The film does carry on a certain Almodóvar characteristic, women are the main focus of the plot.  Men are relegated to minor or roles; or in this case, transvestites.  Where this would typically lead me away from a film (being a man I like to see positive portrayals of men), Almodóvar demonstrates that women are just as important as men and that they have a unique world perspective that should be explored in a meaningful way.  Hollywood tends to be male centric in their films.  And when a woman takes the lead, quite a few times they become masculinized (think Alien and Tomb Raider).  Throughout this film, women are the driving force and prove that you don’t have to be Sex and the City to be successful.

The main plot revolves around Manuela (Cecilia Roth) and her confrontation with the death of her son.  I would rather have kept that part obscure, but it is the action that leads to the rest of the film.  She seeks out his father, Lola (Toni Cantó).  Yes you heard that right, his father, Lola.  Lola is a transvestite who never knew that Manuela had a child.  In her return to Barcelona, she encounters Rosa (Penélope Cruz).  Rosa, in many ways, mirrors her.  I could go further but that would ruin a few surprises.  The rest of the plot revolves around Manuela’s interaction with Rosa and the star Huma Rojo (Marisa Paredes), who was being pursued by Manuela’s son at the time of his death.  As they all come together, the plot becomes about mistakes and forgiveness.  Life goes on, and these women demonstrate how to survive.

The surprises and plot twists are essential to the film’s success, which is why it is so difficult mentioning some of the more moving moments in the film.  Suffice to say that each element becomes another piece to the puzzle that eventually rewards the viewer with a fulfilling experience.

One of the best parts of All About My Mother is the conversational nature of the acting and dialogue.  Almodóvar has given the viewer an authentic view into the world of his characters where through their words, we feel.  It’s a unique experience to have an authentic chuckle when a character says something that is not intended to be a joke, but because of the intimacy creates a laugh.  One that is then shared with the characters.  This truly set Almodóvar apart from other directors.  This is also how the relationship between Manuela and Rosa grows right before the audience’s eyes.  We witness the deep connections that are made, and the sadness experienced.  I have to mention that there is a rawness to Cruz’s acting that actually helps her character.  In many ways, it is like watching an actor finally gain their footing and emerge from their cocoon (horrible metaphor but you get the picture).

The film plays on the idea that we all make mistakes in our lives, but life is full of those moments.  How we deal with them is more important.  Death becomes a time of mourning and a time of awareness.  Sadness and happiness can be mixed.  Almodóvar gives the viewer a chance to experience life on a unique level.  All About My Mother is a classic film that deserves even more credit than it’s given.

So here is the story in a rather summarized fashion. Two women from different lifestyles are faced with an evil American “banker” that is taking their peoples land to run a railroad through Mexico. One girl finds that road leads through her farm and the other finds that it leads through her father. The come together by chance to save their people from the dirty banker. So they decide to rob banks. Well, that’s about the all of the plot. It is not very strong and is very simplistic. The plot has merit but is mired by the generic characteristics of a Western. It’s fun but really lacking with depth. This does surprise me a bit since Luc Besson had a hand in its making. I think the film works when you move beyond the story.

The acting is actually very good. Now I have to first declare that I love Selma Hayek and that I would watch her in any film just because she is in it. She plays the highly educated Sara, the daughter of the Mexican bank which is being taken over by the American bank. He is killed (we know it but Sara does not) by Jackson (Dwight Yoakam) Sara then plans her revenge. Maria (Penelope Cruz) is her opposite. She is a farm girl with not much education but does possess a passion for her people. When her farm is burnt down by Jackson and her father almost killed, she plans a bank robbery not for revenge but for money for her people. Each actress is very exquisite in their performance, but I have to add that some of that comes from the fact that each one is absolutely gorgeous in this film. Alone, each has a good presence and believability, but together they work like a well oiled acting machine. Their constant banter and rivalry puts many buddy flicks to shame. Even though they carried the film, many of the lesser roles truly brought the film to a different level. Quentin (Steve Zahn) is a forensic detective brought into town to find the bank robbers. Zahn is hilarious! His slightly neurotic behavior coupled with his wedding bound tempted by hot chicks attitude is refreshing to say the least. While Hayek and Cruz are humorous, Zahn propels their humor even further. It just goes to show that with the right actors around you things can work. Dwight Yoakam is also surprising as the evil Jackson. Honestly, I had to look on IMDB to found out it was him. I am actually not sure if that is good or bad. The final actor that deserves at least a nod is Sam Shepard playing retired bank robber Bill Buck. Even though his part is somewhat unneeded (he only trains the girls) it brings credibility to the film. Aside from the action, the actors create a worthwhile film.

As I mentioned, this film is really all about the ladies and action. I really had fun watching this, and find myself torn between film theorist and viewer. On one level; the plot is predictable, the action is nice, and no technical innovation. On another level, do we need those things to have a good film? Bandidas will never be one of the top films of all time, but it does have three things going for it: the acting, the action, and an uplifting message. Yes, the ladies save the day for Mexico. And yes, you see it coming from a mile away. However; as long as Hayek and Cruz are leading the way, I do not mind knowing the end.