Last night saw our Cineworld Unlimited screening of Pain and Glory, the new movie from Pedro Almodovar. This critically acclaimed Spanish drama focuses on an ageing film director, played by Antonio Banderas, as he reflects on his life and his emergent sexuality.
Almodovar is regarded as Spain's finest living film director, famed for his flamboyant and melodramatic studies of gender, identity and family. Critics have said Pain and Glory finds him in a somewhat ruminative mood, drawing on his own experiences and extracting a fine performance from Banderas in the process.
By and large Cineworld Unlimited members agree, starting with this from Sue Ginda.
Absolutely loved #PainAndGlory Antonio Banderas was brilliant; with mesmerizing performances by all the cast. #CineworldUnlimited - we need more opportunities to watch foreign language films.
— Sue Ginda (@SueGinda) August 12, 2019
East_West_Tiger lauds Pain and Glory as one of Almodovar's finest films.
A beautiful film. Antonio Banderas was exquisite. This is exactly the sort of film that Unlimited screenings should represent.
— East_West_Tiger (@East_West_Tiger) August 12, 2019
Graham Walton says it's an emotional and memorable experience.
Really enjoyed it. Typical Spanish film that sets the scene and builds up into the story. Great acting and direction and surprisingly moving at certain points of the film. Thanks for putting a foreign language film on Unlimited Preview
— Graham Walton (@graham43404) August 12, 2019
Emma@TheMovies says the movie is a triumph of storytelling intricacy and construction.
Pain and Glory was a slow burn of a film but I ended up enjoying it. I loved how it managed to combine the different strands of the story and bring them seemlessly together at the end.
— Emma @ The Movies (@VisionInMovies) August 12, 2019
David Woollin says it was the kind of Unlimited screening that opens his eyes to different styles of film-making.
Exquisite filmmaking and Antonio Banderas was amazing. Hard to understand how much pain can come with the glory but this did it's best to make you understand. Thank you for putting his on. Not one I would have normally chosen myself
— David Woollin (@FameAsser) August 12, 2019
And Ross Miller says that as an Almodovar fan, the film delivered everything he asked for.
Pain and Glory was terrific. I've seen everything Almodovar has made since AAMM and this is one of his most mature, emotionally satisfying films. Absolutely gorgeous to look at, the drama is paced just right & Banderas gives an affectingly soulful performance. #CineworldUnlimited
— Ross Miller (@rosstmiller) August 12, 2019
Anyone else who attended last night's screening can tweet us their responses @Cineworld and using #CineworldUnlimited.
Pain and Glory goes on general release on 23rd August.
And your Unlimited journey doesn't stop there: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark sends tingles down the spine on 20th August. Check out the trailer below, and we look forward to seeing you there.
Not yet part of the Unlimited club? For a set monthly price you can enjoy advance screenings and a whole lot more. Click here to join Cineworld Unlimited.