Tony Manero

Dir: Pablo Larraín

2008

****

Pablo Larraín's Tony Manero is a cross between Man Bites Dog, The King of Comedy and Scarface but while it's not quite as good as either of them in a classical sense (or really anything like them), it's just as iconic, just from an alternative angle. Alfredo Castro is brilliant as Raúl Peralta, a man obsessed with becoming a real life Tony Manero (John Travolta's Disco Dancing character in Saturday Night Fever) in 1978's Chile during Pinochet's dictatorship. The gritty violence and pure terror is electrifying but it's a slow burner which won't be for everyone. Personally, I thought it worked brilliantly, adding an unexpectedness that only led to a curious sort of suspense, when it really wasn't that kind of film. It's weirdly provocative, in a way most film would avoid at all costs but Larraín twists things and makes the whole thing strangely compelling, much like the obsession of the title character. It's a challenge but with great reward, with one 25 minute scene in particular being absolute cinematic gold. Pablo Larraín is a stunning director, with pretty much every frame being utterly sublime. He's got a really mature eye for his age, without wanting to sound patronizing but he's been vocal about Chile's artistic suppression for many years stating that "Chile found itself unable to express itself artistically for nearly twenty years" during and after Pinochet's rule. It's clear that is all about to change with Larrain very much leading the way.