Golden Balls [Huevos de Oro] **** (1993, Javier Bardem, Elisa Tovati, Maribel Verdú, Maria de Medeiros, Raquel Bianca, Alessandro Gassman, Benicio Del Toro) – Classic Movie Review 6195

Co-writer/ director Bigas Luna’s 1993 Spanish movie is a successful black comedy melodrama in his follow-up to his hit Jamón, Jamón (1992). But it is even more consistently successful and confident than Jamón, Jamón, and even more bizarre and provocative.

Javier Bardem stars again, this time as Benito González, an ambitious construction worker who wants to erect a huge phallic skyscraper in Benidorm and marry the lovely Rita (Elisa Tovati). But his best friend goes off with her.

Three years later he is dating model Claudia (Maribel Verdú), but he calculatedly weds banker’s daughter Marta (Maria de Medeiros) and construction begins on his tower block. He still sees his mistress Claudia (Verdú), whom he introduces into his wife’s bed. But his mad passion to have everything backfires and he gets his comeuppance when his next woman Ana (Raquel Bianca) has him conforming to her demands.

It all unexpectedly ends up in Miami.

This sharp and intelligent take on the sex roles makes for a thoroughly entertaining, thoughtful art movie. The performances are just as good as you would hope for this fine cast, with Bardem in his element.

It is written by Bigas Luna and Cuca Canals, shot by José Luis Alaine, produced by Andres Vicente Gomez and scored by Nicola Piovanni.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 6195

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