Bad Education

If you've never seen a Pedro Almodovar film, you really need to expand your horizons beyond Sandra Bullock and Adam Sandler. This astoundingly talented director has made a career out of constructing daring movies that defy expectations and challenge viewers. His early films like Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown and Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! were noted for their sensuality and were populated with the types of characters American audiences weren't used to seeing at the local multiplex: porn stars, criminals, mental patients, bisexuals, sadists and masochists.

His recent films such as All About My Mother and Talk To Her (which garnered a Best Original Screenplay Oscar for Pedro) seemed fixated on divas of every walk of life: domineering mothers; glamorous actresses; transgendered prostitutes; and even female bull fighters. Pedro's latest walk on the wild side, Bad Education, continues this trend by featuring several transsexuals and drag queens.

Pedro has an eye for hot up-and-coming male talent. After all, he was the director that introduced the world to Antonio Banderas in bondage for Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! It's not surprising, therefore, that Pedro chose the gorgeous Gael Garcia Bernal in the pivotal role of Angel. Those of you who lusted after Gael in Y tu mamá también for his boyish innocence may be surprised that he looks so hot in a dress.

Oh don't worry, there's still plenty of man-on-man action. That's one of the things that I love about Spanish film: you're just as likely, if not more so, to see some scintillating male flesh as you are to get a glimpse of a naked women. Hey, nothing whets my appetite like the site of some juicy chorizo. Yum!

To describe the plot of this mesmerizing thriller would be a crime. As with many of Pedro's films, nothing is as it initially appears. Unlike your typical Hollywood fare, Pedro paints his characters in shades of gray instead of in black and white. As in real life, he populates his landscapes with people that are not completely good or totally evil. Instead, they all have the capacity within them for both. There are numerous twists and turns in this masterpiece that will keep you glued to the edge of your seat. Clearly, Pedro was inspired by the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock, for this bitter little shocker.

So, add this bad bitch to the top of your Netflix queue today. And, don't choke on your paella when you see the outrageous nipple/bush dress that Angel performs in!

Smooches,
Daph