The second part of Soderbergh's biopic is a dark, hypnotic and sometimes frustrating portrait of a warrior in decline, with a terrific central performance from Del Toro.
The second part of Soderbergh's biopic is a dark, hypnotic and sometimes frustrating portrait of a warrior in decline, with a terrific central performance from Del Toro.
Part 2 of director Steven Soderbergh's Che Guevara saga begins with the famed Cuban revolutionary at the absolute peak of his fame and power. Disappearing suddenly, Guevara subsequently resurfaces in Bolivia to organize a modest group of Cuban comrades and Bolivian recruits in preparation for the Latin American Revolution. But while the Bolivian campaign would ultimately fail, the tenacity, sacrifice, and idealism displayed by Guevara during this period would make him a symbol of heroism to
followers around the world. Though Parts 1 and 2 were screened together at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, they were set to be released separately in U.S. theaters in early 2009. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Part Two is the more interesting film. ... Gorgeously shot in a lyrically linear style, with combat often depicted with carefully composed extreme long shots,
Soderbergh has no interest in sentimentality, or back story, or even really in Guevara's philosophy, except as a rigorously footnoted onscreen reflection. Practically rejecting outright the concept of poetic license, Che is radical as a biopic.
... a deeply interesting and commercially brave movie, one that recognizes the limits inherent in cinematic biography. It is meant to be experienced, not sounded for meanings, and is weakest when Soderbergh caves into his poetic impulses...
The persuasiveness of the film's reconstructions is impressive, but there is hardly ever any tension. It's hard to tell exactly what Soderbergh was hoping to achieve.
The saving graces are a commanding performance from Del Toro and the inspirational humanity of Guevara; even facing defeat and death he still has an unshakable belief that right will prevail and social justice will flourish.
Having given us Che the icon, Del Toro now gives us Che the man: an asthmatic, flawed individual, powerless to prevent events spiralling out of his control. The film itself is far less compelling.
It seems that the harshest critics of the two Che films by Steven Soderbergh are the same ones that claim the first film is better than the second due to there being more action, completely ignoring the fact that the films are biopics and therefore based on history - damn you Che for not venturing into space to defeat
an alien species intent on destroying every cigar factory in the Caribbean. The second instalment of the Che story is a continuation of the brilliant first film, I see them as one film to be honest and therefore, just as brilliant. Che's defeat in Bolivia is a very sad chapter in modern history, Soderbergh did pull on the heartstrings or milk it one bit, the message gets through load and clear on its own and it shows his maturity as a director. Added bonus was the appearance of Franka Potente who I've got a bit of a crush on.
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