat with Alfonso Cuaron‘s “Roma,” a beautiful film in Spanish that had no American actors. The company spent zillions trying to make “Roma” the Best Picture of 2019 but lost to “Green Book.” “Roma” won Best Foreign Language Film.

So it’s a little surprising that the streamer has picked up the new film from Alejandro Gonzalez-Iñárritu, back to back Oscar winning director of “Birdman” and “The Revenant,” among others. “Bardo (or False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths)” is also in Spanish, set in Mexico, with no American actors. So here we go again?

No. As much as critics love Iñárritu, another Best Picture run for a foreign language film is a dog that won’t hunt. “Bardo” will be the strongest contender for Foreign Language Film, and that’s it.

“Bardo” is described as a comedy and, like “Roma,” a personal memoir. This time the cinematographer is Darius Khondji, famous for recent Woody Allen movies including “Midnight in Paris.” His most recent credit is “Uncut Gems.” We will not be hearing the word “Chivo” over and over again (nickname of “Revenant” cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki’s).

Speaking of Chivo, he’s on the all star David O. Russell murder mystery movie setin the 1930s formerly called “Canterbury Glass” and now known as “Amsterdam.”

“Bardo” will be released on Netflix and maybe in theaters later this year.

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.
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