Is Cualquier Cosa Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (1979)
An actor from the provinces, a soap-opera star, reaches the big city with dreams of success. Partly through sincerity and partly prompted by an uneasy conscience, he wants to revolutionize the traditional photo-novel by linking it to social and political reality, to "bring social conscience to the masses" by utilizing this traditionally manipulative and alienating mass medium. The film narrates, in a tragicomic tone, the itinerary followed by Gualberto Rodriguez in his efforts to produce his 'revolutionary' photo-novel: the story of a peasant that migrates to the city, becomes a blue-collar worker, tries to establish a union, and ends up falling in love with the factory owner's daughter. The 'revolutionary' ends up being used, manipulated, and his project fails completely.
✨ The Quick Verdict
If you are a fan of cinema, then Cualquier Cosa offers a standard experience that justifies its existence in the 1979 landscape.
👥 Target Audience
📔 Detailed Analysis
The Narrative Arc & Core Premise
Debuting in 1979, Cualquier Cosa represents a sophisticated intersection of artistic ambition and genre-defining elements within the Modern Cinema category. The primary thematic concern of the film is an investigation into An actor from the provinces, a soap-opera star, reaches the big city with dreams of success. As the story unfolds, we are introduced to a world where the traditional boundaries of Modern Cinema are tested.
The screenplay takes its time to establish the stakes, ensuring that every character motivation is grounded in a psychological reality. The synopsis only hints at the depth: "An actor from the provinces, a soap-opera star, reaches the big city with dreams of success. Partly through sincerity and partly prompted by an uneasy conscience, he wants to revolutionize the traditional photo-novel by linking it to social and political reality, to "bring social conscience to the masses" by utilizing this traditionally manipulative and alienating mass medium. The film narrates, in a tragicomic tone, the itinerary followed by Gualberto Rodriguez in his efforts to produce his 'revolutionary' photo-novel: the story of a peasant that migrates to the city, becomes a blue-collar worker, tries to establish a union, and ends up falling in love with the factory owner's daughter. The 'revolutionary' ends up being used, manipulated, and his project fails completely."
Artistic Execution & Performance Study
A film's resonance is often dictated by the strength of its execution, both in front of and behind the camera. While the script occasionally leans into familiar territory, the efforts of Jaime Garza ensure that the emotional beats of Cualquier Cosa always land with sufficient weight. Jaime Garza provides a steady, reliable performance that anchors the film through its narrative shifts.
The direction by Douglas Sánchez is marked by a steady and professional hand. From a production standpoint, the film meets the high standards of modern industrial filmmaking. The sets are well-crafted, and the visual effects are integrated with a level of polish that ensures the viewer matches the director's intended level of immersion. While perhaps not groundbreaking, the execution is flawless. The pacing, over its N/A minute runtime, allows the audience to fully inhabit the space the director has created, making the eventual resolution feel deeply earned.
Critical Assessment: Why You Should Watch
Is Cualquier Cosa truly worth your investment of time and attention? In an era of disposable content, this film makes a strong case for its existence. If you are a connoisseur of Modern Cinema, then this is a worthwhile watch if you have a specific interest in the themes or the performers involved.
The film's ability to perfectly execute its genre requirements is why it has earned its 5/10 score. It speaks to a global audience while maintaining a distinct and unique voice, a balance that is notoriously difficult to achieve in the modern marketplace.
Philosophical Subtext & Directorial Vision
At a deeper level, Cualquier Cosa explores the dichotomy of truth and perception. The 1979 audience is increasingly sophisticated, and Douglas Sánchez respects this by refusing to provide easy answers to the story's complex questions.
The philosophical underpinnings of the second and third acts suggest a narrative that is interested in more than just entertainment. It is an exploration of what it means to be human in an increasingly complex world.
Final Editorial Recommendation
Ultimately, Cualquier Cosa is an interesting experiment that, while flawed, offers enough moments of creative spark to be worth a casual glance for the curious. Whether you are drawn to it by the star power of Jaime Garza or the critical acclaim surrounding its release, Cualquier Cosa is a film that demands to be seen on the largest screen possible.