Miss BalaMovie Reviews

  • Go Based on 26 reviews
    Breakdown:
  • I'll Pass
    Written February 4, 2012

    Miss Bala on the run, can't find

    It sold out at the film festival and only lasted a week at the CineArts, maybe it'll turn up at the Music Box or Siskel Center...

    • 8 out of 10 found this review helpful.
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  • So-so
    Written January 30, 2012

    Just okay

    I felt this movie was okay, a bit slow at certain points. Story line dragged on at times, on a visual scale from 1-10, I would rate 5. I was a little disappointed at the end, left up in the air somewhat,

    • 10 out of 14 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written February 25, 2012

    Miss Bala

    Very smart and touching. The lead performance is so understated and compelling. Much is left to viewer's imagination, resulting in a high level of engagement. I'm still thinking about it the morning after the night before! Manages to convey circumstantial moral fatigue without preaching.

    • 7 out of 8 found this review helpful.
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  • Go
    Written February 11, 2012

    Miss Bala

    This was a highly suspense filled movie, which I prefer if it was called a "docu-drama" so my expectations would have been better managed. I can deal with poor quality filming if I know the primary goal is to show us something, in this case the drug world of Mexico. SEveral times the camera made a point of showing something like a necklace being placed on the beauty queens head but never a visual of what it was or meant to be for. Just more open ended suspense. Twice the sceen went blank (completely black) for at least 15 or 20 seconds. The director could not think of a better way to cut to morning, or show the darkness the characters needed? It seemed hokey to me. Just suspense is not enough for me; I was a bit more story line and character definition. But I still would recommend seeing it.

    • 6 out of 8 found this review helpful.
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  • Go
    Written February 7, 2012

    Chilling story of Mexican corruption.

    by dbetteo

    The story clearly shows the corruption that permeates life in Mexico at all levels. The subject matter was well handled and well exposed. Visually, Naranjo could have done a better job. Editing was fine, but the look of the film was washed out, and I don't think it was intentional. The story and the theme would have gained if it would have looked grittier and higher contrast. It felt a bit slow at times, and that could have been corrected with high energy editing, and higher visual rhythm. Overall I found it interesting, subject matter was handled well, and acting was above average. I do recommend it.

    • 6 out of 8 found this review helpful.
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  • Go
    Written March 3, 2012

    The emotional pull is enough to dismiss subtitles

    by

    SImply put, like the filmmaker's fellow countryman - Alfonso Cuaron, who's proven himself and concretized his aesthetic with each successive project (e.g. Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN, HARRY POTTER 3 (AZKABAN), CHILDREN OF GOD) - the long, winding takes balanced with the spare score just keeps you pulled in and engaged. Almost always having Laura leading the way, plot-wise and emotionally, the film makes you experience her innocence/ignorance slip away in the most bizarre reality. Subtle acting matched the violent flashes; what happens off-camera is sometimes worse than in front.

    • 8 out of 13 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written January 22, 2012

    • 4 out of 6 found this review helpful.
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  • Go
    Written May 22, 2012

    by

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  • Must Go!
    Written February 2, 2012

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  • So-so
    Written January 29, 2012

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  • I'm In
    Written January 28, 2013

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  • I'm In
    Written January 6, 2012

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  • Must Go!
    Written January 21, 2012

    Deadly Beauty Pageant

    A journey unlike any you have seen, Miss Bala gives you a vivd glimpse at the drug wars in Mexico through the experiences of a young lady aiming to become a Beauty Pageant winner. Shocking. Moving. Tense. Director Gerardo Naranjo does an effective job of not glorifying the Mexican Drug Cartels. He simply presents the reality of what many face across Mexico. Go see Miss Bala.

    • 1 out of 2 found this review helpful.
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  • Oh No!
    Written May 19, 2012

    • 0 out of 1 found this review helpful.
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  • I'll Pass
    Written January 22, 2012
    by JWS9518

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Tweets About Miss Bala

98% positive
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Future1Luv Miss Bala was a wild movie...she got caught up

4 days ago.

tH0Rx MISS BALA was okay. I appreciate the fact that Gerardo Naranjo prescinds of non-diegetic musical score. Nice touch from a Mexican film.

6 days ago.

benkenigsberg HELI: The world was a kinder place when MISS BALA and KINATAY were separate films. #Cannes

9 days ago.

EM6211 I just saw the trailer to FX's "The Bridge" might be something to keep an eye on. Plus "Miss Bala" director Gerardo Naranjo shot the pilot!

10 days ago.

DepressedGod I re-watch Miss Bala in my head everyday.

14 days ago.

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