Javier Garruchaga Movies
- 2005
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When the wife of a prominent millionaire is threatened with abduction, it's up to the most bumbling cop on the block to use the lessons he has learned by watching his favorite detective movies and thwart the dastardly kidnapping scheme in this hilarious police detective comedy starring Javier Gurruchagaen. Robert Ruperez is a small-time cop who is better known to his friends as "R2." When R2 vows to protect the millionaire's wife and finds himself in too deep, he must resort to a skilled series of tricks and disguises to crack the case and ensure that justice is served. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Javier Garruchaga
- 2003
The story of the birth of Christ is given a new spin in this family-friendly animated adventure. In the ancient city of Judea, three men are commanded by an unknown voice to follow the North Star in search of a treasure that will be bestowed on a great king, who is soon to be born. Chubby and good-natured Melchor, strong and stalwart Baltasar, and bright and dependable Gaspar all answer the call and set out on their journey; however, the wicked Herod, ruler of Judea, hears of their mission and is determined to stop it with the help of Belial, his second-in-command. Herod and Belial use both practical and magical defenses against the three travelers, but they remain undeterred in their quest, somehow certain something very important lies at the end of their journey. Produced by Spanish and French companies, Los Reyes Magos (aka The Three Wise Men) also features a modern-day framing story in which a troubled youth learns the importance of the nativity story. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Juan Echanove, Jose Coronado, (more)
When an ambitious and promiscuous writer willing to go to any length to further his career becomes engaged to the beautiful daughter of a prolific editor, her dreams of the perfect wedding day are shattered by the selfish motivations of her future husband in this drama that proves all is not fair in love and marriage. It seems that everyone except for the bride is well aware of her driven fiancée's unscrupulous methods of career advancement, but will the humiliation of realizing the truth behind her marriage be enough to end the relationship, or has the couples bond actually grown strong enough to weather the storm of a rocky start? ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Veteran Spanish director Luis Garcia Berlanga created this anarchic black comedy about sexual impotence and millennial anxiety. Though a Paris-based plastic surgeon spends much of his time and wealth on prostitutes, he is plagued by impotence. Despondent, he plans to commit suicide. After happening upon a bike with "Paris-Timbuktu" painted on it, he decides to bike from France to Africa and kill himself there on New Year's Eve. But when his plans are thwarted in Spain by a painful boil on his bottom, he is forced to room with a pair of sisters in a remote village. Through them, he finds himself increasingly immersed in the local community, populated by the likes of a clergyman suspected of murder, a nudist garage mechanic, and a bizarre champion cyclist. Paris-Timbuktu was screened at the 1999 Montreal Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michel Piccoli, Concha Velasco, (more)
- 1997
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In this sequel to the acclaimed Sighs of Spain (and Portugal) (1995), two picaros, slick Juan (Juan Luis Galiardo) and his innocent pal Pepe (Juan Echanove) return to Spain with Angelica (Rosa Maria Sarda) and Carmela (Neus Asensi). Pepe and Juan, both in love with the same woman, are on the brink of suicide when they are invited by TV-host Lanzagorta (Javier Gurruchaga) to tell their story on his show, "There Is Always a Right Way." In a series of flashbacks from the TV studio, Lanzagorta leads his viewers through a morass of misery in a materialist society as experienced by Juan and Pepe, as he turns their suffering into mass entertainment. Filmed in the poverty-stricken back alleys of Madrid. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Juan Luis Galiardo, Juan Echanove, (more)
- 1994
This historical drama, set in the '20s examines the strange, brief reign of a Latin American dictator. It was alternately shot in Havana and Mexico. The story is set in an unspecified Latin country and chronicles the daily life of the tyrannical dictator. One of his day's highlights is the signing of execution orders. His insane daughter must be physically restrained and is tied to her bed. Also included in the tale are a group of picked on Spaniards, a psychic woman, and effeminate Spanish ambassador, and a rebellious general. The film contains no violence. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gian Maria Volontè, Ana Belén, (more)
- 1992
It is 1620, and the young King of Spain (Gabino Diego) is technically a married man, because the great churchmen have conducted a grand public wedding ceremony joining him with a wife. However, as the real rulers of the state, they have perversely kept him completely innocent in matters of sex, so that his marriage remains unconsummated. One day, one of the king's few friends sees to it that he gets to spend a little time with a high-class prostitute (Laura del Sol). In fact, she's so high class that she's the favorite whore for the Grand Inquisitor himself. After the king's initiation into the joys of the female body, he publicly declares his desire to see his queen naked, which scandalizes his prudish and very hypocritical court. The Inquisitor (Fernando Fernan Gomez), when he learns of the boy's meeting with the prostitute, issues two conflicting instructions to two different aides. He sends one to have her arrested and another to warn her to go into hiding. That kind of convoluted behavior is the norm in this humorous historical drama. One of the controversies the court entertains itself with is whether or not the king committed adultery with the prostitute, since it could be alleged that he wasn't quite completely married at the time, according to the legal and theological conventions of the time. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gabino Diego, Laura del Sol, (more)
- 1991
The name of mystery writer Edgar Neville may be relatively unknown in the U.S., but his novels have been the source for quite a number of films made in Europe. In this humorous story, set in Madrid, a woman (Angela Molina) standing in the rain is offered rides from two different cars. Either ride she takes will change her life significantly. At this point, the movie backs up and a narrator explains that from here on, the movie will explore both possible fates. The first car is being driven by a wealthy goofball (Imanol Arias) who is considerably older than the woman. If she gets in his car, she will marry him. The second car is being driven by an artist (Antonio Banderas) whom she is attracted to. Oddly, she still winds up marrying the rich guy, but when he dies of a heart attack, she can now look up the artist. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ángela Molina, Antonio Banderas, (more)
This complex and confusing Spanish feature intercuts stories from 1936, 1940, 1970 and 1988, and has Victoria Abril play three different parts in them. The lives of many people are shown to be tangled together in nearly incomprehensible ways, and many of the characters are prone to engage in unsavory sexual acts involving fetishism and sadomasochism. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Victoria Abril, Jorge Sanz, (more)
- 1989
Lola (Julia Migenes) is an American singer in a Berlin nightclub who falls for the East German pianist David (Jose Coronado) in this romantic drama. Their love affair is interrupted by Professor Huessler (Keith Baxter), the dedicated orchestra conductor who sends David back East. Huessler and Lola become romantically involved after David's departure. He helps Lola find a job in an opera company when the club is shut down following the stabbing death of an American GI. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Julia Migenes, Keith Baxter, (more)
- 1986
In this engaging comedy, Ana (Veronica Forque) is the wife of Antonio (Antonio Resines), the assistant to the minister of health. When Antonio sets up a clinic to combat sexually transmitted diseases, Ana and her friend cruise the gay bars and the red-light district for potential customers. Soon Antonio is called before his irate boss, who tempers his indignation when he, his wife, and his mistress becomes clients. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Verónica Forqué, Antonio Resines, (more)
