More experienced viewers won't find much enjoyment or surprises in something like "Faca de Dois Gumes" ("Two Edged Knife"), it feels like something you
have seen done time and again in countless cheap or even better films than this one. But this one always stuck in my mind as one of the most efficient and
thrilling suspense films ever made in Brazil - specially in a time where the Brazilian cinema was at the brink of collapse. After years trying to find it, I finally got another watch
and it was a lot better than what I had remembered. In its second film, Murillo Salles turns
this adaptation of Fernando Sabino's novel into a spectacle that is almost flawless, edgy and well-acted by the whole cast. You will be glued to the chair, sofa
or bed for a long ride that I can assure you, it can beat any Hollywood flick with a similar theme.
The outstanding Paulo José gives another incredible performance, this time as the wealthy lawyer Jorge Bragança, happily married with Vera (Ursula Canto) and living with Cuca (Pedro Vasconcelos), his son and her rebelious stepson. The first turn of events comes when Jorge's business partner at the law firm (Flávio Galvão) arranges him a trip to São Paulo - to later find out the idea is keep him away while he can have an affair with Jorge's wife. An enraged husband would do the obvious, in what old days used to be to defend his honor: catches them both on bed, kill them and get away with murder. He plans all carefully, succeeds it inventing a robbery but... as complicated plots tend to go he won't have his way because of a) a suspicious detective (José de Abreu, brilliant) on his way; b) the business partner vanished with a large sum of dollars from dangerous people and they think Jorge has it - so the threat goes back to him; and c) the partner's wife (Marieta Severo) is also receiving threats from those guys and her important rich father (José Lewgoy) doesn't seem to care all that much. To make matters worse it all comes down to Jorge get a money he didn't know it existed and he has to avoid his son to get involved in such deep waters...which is almost impossible.
What gets me the most is the inner conflict faced by Paulo José's character. He doesn't strike me as the murderous type; it's an impulse, an urge that has to be fulfilled yet he's completely brilliant in doing the killings, no mistakes made and even had alibis for it (though there were some flaws on the way, maybe a script problem.); then he manages to fool the authorities but he fails to plan better his next moves when all goes downhill and he's up against a wall that he cannot climb or find holes to crawl in. But you can sense his torment, his anguish in trying to run against time to solve everything and get away alive and not risk anyone's lives. Gotta love those stories. I felt immersed through it all - though after two views I cannot buy the very final scene - it feels half baked. A nice plot twist but far from real, it might upset viewers who went through a rollercoaster of emotions, kidnappings, threats, body counts and then...I won't reveal it. And there was some other resolution that never came and I was let down a little - won't complain much about it because that one felt realistic. However, through the whole experience you won't feel bored, cheated or not impressed.
It's heart-pounding, not one wasted moment and it's something to be seen.
As I said, Paulo José makes the film an outstanding piece but gotta say that everyone involved was truly fascinating, without any false note. But I gotta praise the young Pedro Vasconcelos as the rebel/smart Cuca in his very first and only film acting (to date). I remember him from many TV series/miniseries (most notably "O Portador" where he played a drug addict) and he always plays good troublemakers. There's something about him you can't forget him - yes, he goes through a lot of pain in this one - and for a young actor he was truly good.
I recently discovered that he doesn't act anymore but he turned out to be a TV director managing many series for TV Globo. His scenes were the most thrilling to see; along with the ones from José Lewgoy, the eternal villain from the 1950's films. He looks frail but always exhales plenty of power and disdain. Abreu as the detective was a delight to see, almost in a funny way but never in an over-the-top way...it was the right measure.
Salles direction and editing were quite balanced; I just found the music quite intrusive at times and unfitting. But he assembled an excellent group of actors, got himself a high quality script that even when it misses the mark you don't feel completely bothered. As for Jorge's revenge and plot, it makes the viewer wonder: was it all worth it? It's more than just a thriller; it's a thought-provoking work, and those hardly ever fail. 10/10.
The outstanding Paulo José gives another incredible performance, this time as the wealthy lawyer Jorge Bragança, happily married with Vera (Ursula Canto) and living with Cuca (Pedro Vasconcelos), his son and her rebelious stepson. The first turn of events comes when Jorge's business partner at the law firm (Flávio Galvão) arranges him a trip to São Paulo - to later find out the idea is keep him away while he can have an affair with Jorge's wife. An enraged husband would do the obvious, in what old days used to be to defend his honor: catches them both on bed, kill them and get away with murder. He plans all carefully, succeeds it inventing a robbery but... as complicated plots tend to go he won't have his way because of a) a suspicious detective (José de Abreu, brilliant) on his way; b) the business partner vanished with a large sum of dollars from dangerous people and they think Jorge has it - so the threat goes back to him; and c) the partner's wife (Marieta Severo) is also receiving threats from those guys and her important rich father (José Lewgoy) doesn't seem to care all that much. To make matters worse it all comes down to Jorge get a money he didn't know it existed and he has to avoid his son to get involved in such deep waters...which is almost impossible.
What gets me the most is the inner conflict faced by Paulo José's character. He doesn't strike me as the murderous type; it's an impulse, an urge that has to be fulfilled yet he's completely brilliant in doing the killings, no mistakes made and even had alibis for it (though there were some flaws on the way, maybe a script problem.); then he manages to fool the authorities but he fails to plan better his next moves when all goes downhill and he's up against a wall that he cannot climb or find holes to crawl in. But you can sense his torment, his anguish in trying to run against time to solve everything and get away alive and not risk anyone's lives. Gotta love those stories. I felt immersed through it all - though after two views I cannot buy the very final scene - it feels half baked. A nice plot twist but far from real, it might upset viewers who went through a rollercoaster of emotions, kidnappings, threats, body counts and then...I won't reveal it. And there was some other resolution that never came and I was let down a little - won't complain much about it because that one felt realistic. However, through the whole experience you won't feel bored, cheated or not impressed.
It's heart-pounding, not one wasted moment and it's something to be seen.
As I said, Paulo José makes the film an outstanding piece but gotta say that everyone involved was truly fascinating, without any false note. But I gotta praise the young Pedro Vasconcelos as the rebel/smart Cuca in his very first and only film acting (to date). I remember him from many TV series/miniseries (most notably "O Portador" where he played a drug addict) and he always plays good troublemakers. There's something about him you can't forget him - yes, he goes through a lot of pain in this one - and for a young actor he was truly good.
I recently discovered that he doesn't act anymore but he turned out to be a TV director managing many series for TV Globo. His scenes were the most thrilling to see; along with the ones from José Lewgoy, the eternal villain from the 1950's films. He looks frail but always exhales plenty of power and disdain. Abreu as the detective was a delight to see, almost in a funny way but never in an over-the-top way...it was the right measure.
Salles direction and editing were quite balanced; I just found the music quite intrusive at times and unfitting. But he assembled an excellent group of actors, got himself a high quality script that even when it misses the mark you don't feel completely bothered. As for Jorge's revenge and plot, it makes the viewer wonder: was it all worth it? It's more than just a thriller; it's a thought-provoking work, and those hardly ever fail. 10/10.
