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Pretty Good

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Yes, it has moments of violence, but that's more a reflection of the 3 main characters lack of impulse control. The violence is more of an expression of their emotions. It's really a story about the 3-some. Many have praised Najwa Nimri's performance as Lucia, but I think they're missing the point. The heart of the piece is Chino. Gustavo Salmerón really steals the show with his sense of desperation and betrayal. It's hard to see what Lucia's motivations were, other than making a quick buck. I would have given it a higher rating if they had made the coming together of the 3-some were more realistic. Lucia says, "Things just happen." I don't think there's an actress alive who could make that line work. The relationship between the brothers was crucial to making this film work, but the mother-daughter thing seemed more like a plot device. Juan Diego Botto does a good job, but he doesn't have much to do.

Chino, a small time crook is in love with a prostitute, Lucia, who is also dealing drugs. Charly, who is a friend of Chino, is introduced to Lucia, who immediately falls for the handsome guy. The three prepare to rob a Frenchman as Lucia meets him for a sexual encounter. In executing their scheme, they hurt the man, who is believed to be dead, and the trio flees. Lucia is instrumental for bringing the three of them together in bed, something that makes Chino uncomfortable with the whole situation, but which seems to satisfy her, and Charly. Their friendship will soon turn in a different direction.At the same time, Chino, whose brother Antonio is a cop, wants to join the force. With the help of his brother, Chino is accepted. When a botched robbery sends Charly to jail, Lucia clings to Chino, as her salvation. Lucia, and her drug addicted mother, Charita, who appears out of the blue at her door, begin preparing the drugs at home because with Charly away, it's the only thing she knows will guarantee her a good return for her investment.After Charly is released, Chino hears from Antonio how Lucia has two-timed him in going to visit him in jail and she waits for him as he is set free. At this point, we realize that Antonio is more deeply involved with his brother and his friends than really meets the eye because of his secret manipulations. At the end, after a horrible car accident in one of the busiest streets of Madrid, the trio's friendship comes to an end, as Chino realizes Lucia will never be his.Daniel Calparsoro, the director, who co-wrote the screen play with Frank Palacios, made a tense film that clearly takes the viewer into the underworld where Lucia, Charly and Chino live. The strength of the movie lies in the portrayals he was able to get from the three leading actors.Not being a fan of Najwa Nimri, whose diction could improve, we must admit that she does a credible job as Lucia, the woman torn between two lovers who wants a better life, but who keeps getting pushed down by the circumstances she encounters. Juan Diego Boto, an interesting young actor, is wonderful as Charly. The real surprise for this viewer, at least, was Gustavo Salmeron, who gives an intense performance as Chino, the most vulnerable of the trio. Antonia San Juan, who has done better work, doesn't have much to do in a role that is not believable. Alfredo Villa, who plays Antonio, the crooked cop, has some effective moments and contributes to the over all success of this film."Asfalto" was made better by the direction of Daniel Calparsoro.

I saw this movie at the Buenos Aires Independent Film Festival and it blew me away. The story was greatly told, photographed and performed. I was really moved by the story of this three lost souls in modern Madrid. Najwa Nimri steals the show as Lucia, but Juan Diego Botto and Gustavo Salmeron are great too. I truly didn't expect it to be this good. This is really Calparsoro's best movie since Salto al vacio and is even better than that one too. In time, it has become one of my favourites. It hasn't been commercially screened in Argentina, but it should. A must see. If you have the chance, don't miss it. You'll want to see it again. I did.

Living in Italy, speaking Spanish and having so few opportunities to see a Spanish film I decided almost immediately to see Asfalto.Seeing the first scenes of the film you can deduct that is one of those "tarantinian" films talking about urban violence in a decadent Madrid. Three main characters: Lucia, Charly and the "Chino" are despaired guys. Each one of them is looking how to bribe and gain easy money without taking care of the rules of the society. Is interesting to see how all these three are linked in a love-violent triangle. Their language is as bad as the actions that they do. Chino's brother is a policeman working in the narcotic department and try to help him to gain a new life. He feels to have a certain responsibility since their father died.The end is the beginning and life is a circle, no solution at all is presented and perhaps the triangle is broken.This film should be seen for the very good acting of the 3 main characters, plus Lucia's mother (Almodovar's actress) but the rest is frankly useless.Rating: 5/10