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Thursday, September 6, 2018

"Guilty Men" DVD: Colombian-Style Coen Brothers


Breaking Glass Pictures fully displays its edgy independent spirit both in releasing the 2016 drama "Guilty Men" (nee "Pariente") and in aptly labeling it a thriller western. However, Breaking slightly drops the ball in not including the descriptor "revenge" to this recent release. 

The following YouTube clip of a trailer for "Guilty" highlights the gun play and the general tension in this film set during the particular form of national upheaval in 2005 Colombia..


The Coen brothers vibe is clear from the opening scenes in which middle-aged Alfonso, younger cousins Rene and Willington, and essentially fourth-wheel Heriberto combine a planned middle-of-the-night exchange with an obsessive discussion about a cassette tape collection that holds great significance. A WTF moment during the transaction triggers much of the rest of the action as the quartet both debates about how to fully seal the deal and wait for the other shoe to drop regarding the rash action by a group member,

All of this occurs in the period leading up to Alfonso granddaughter Mariana keeping it in the family by preparing to marry Rene despite a past relationship with Willington. One lesson here is that a little bastard easily can ruin a good thing. One spoiler is that Mariana does not get a Colombian necklace.

The other related local event is that an unidentified thief is emulating a Depression-era hobo. Although there are reported thefts of livestock and cultivated crops, it does not seem that cooling pies have been taken from  windowsills. 

The bigger picture is the mystery surrounding the current status of the local paramilitary group.

Tensions and bloodletting increase in the days following the covert meeting and the ones leading up to Rene and Mariana going to the chapel where they're gonna get married, Of course, these events and related one fuel the (probably justified) paranoia of  Willington., 

All of this leads to a movable feast of a showdown in which most truths are revealed and our cousins face ending up as coffee fertilizer. Writer-director Ivan D. Gaona does a good job choreographing these scenes and keeping up guessing until the final scene that is the modern equivalent of riding off into the sunset. 

Breaking further outshines itself in providing even more spectacular bonus features than usual. The "Behind-the-Camera" extra is only the beginning. We also get deleted scenes and a documentary on Guespa where "Men" is filmed. The fun continues with a music video that doubles as a deleted opening scene, and separate film festival footage. 

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