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The Sea Inside Reviews
Absolutely brilliant all around! No one brings it like Javier Bardem! And this beautiful story is so compelling. A must see
Amazing ! Not only Javier's acting, but the story of one man's life, and his battle to live it as he chose too. The story is told so well, that it is like he is a good friend of yours, and you will want him to succeed, against your hope he doesn't. Very good cast and the settings are equally as beautiful as the story. A story that goes against the norm, and give insight into a man's free will.
The Sea Inside tackles the nonfiction fight of Ramón Sampedro to obtain the legal right to end his own life, which took place over 30 years following a diving accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down. We mostly see Javier Bardem take on the character in his final years, after Sampedro had decades in his bed to think on his place and come to terms with his environment, so when we see him speak with well-wishers looking to convince him of the beauty of life he mostly responds with well-practiced jadedness. Though the film touches on plenty of melodrama, Sampedro is far from a simple character and Bardem gives him a vibrancy that isn't tempered by the character's wish to die. These sort of personal struggle narratives are ripe for almost exploitative adaptations, with producers seeing award circuit potential in the philosophical debate and the demanding performances (it would only be a few years later that Mathieu Amalric rode his tortured performance in The Diving Bell and the Butterfly to massive acclaim). But the script gives some humanity to a cool discussion regarding mortality, particularly in the ability to depict Sampedro's perspective and emotional depth; a few well-placed visions of soaring through the air before reality sets in makes the main character's emotional state a bit more understandable. Some frustration at his surroundings, rather than just a 'noble quiet', give the situation some heft. (3.5/5)
Left paralyzed from the neck down after a diving accident twenty-eight years earlier, Ramon Sampedro (Javier Bardem) seeks only one thing – permanent relief from his endless suffering. Alejandro Amenabar's The Sea Inside provides probing insight into the debate concerning assisted suicide, buoyed by a sensitive script, an extremely persuasive argument in favor of euthanasia, a cast of characters who manage to be easy to relate to regardless of their views on Sampedro's situation, and another solid performance from the always reliable Bardem. Despite the controversial subject matter, The Sea Inside somehow manages to be both heartbreaking and wildly inspirational, sure to touch the most hardened of hearts.
Emotional and poignant but at times can be overly dramatic. The Sea Inside is a sad film at its heart but it's also a very heartwarming film that explores the value of life through the thoughts of the main characters and his daily interactions with his family and friends. The cinematography is also a highlight of the film; beautifully showing the Spanish countryside. The downside of the film is the score as it becomes so overly dramatic at times that it becomes very distracting. In addition, Dueñas's character was quite annoying at times and, excluding the ending, I was not fully invested when these two characters interacted with eachother. I watched this film because I was surprised it beat Downfall to win the Best Foreign Language Oscar. I believe it does not come near that masterpiece but it is slightly better than the other film that year; The Chorus. Overall, an intriguing, well-acted and beautifully shot film, sometimes let down by its score.
A remarkable movie, this true story is anchored by the best performance I've seen by Javier Bardem. He's generally a truly fine actor, but he clearly fully embraced this role and all the challenges that came with it. Also great are Rueda, Dueñas, Rivera and Segura as the 'women in his life'. The loving, maternal side of women is a key aspect of the film, with each of these female characters showing great care and compassion in their words and actions. Amenábar shows again why he was among the finest Spanish directors in the game for several years. He sets the tone early and maintains it exceptionally well. Some nice camera work, esp. late in the film. But this film is really about the story; about one man's fight to have true freedom and control of his life, his body, and his right to die with dignity. 3.8 stars
Melodramatic story that only works because if it's star.
Alejandro Amenobar, the young and talented Spanish director clearly shows us he is a serous film maker. Along side with my favorite actor in Javier Bardem he was great. This is a movie that has been rewarded with numerous accolades, not only in Spain, but throughout the world. Wherever this wonderful movie has been shown A very touching film that delivers the best of Javier Bardem. So for that being said, I give " The Sea Inside " a C-.
