Carne de neón

Rickey is introduced at the beginning, as he narrates his life story as the child of a prostitute who was abandoned at the age of twelve as she ended up in jail. Awaiting her release from the pokey, he decides to celebrate by opening a nightclub/whorehouse in her honor. He and two other low level street criminals "recruit" girls for this undertaking. The drafted hookers include a Russian and a pregnant African refugee who gives birth to a boy shortly after starting to earn her keep at the brothel. In between, as Rickey's mom is paroled and her son picks her up for a family reunion, he discovers that the years of alcohol abuse have given her early Alzheimer's disease, so she does not recognize him.

Added to the cast of misfits is a mob boss named Chino, who is deeply disturbed by Rickey opening a place without his permission. He also seeks revenge on the police for beating his son to death during an arrest. In the words of Henry David Thoreau, simplify. Unfortunately, the writer has too many subplots going at once, which spoils some excellent acting by Mario Casas as Rickey and Angela Molina as his mother. Even with the criticism, Neon Flesh is still worth watching.

With outstanding visual effects that are not shy in trying to reveal the influence of Guy Ritchie's filmography, "Carne de Neon" is a brilliant film that, contrary to the tedious Spanish film industry, does not intend to tackle moral lessons within the overused context of the Civil War. Abounding with graphic scenes that are typical of any gangster movie,Paco Cabeza's tour de force consists of an almost impossible skill to combine irreconcilable ingredients, in a story in which each character has his/her own inner contradictions. For example: Ricky keeps a very cold, detached attitude towards the sad situation of the prostitutes, and however, he is capable of anything in order to win back his mom's recognition; Angelito's tough superficial behavior melts down when he is in front of his dog, Rocco, or when he thinks he can kill his long-time partner/prostitute/heroin addict, Canija; El Niño (the Kid)'s physical brutality gives way to a deep tenderness when he falls in love with the African immigrant. Full of dark humor,action, and suspense, the film entertains while it also reflects on the shady universe of Eastern mafias, human traffic, illegal immigration,drugs, prostitution, and corruption. Wonderfully crafted script in which everything seems to obey some kind of poetic justice by which, after so many chaotic events, the ending resolution fits in accordingly. Surprisingly, Cabezas succeeds to make the starring actor, Spanish teenage fans' idol Mario Casas, blend perfectly with the rest of the cast without seeming out of place or eclipsing the others. While the whole cast's work is remarkable, Damaso Conde clearly stole the show as the transvestite Infantita (Pricess), providing such a virulent environment with a balancing comic relief.

First things first: The cinematography in this is really amazing. Great lighting, great framing, very well done. Someone has studied their thrillers very thoroughly and made good notes on how to be inspired by them. I also have to point out, that the story is trying to be socially relevant. Not with too much weight on the morality though. Or not in the way most viewers are used to.

The movie does not have (m)any likable character in it. Starting with our "hero", his best friend and the rest of the bunch. But even within that group it tries to create diversity. Give characters more than one facet. I use the word try, because I don't think it fully succeeds in most of its attempts. You can still get excited by it (as one reviewer here has shown and good for him/her), but you have seen far better movies than that. Or at least I hope you have.

Talk about misogyny can easily be brought up with this movie. While it is not afraid to touch hot topics (human trafficking being another one amongst many), the characters never seem to do the right thing. If that offends you, you most definitely won't like the movie. The twists are predictable and you have to decide on your own, if that's the way you'd say thanks to your mom. In the end, the movie tried to put too many things together and might even fail many with its attempt to solve things with its (bad?) humor

Dramatic film with comedy elements and attractive, charming characters. Pura : Angela Molina, just released from prlson. A simple fact that changes the whole existence of Ricky : Mario Casas, who attempts to please his mother Pura. In a desperate attempt to show an ordinary life he becomes a businessman by trying to create a brothel house to be attended by his mother. Then he joins a group of underdog as well as useless colleagues and prostitutes, such as : a tiny crook : Vicente Romero, his bouncer henchman : Luciano Caceres, a Junkie: Macarena Gomez, a pregnant immigrant : Vanessa Oliveira, and a transvestite called La Infantita : Damaso Conde. Along the way Ricky has to contend a dangerous mobster nicknamed Chino : Dario Grandinetti and a kidnapping of the daughter : Blanca Suarez of a corrupt police inspector : Antonio de la Torre with whom Chino seeks vengeance.

Intense and sleaze drama with emotion, thrills, gross-out scenes and violence. The picture benefits itself from sympathetic though unfortunate characters who suffer distresses, mistreating and pains. Stars Mario Casas giving an acceptable acting in his usual style as the young hustler-turned-entrepreneur who joins some botcher buddies attempting to open a brothel by hoping to earn his mother's respect, being well interpreted by the veteran Angela Molina. Accompanied by a large support cast delivering nice performances such as Vicente Romero, Blanca, Suarez, Antonio de la Torre, Luciano Caceres and Dario Grandinetti as an extremely villain role as gangster Chino. This film is based on the Short titled Carne de Neon (2005) also directed by Paco Cabezas with Oscar Jaenada, Victoria Abril and Vicente Romero, Macarena Gomez repeating roles.

It contains a brilliant and adequate cinematography by Daniel Aranyo, shot in Spain and Buenos Aires Argentine. As well as moving and catching musical score by Daniel Araujo and Javier de la Rosa. The motion picture was well made by Paco Cabezas and it was nominee in Toulouse Festival 2011 to best director . His first successful film was Aparecidos, and directing this Neon Flesh to be loved by Nicolas Cage who hired him to make a Hollywood film, Tokarev . There Cabezas made another hit : Mr Right. Subsequently he made various TV episodes from famous TV series as Penny Dreadful, American gods, The strain, Fear of the walking dead, Penny Dreadful : city of Los Angeles, among others. Rating :6.5/10. Decent Spanish film that will appeal to Mario Casas fans.

The script is a complete mess, none of the black humour is funny and the jokes and references to people having sex with dogs are disgusting and disturbing.