The Crime of Padre Amaro Reviews
December 30, 2006
Full Review
| Original Score: 4/5
June 10, 2003
Full Review
| Original Score: 3/5
March 4, 2003
One of the most relentlessly eye-opening dramas of the year.
February 14, 2003
For all of the criticisms of the Church in El Crimen del Padre Amaro, Carrera is quick to defend the basic humanity of his characters.
Full Review
| Original Score: 3/5
February 14, 2003
It's not hard to see why Mexican audiences are lapping this up.
Full Review
| Original Score: 2.5/4
December 10, 2002
A lurid but timeless reminder that the bureaucracies and regulations of organized religion have nothing to do -- indeed are often at odds -- with living a God-ward life.
December 5, 2002
Nothing more than a stifling morality tale dressed up in peekaboo clothing.
December 2, 2002
The director Carlos Carrera, who is acceptably talented, keeps the story on track -- on its various tracks.
November 30, 2002
Lurid drama that goes to ridiculously great lengths to draw its sad and tawdry picture.
Original Score: C
November 29, 2002
Take away the controversy, and it's not much more watchable than a Mexican soap opera.
Original Score: 3/5
November 29, 2002
Overall, this is a juicy movie but certainly not a trashy one.
Full Review
| Original Score: 3/4
November 27, 2002
Works itself into a lather of passion, anguish and tragedy, but there's more to this Mexican movie than straight soap opera.
November 27, 2002
Provides further evidence that Latin American directors are becoming increasingly adept at injecting social issues into popular entertainment.
Original Score: 3/4
November 24, 2002
At two hours, the movie goes on too long and resolves too little -- even though it provides some interesting moments along the way.
Full Review
| Original Score: 2.5/5
November 22, 2002
The story line may be 127 years old, but El Crimen del Padre Amaro ... couldn't be more timely in its despairing vision of corruption within the Catholic establishment.
Original Score: 3/4
November 22, 2002
This is basically high-class melodrama -- Mexican soap opera on a Cadillac budget -- but Bernal is subtly effective as Amaro.
Full Review
| Original Score: 3/4
November 22, 2002
The story is timeless, but when adapted to the modern age, it makes for a wrenching film -- never preachy or sentimental, and refreshingly non-judgmental about the fundamental and contradictory issues it raises.
November 22, 2002
Lavishly, exhilaratingly tasteless.
Original Score: 3.5/4
November 22, 2002
Just turn on Univision or Telemundo some night and see the same thing without the highfalutin pretensions.
Original Score: 2/5
November 21, 2002
The movie is eminently watchable but predictable, pulpy and obviously biased.
Original Score: C+