Watching this film brings Fellini’s autobiographical masterpiece 8½ to mind in style and approach. This is director Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s personal examination of life as an artist and (in his case) a Mexican. The documentarian’s existential crisis manifests itself in hallucinatory episodes that are sometimes a marvel (the baby sequence at apx. 1:58 is especially beautiful and moving) and other times just weird. More traditional dialogue sequences are interspersed to address his personal issues. This is an extremely self-centered film with some periods that try patience. Given some of the more spectacular stagings, it’s obvious that Iñárritu’s brilliance as a director is undeniable, even if you have to wade thru 2:39 for the good parts. 
(3 / 5)
