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★★★★½
8 January 2018
A movie review of THE MOTIVE. |
“I want to tell the truth,” Álvaro (Javier Gutiérrez)
THE MOTIVE segues seamlessly from comedy to dark drama to comedy. A blocked writer causes havoc searching for his story. The lead is so desperate to be a successful novelist he becomes a sociopath. (The film reminds of DREAM HOME (2010), a black comedy thriller. It is about a woman wanting so badly to buy an apartment in a des-res block in Hong Kong, that she commits murder to devalue the asking price.)
Álvaro dreams of being a modern-day Ernest Hemingway. We even see him try to find his muse in the nude, as he says Hemingway did, and then dropping his testicles onto the desk. Nudity is used to gross out and make the audience laugh. Think WALK HARD: THE DEWY COX STORY (2007). THE MOTIVE is a film about trying to write a novel. Cinema is not unfamiliar with the struggle of writing, e.g. ADAPTATION (2002) and GENTEMEN BRONCOS (2009). The silver screen also has a fascination with those willing to do anything for creative recognition, e.g. AMADEUS (1984) and YOU WILL MEET A TALL DARK STRANGER (2010).
THE MOTIVE segues seamlessly from comedy to dark drama to comedy. A blocked writer causes havoc searching for his story. The lead is so desperate to be a successful novelist he becomes a sociopath. (The film reminds of DREAM HOME (2010), a black comedy thriller. It is about a woman wanting so badly to buy an apartment in a des-res block in Hong Kong, that she commits murder to devalue the asking price.)
Álvaro dreams of being a modern-day Ernest Hemingway. We even see him try to find his muse in the nude, as he says Hemingway did, and then dropping his testicles onto the desk. Nudity is used to gross out and make the audience laugh. Think WALK HARD: THE DEWY COX STORY (2007). THE MOTIVE is a film about trying to write a novel. Cinema is not unfamiliar with the struggle of writing, e.g. ADAPTATION (2002) and GENTEMEN BRONCOS (2009). The silver screen also has a fascination with those willing to do anything for creative recognition, e.g. AMADEUS (1984) and YOU WILL MEET A TALL DARK STRANGER (2010).
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Seville, Spain, the summer, we meet Álvaro watching a Werner Herzog narrated penguin documentary, at a lecture on storytelling. Herzog’s distinctive voice can be used to damn malpractice, e.g. INTO THE ABYSS (2011), in awe, e.g. CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS (2010), but is now often shorthand for comedy observations. The seminar is interrupted. Álvaro is late for an awards ceremony. Not his. Álvaro is the husband of a successful writer, Amanada (María León). We meet her winning “Andalucía Personality of the Year”. He lives in her shadow. Many male egos cannot handle it. THE MOTIVE explores male insecurity, which Álvaro is unable to conceal. And is a turn off for his spouse. That she is cheating on him comes as no surprise.
Álvaro is a notary in a cramped office. His colleague, Jesús (José Carlos Carmona), drones on incessantly. Jesús’ talk turns to the brilliance of Amanda. In the background the continual squeak of the fan. Álvaro is tortured with repeated humiliations. He leaves his wife and moves into an apartment.
Álvaro has been attending night classes for three years. Juan (Antonio de la Torre) is his literature teacher. We witness an excerpt, written by Álvaro, absolutely sh*t on by the teacher. He calls Álvaro’s work vacuous. “Write about something real,” Juan advises. Live, observe, listen, he states. THE MOTIVE is the opposite of AMELIE. Instead of helping his neighbours, Álvaro causes upheaval to mine inspiration.
Álvaro needs validation. The lead frets whether Juan thinks he has talent. But he does, in unexpected ways, e.g. Álvaro quickly teaches himself chess, just to bond with a neighbour.
A doozy of a parting shot shows the lead learns no life lessons. The portrait of the artist as a hilarious sociopath.
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