Miss Bala

KarstenM

This is definitely the Cannes discovery this far. An impeccably directed and very very powerful Mexican film – with some of the most fitting, brilliant cinematography I've seen in years. Also, the original story and strong main character is continuously edge-of-the-seat engaging. Flawless, unmissable film.

Guillermo Padilla

Gerardo Naranjo se aleja de lo que nos impresionó con Drama/Mex su narrativa dentro de las tragedias cotidianas. Nos presenta una película que nunca toma su camino, en momentos vacía, en momentos no encuentras esa conexión con la protagonista, parecería qu el sufrimiento es sólo de ella y nunca del espectador.

ramosbarajas

Visually the film is perfect. The cinematography achieves what many other films try to do and fail. The long takes and tracking shots establish a voyeuristic look into war that is unforgiving. That said the second half is weaker than the first. It lingers too much and can be complicated at times. The ambiguous ending however is very fitting seeing that the war on drugs being fought in Mexico continues to rage

Phil Worfel

Not really sure what the director was going for here. Much of the film is focused on the back of the actors heads or letting the action happen off screen. Both great techniques but here they are used ad nauseum. I was ready to feel the terror and the tragedy of the characters circumstance but instead found her to be a lump of clay that fidgeted with explosions went off. Really disappointing given all the praise.

Rio Johan

Yes, the film is stylish, than substantial. And of course, if you do aware with the film premise, I don't think it is supposed to be a portrayal of reality. It's not supposed to be a kind of life like film, I think. But Gerardo Naranjo has his sense of style to put this unusual story feels so tense and gripping.

Matt Richards

So this new one looks at poverty and fame via a beautiful young woman who dreams of becoming a beauty queen but instead gets caught up in a Mexican gang war. Some exception looking shots but on the whole full of motivation holes and way too unbelievable. Mexico's Academy award submission lacks the sass of Naranjo's last flick Voy a Explotar (I'm Gonna Explode). 3 stars

Xose Manoel Ramos

Vedea sen prexuizos: parece que esta todo dito na sinopsis, pero a realización e todo o que se amosa é brutalmente convincente (e probablemente real)

CarlosEsquives

Naranjo deja de lado las travesuras de la pubertad para desarrollar en su tercer filme una inclinación más social. Nuevamente el protagonista principal es una adolescente, no absorbida por las hormonas, sino por la violencia. Tal vez lo más valioso de "Miss Bala" es que se las ingenia para aglutinar diversas mecánicas sobre cómo funciona la narcoviolencia. Fuera de eso, es una historia que no pasa del folletín.