opusv5 I saw this film last weekend on DVD and can't get it out of my mind. It seems a dark commentary with a dark humour on the violence that many experience and feel threatened by in certain parts of Brazilian cities. While the main character's becoming a neighbourhood hero through vigilante justice may be a caricature, the film speaks (through its characters) of the racial and social stereotyping that that may be a problem in Brazilian society. There is a scene where one of Dr. Carvalho's circle describes being burglarized by a nervous young black who claims to be committing the crime out of desperate poverty. In telling of this, Dr. Carvalho's companion treats this with contempt. But perhaps less poverty would mean less crime.While it's obviously very unpleasant being robbed, there was an unpleasant lack of empathy there. The police, too, seem just as bad as those they are supposed to jail. Anyway, while I won't say this was a better film that "Cidade de Dios," it affected me more.

sasnow I'm not sure just where in the USA this Brazilian film has been released but I'm grateful that it came to my small city...I saw "City of God" and was mesmerized by its raw power and its characters struggling with their sordid lives of hopelessness. But "The Man of the Year" I had to see twice. Everything about this film appealed to me. Murilo Benicio as Maiquel is nothing less than brilliant as a quiet middle class loser - vain, smug, angry, brooding, thoughtful, remorseful, duped, and with a special fondness for a baby pig that is handed him as a gift. Many twists and turns of fate cause his life to take on dimensions similar to a Greek tragedy. The two women in his life are equally well-cast, along with just about everyone in the entire film. Maiquel struggles with two jealous women, life-long friendships, and along with his new job as a hit-man, he has more than enough to keep him brooding, on edge, questioning his actions, his fate. I could sense his desperation in every scene. And always, you empathize with him.What made this movie especially powerful for me was the way it was filmed. I read that it is the first movie of director Jose Enrique Fonseca - this man has a real future! The beginning panorama of Rio at night, Murilo's apartment and the pet shop, the wedding, a dose of religion, the final round of killings, the Rave - these and other scenes were filmed with such beauty and panache, propelling the plot with momentum, vigor, color, even tenderness as the Murilo's life changes bigtime. There are touches of humor - being in the dentist's chair, bathing a baby pig, ranting about the pitfalls of marriage. The musical score added immensely to the film, and the camera angles and overall cinematography were expert.Here's to filmmakers from Brazil, Mexico, and other countries in Central and South America! I hope this film has a wide release, it deserves it.

pmiranda-3 I started to see Brazilian movies a few years ago. And after «City of God», and the mini-series «Cidade dos Homens» («City of Men»), I was really expecting to see another movie about criminality, but outside the «favelas». Man of The Year, was the best picture on this subject, and together with «City of God» we can have a real perspective on the Brazilian crime scene.The movie was really well directed, the script and the story were great and very original, and the photography and angles were very well done. The actors were Great ! as the Brazilian cast have already teach us on prior movies... They promise a lot !It's a common story, about how everything started to an Hit-man... and it all make sense and happen in a so natural way... It's like the destiny was already written.I specially enjoyed the end of the movie, because I was really expecting the «usual» bad ending on a movie like this... But the director give us a chance... I gave a 9 out of 10 to this picture and I'm already waiting for the next Brazilian movie on this thematics.Great Movie !

Ferdinando I have seen this movie in its brazilian premiére. If I had to say that this motion picture is about how some people loose control of their lives and get led by the hands of fate I would not be misunderstood. Sometimes we are taken through strange ways that lead to an obvious ending. Sometimes we're not. Get ready to know some particular characters and know all the reasons that turned a simple man into a busy and respected personal killer that all the crime bosses wanted to hire. The well-built script is a real pearl and its rare sense of humour and nonsense leads the story to some unexpected and hilarious situations. Murilo Benício (Máiquel) plays his character in a very decent and talented way and so does Cláudia Abreu (Cledir). However the best performance must be credit to Natália Lage. She's really amazing as the essencially funny and delightful part of this bizarre love triangle. Although her former succeed carreer in supporting roles in several TV series she is the best surprise of this motion picture. Absolutely. At last but not at least: do not try to help falling in love with Máiquel's tiny little pig. I'm afraid it's impossible. Hey, Miss Piggy... I guess you got a date!