The movie touches difficult subjects in moments with a great sensibility in others a little bit over dramatic, length could have been reduced . Supporting characters are not that well constructed
smart negotiations and impressive tactics.. The Sea Inside Amenabar's resistance force is much more powerful than the opposing one that tries to penetrate it. Without overridden the complex issues like dwelling on the past and the backstory of the protagonist, it is pretty much what's up front. And dealing it with smart negotiations and impressive tactics, Amenabar keeps the storyline on the edge and the emotions on the surface. And despite of it being dipped entirely into a pathos bubble, it never grows manipulative, it succumbs a bit to express on a large scale similar to its characters, but the message finally reaches adequately to the audience. The fascinating substance in here is not the concept, but where the storyline which drives that little piece of idea. Also, personal story aside, the debate that it ping pongs throughout the movie about the life and death is worth pondering about. Obviously the characters are humble and caring on both the sides but they are also gritty and honest. The conversations are pragmatic and layered monologues echos between those silent pitches. It is a tale that relies a lot upon the performance and the cast is giving their best and are thoroughly convincing. Bardem once again proves that he is the real deal. He chokes up at essential moments whilst breaking down that melts you down. His emotions paints this darker picture into a brighter one with an inspiring tone of fighting back for one more round. The supporting cast too has done a tremendous work on delivering the magnitude of the situation and serve it up front. The dramatic sequences are weaved out to be cinematic where each step of the structure is glorified to keep the audience tangled. The Sea Inside is more of what's inside Bardem's gift basket that he keeps offering, a tremendous work on portraying such a role.
Ramon Sampedro's Courageous Journey Paralysed from the neck down for over 25 years, Ramon is trapped in a tragic prison - his own body. If he were able to move his arm, he could shoot himself and deliver himself from irrelievable, profound and intolerable existential suffering. As Ramon himself eloquently stated, "In my dreams, the one commonality is that I can walk." But because of ass-backwards laws in Spain, all he can do is starve himself or find people to help him, illegally. An ignorant but well-intentioned woman visits Ramon near the film's outset. She is baffled at how a man who smiles so readily could want to die. He explains that his smiles are simply a curtain over his grief, pain and tears. He soon asks the arrogant and presumptuous woman to leave. This is nothing compared to the arrogance of a quadriplegic priest, who not only has his faith to sustain him, but billions in church resources to draw upon if he should ever need to. His non-sequitor argument, that "freedom without life isn't freedom", ignores millennia of bloodshed and sacrifice in the name of freedom and liberty for all. I found his behaviour repugnant, especially when he countered Ramon's appeal to public support by Godwinning himself and equating that support to that provided to the Nazis by the German people. While the majority of this powerful true story concerns Ramon's fight to legalise and obtain assistance to die, other characters are crucial and unforgettable, including his family and a woman who intends to end her life before her incurable, lifelong illness becomes unbearable to her. They round out the film and create a profound and realistic three-dimensional experience. Legislative change will come, and it will come soon, as baby boomers age. A placard raised at a protest in Ramon's honour read "Life is a right, not an obligation." Nothing could be more true. A life that is compulsory, not to mention miserable, is torture. And paternalistic torture at the hands of the state is one of the most profoundly abhorrent kinds of torture possible.
Pretty depressing movie. Javier Bardem is magnificent in the film. The supporting acting was half good - half bad. The story was fantastic, along with the pacing. It got a bit slow in the middle, but it pulled right through. Overall, pretty good movie.
Extraordinary, poetic reflection on assisted suicide, particularly powerful if you don't know the ending.
Javier Bardem turns in another remarkable performance as Ramon Sampedro, a paraplegic right-to-die campaigner from Spain. Acting primarily from the neck up (in middle-aged make-up), he is charismatic, bitter, and steadfast in his desire to die. Director Alejandro Amenábar inserts Ramon into his relationship context: brother and sister-in-law taking care of him, impressionable nephew, and two potential love interests. There are also flashbacks to his accident (diving into a shallow tidepool) and fantasy sequences where he is no longer paralysed (which break the film out of its one-room set and given the cinematographer a chance to zoom over the beautiful landscape). Of course, all viewers will be waiting for the inevitable money shot (Sampedro died in 1998). The arguments about euthanasia seem to take a backseat to the human drama in the foreground, except for a comical argument between a paraplegic priest and Sampedro shouted up and down the stairs (due to wheelchair inaccessibility). I think the film would have been better as a whole if Amenábar had found a way to get more philosophical and political substance into it, but there is no denying Bardem.
Easily in the top 5 of my favorite movies. Mar Adentro snatches the silver medal of movie Olympics. Bardem´s perfomance is terrific , he so naturally gives an astonishing performance in this elegantly directed drama based on real events. Amenabar through his skilfull way of directing pushes through the emotional potential of the situation. The actors speeches very much portray dignity as a primal emotion! Yes this movie definitely deserves the "5" star rating from me. If I could speak with Ramon I'd say " Yes my friend , I support your decision."
Buen cine, está claro, pero no me parece ni agradable de ver, ni ofrece confort sobre los dilemas propuestos.
Thoughtful and inspiring drama that touches some interesting as well as "hot" topics with undisputed class.