Steinesongo Too many fans seem to be blown away

Lidia Draper Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

Cody One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

Fulke Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

Donald F No is an interesting political film, based on real events in 80s Chile. A referendum was held, giving citizens the choice between dictator Augusto Pinochet (Yes/Si) or hold democratic elections (No). Each side is given 15 minutes a day to air campaign advertisements. René Saavedra is hired to lead these productions for the No side, but has unconventional ideas. What if they sold democracy like a product on TV? Happiness, music videos, comedy, unrelated images...along with exposure of censorship and war crimes.Its an odd approach, and morally questionable. Even if it works, is it an ethical path to democracy? Is it what the lowest-common-denominator deserves? Its a fascinating analysis on the human psyche. It amazed me that these ridiculous, 80s-cliche videos were actually on TV. Its well-acted, and portrayed the era well. However, I thought they spent too much time on René, especially with his family. I didn't feel anything towards his ex-wife and kid. His actions outside the studio don't particularly contribute to his character. I wish they spent more time on the creation of the ads and the politics. Heck, it could have been cut out, as I think the 2 hour film is kinda slow.I don't love it, I don't hate it, it was alright. If you like the genre, sure. Its a one-and-done for me. I'd have preferred a true documentary.

monty5147 While this movie is entertaining it is full of very historical inaccuracies. While I am not trying to defend Pinochet, he's a vile man, this movie tries to go further then the atrocities committed. The movie tries to basically put Pinochet on the same level as a Ronald Reagan, Rush Limbaugh, Right wing conservative even using the economic policies. While Pinochet was a horrible dictator for torture and murder of his protesters Chile had the most economic success in its history during his regime. They try to use the line that 40% of the population was in poverty during his regime, which is simply not true. During Pinochet regime Chile was the most prosperous South American country that has ever existed. The movie is OK, make sure you know your history before you fall victim to liberal propaganda.Before you libs bitch know that Im a libertarian

cece martin As soon as the opening credits started, I knew I would love this film. Even before that, the idea of learning more about the TV communication war between the two parties seemed very much interesting. The director had the brilliant idea to edit the movie in a vintage, 80's look which helped mixing archive clips with the actual film more easily. Also I guess his intention was to take us on a journey to that period, and I must say that it worked quite well. I truly enjoyed the time travel machine experience.Gael Garcia is an amazing actor and I believed in his acting. So did I for the rest of the cast. Being able to enter the process of this huge advertising and political war was jubilant, as it felt like we had access to a whole secret world where no one was able to step in before.Now the main thing I regret on this film is the lack of an actual story. As fun as following these advertising nerds can be, it is disappointing to not know more about them, especially the lead character René. Yes, he has a son and is separated, struggles with a few ego issues... but that is it. We are only given a very few insights of his personality. Nothing else happens really.You can tell that the director did some research and heard this and that about him or her, so he's put it in the film. Then we just watch the YES and NO TV commercials one after the other, sometimes accompanied with a few images of people's reactions.What I mean by that is that it was difficult even frustrating at times, to swing between a proper documentary and a regular movie. Finding the good balance is the main difficulty with such films.Overall I truly liked this film because it taught me things.

loco_73 A well crafted and acted movie about a little known episode in history. It is an extraordinary tale about the exceptional individuals who rose to the occasion and managed to purge Chile and the rest of the world of the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet without spilling blood, inciting violence or seeking vengeance and reprisals! They did it with a song, steadfast belief in their cause and a lot of hope and faith! "NO" covers the end of the Pinochet dictatorship and the transition of power from the military junta rule through democracy and elections to a civilian government. It is the conclusion of an ugly cycle of violence, tyranny and oppression which started when the democratically elected government of Chilean president Salvador Allende was overthrown in a violent military coup on September 11, 1973 (quite ironic...the date!). It culminated in the ascent to power of general Augusto Pinochet, the head of the military junta.By the late 1980's, external pressures mainly from the US and Western Europe(as it was at the time) where being put on Pinochet and the junta to take steps towards the democratization of Chile and a relaxation of what was basically governance by military decree.The pressure coming from the US was quite ironic given the fact that the military coup which deposed Allende was largely the brainchild of Henry Kissinger (who many rightly consider a war criminal) and the CIA. By 1989 the want and need for change was being made even more urgent for the world powers, because the presence of Pinochet no longer fit the global narrative at the time, given the fact that the Berlin Wall was about to come down, Communism was collapsing all over Eastern Europe and the USSR was taking its last gasping breaths of existence. Pinochet was a badly-drawn, nasty caricature of a tin-pot dictator masquerading as a "anti-Communist" fighter and a bulwark against the expansion of Socialism throughout Latin America. By 1989 the jig was up so the US and co. could no longer maintain the farce that was Pinochet. As a result he was pretty much forced to hold a plebiscite...or a referendum,in order to legitimize the continuation of his presidency for another 8 years. That or give up power. This movie covers that campaign, the people involved on both sides "SI" and "NO" (i.e. the title of the movie) and the events that followed.The movie was shot in such a way that it recreates the Betamax visual style, it was not shot to accommodate a wide-screen frame (at least it wasn't in the movie theatre I went to). It was shot on purpose to recreate the look and texture of the late 80's, a time I am very familiar with since I recall a lot of the events portrayed in the movie.Gael Garcia Bernal is his usual talented self as is the rest of the cast. The direction and script are competent and do their duty to tell the tale.This is a good movie but not a great one. Given the events and times portrayed, it lacks a certain gravitas and sense of urgency. Those were heady days, dynamic, electrifying, full of an anxious optimism for the future and the possibilities it entailed. The movie fails to capture that fervour and kinetic energy which made that transition so memorable and vital.Still given the rubbish which passes for movies these days, I would recommend it, if nothing else as some type of entertaining history lesson of sorts.