ROMA [Netflix]


I heard a lot of Oscar buzz about Roma, a black & white film on Netflix, so I watched it. Roma tells the story of writer-director Alfonso Cuaron’s youth in Mexico in the 1970s. The story is seen through the eyes of Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), a maid who works for an upper-class family in a posh suburb of Mexico City. Cleo is shown doing the laundry, washing the floors, and taking care of the children. Her employers, a rich couple who operate on different levels, contrast with the poor families in the surrounding neighborhoods.

In one big historical scene, the Corpus Christi massacre–where student protestors were gunned down by Government soldiers–we see the clash of class interests in Mexico. In a more domestic scene, Cleo is shown at a beach with her employers and their family. Cleo’s dedication to her job and the children provides a very moving moment. Alfonso Cuaron won the Best Director Oscar for Gravity, a much different film. This film has an almost documentary feel to it. You may like it more than I did. GRADE: C+

24 thoughts on “ROMA [Netflix]

  1. Jeff Smith

    Wow, I hope I like it more than you did. I’ve loved everything I’ve seen by Cuaron: A Little Princess, Y Tu Mama Tambien, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (probably my favorite of the Harry Potter films), Children of Men, Gravity. All of these are great in my book. I’m really looking forward to Roma, which I don’t imagine I’ll see until January.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Jeff, I think Harry Potter AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN the best of the Harry Potter movies, too. ROMA just didn’t connect with me. You may love it! Plenty of critics do.

      Reply
  2. Steve Oerkfitz

    I liked it better than you did. It reminds me a lot of the Italian neo realist films that were made after WW2. I expect it and The Favorite will be top contenders for best film but the way overrated A Star is Born will probably get the Oscar. I would give it to First Reformed or The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.

    Reply
    1. Jeff Smith

      Steve, Italian neorealism is an area of film I have sadly neglected. I don’t think I’ve seen anything but Bicycle Thieves (it’s been a struggle, but I’m adjusting to its “new” title) — which I absolutely loved, so I obviously must dig into this some more. (The giant shadow is one of my favorite moments in all of film.)

      Reply
      1. Jeff Meyerson

        When I saw it, it was still called THE BICYCLE THIEF. I also liked De Sica’s UMBERTO D. and Visconti’s OSSESSIONE.

  3. Michael Padgett

    I liked this one a lot, but it’s certainly not for everyone. Netflix has been on such a roll lately that I might have to take back some of the nasty things I’ve said about them. Just recently they’ve also brought us Orson Welles “The Other Side of the Wind”, Nicole Holofcener’s “The Land of Steady Habits”, and Tamara Jenkins’ “Private Life”. All four of these are a welcome change of pace from their steady parade of (mostly) second rate thrillers and horror movies.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Michael, I’m sad to report my viewing tastes lately have been super-hero series and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina on Netflix. My wife watches HALLMARK Christmas movies this time of year and I watch fluff. I blame this on Trump.

      Reply
  4. Jeff Meyerson

    We have this on the list. I liked the post-WWII Italian neo-realism movies, so that is a point in its favor.

    We’ve been wathing a lot on Netflix lately (series 3 of TRAVELERS, BODYGUARD) and Amazon Prime, but have mostly been saving the movies. We did watch THE HITMAN’S BODYGUARD, which I found disappointing, and the silly RAMPAGE, with two cartoonish villains who couldn’t have made the cut in a Marvel movie. If you’re going to watch The Rock, try SAN ANDREAS. And for Samuel L. Jackson, look for the classic THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT with Geena Davis. Both of those had the Bill Crider Seal of Approval.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Jeff, with Patrick and Katie home, we’re doing a lot of running around. Diane just got a new iPhone as an early Christmas present. Patrick and Katie helped Diane pick it out and transfer all her files and apps.

      Reply
      1. george Post author

        Jeff, Diane’s old iPhone 6 has a battery that doesn’t hold a charge long. APPLE offered a new battery for $30 so about six month ago, Diane and I went to our local APPLE Store and had a new battery installed. The new battery worked WORSE than the old battery! I’m convinced this is an APPLE plot to force users to upgrade their phones. In this case, their Evil Strategy worked: Diane loves her new blue iPhone XR! I am still resisting having a cell phone. I just borrow Diane’s when I want to play HQ. This week, for the seventh time I’ve gotten to the FINAL QUESTION. “What ice cream company resulted from a break down of a delivery truck?” Choices: Ben & Jerry, Baskin-Robbins, Carvel.

        I picked Ben & Jerry…but the answer was Carvel.

      2. Rick Robinson

        I don’y understand the “early Christmas present” thing. I hear it more and more. Christmas Eve I understand, as many families do that due to the his-house-her-house thing, but early? Might as well just give the stuff at Thanksgiving and forget the rest. Also, when Barbara gets a new phone, Verizon transfers everything over.

      3. george Post author

        Rick, Diane’s old iPhone had battery problems so Patrick suggested she upgrade to the new iPhone XR when he was home for Christmas. Diane is delighted with her new iPhone. Patrick transferred all the files and apps. One more problem solved.

  5. Jeff Meyerson

    Mexican directors have won the Best Director Oscar four of the last five years, starting with Cuaron for GRAVITY. From the hype this year, I have doubts as to whether I will even bother watching the Awards.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Jeff, award shows–with Real Stars–are a thing of the Past. Our current award shows simply market movies and TV series…and too many mediocre actors.

      Reply
  6. patti Abbott

    As you already know, I thought it was the best film of 2018. Although FIRST REFORMED is a close second. I like movies about ordinary people. I could have watched her pour water on those stones for another ten minutes. I love that Cuaron saw her as a Madonna and I hope that made her hard life easier. I hope she found love but I doubt it. I loved the complicated relationship between her and her employer. Part of the family sometimes but an outsider others. What happened to her after the kids grew up? Was she passed on to another family. Probably.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Patti, I seem to have lost my ability to appreciate languid and realistic films (other than documentaries). I get impatient and want something to happen. Perhaps I’ve been reprogrammed after watching so many MARVEL movies. I’m sure ROMA will do well once the Award Season starts. And Netflix has to be happy they bought the streaming rights to ROMA.

      Reply
      1. Steve Oerkfitz

        The more Marvel films I see the more I want to see something different. I’m getting where I can’t remember what happens in a Marvel or DC movie 2 days later.

      2. george Post author

        Steve, MARVEL has a template they apply to most of their movies. But, you’re right, they aren’t very deep movies. Very surfacey.

  7. Jeff Meyerson

    We watched this today after the Oscar nominations came out, and we both thought it was great. I liked it better than his Oscar winning film (GRAVITY).

    Reply

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