A simultaneously austere and visceral work, one steeped in mystery and longing.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 27, 2019

Reygadas casts non-actor Marcos Hernandez [as the lead]. It's a gamble that pays off; Hernandez imbues the role with a placid quality of a character lifted from the pages of Albert Camus.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 26, 2019

Despite the unpleasant looking sex, there is something about these scenes that is strangely moving.

| Aug 24, 2017

The pic's strangeness becomes its strength.

| Original Score: B+ | Feb 9, 2014

But how can you resist a filmmaker who uses an old Spanish saeta as if it was an unpublished Ennio Morricone theme? Is real beauty ever pure?

| Nov 19, 2013

Since premiering at Cannes the movie has become notorious for its shocking, emphatically unerotic sex scenes, though it's equally notable for its striking visual conceits and small moments of intense feeling.

| Apr 6, 2010

No amount of thoughtful dissection can make up for the unpleasant, uncomfortable and unnecessary experience of actually sitting through the thing.

| Original Score: 1/5 | Sep 17, 2007

The outcome often amounts to an impressive slideshow instead of a fluid, substantial piece of work that involves and challenges us.

| Mar 1, 2007

Reygadas proves that rare filmmaker interested in tackling both the personal and the political through expressly confrontational means.

| Original Score: B+ | Aug 24, 2006

Reygadas' direction seems to wander from time to time, as when Marcos walks around in the hills for long minutes without a purpose, but he always brings it back home. He's a perplexing, but voraciously talented filmmaker to watch.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jul 8, 2006

Reygadas' artful but ponderous camerawork succeeds only in turning the intimately exploitative ... into something emotionally distant and stupefyingly dull.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | May 12, 2006

he film's pallid emotional tone, which is in sync with the constancy of the dull gray sky overhead, can make it a hard story to embrace.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | May 6, 2006

Insufferably arty, polemic and winkingly provocative.

| Original Score: 1/4 | Apr 21, 2006

There is a stillness to the film that is initially fascinating, but it wears thin quickly.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Apr 14, 2006

The only battle I had was deciding whether to watch the whole movie or get out while the getting was good. Unfortunately, I opted to stay to see if it got better... it didn't.

| Original Score: 1/5 | Apr 5, 2006

There's more to this controversial and aesthetically cold film than just its explicit sex scenes. Honest.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 1, 2006

A spectacular failure, despite further evidence of the director's keen eye and bold cinematic ideas.

| Original Score: 1/4 | Mar 31, 2006

Art with a capital A. Don't be afraid. OK, be a little afraid.

| Original Score: B | Mar 31, 2006

If you dare to see it, prepare for a challenge.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Mar 24, 2006

Reygadas' gift for imagery is undeniable, but for most viewers, Battle in Heaven will offer not enlightenment but frustration.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Mar 24, 2006