Call me crazy but I actually liked "Silvio", though not as much as I was hoping when this project was announced. It's deeply flawed,
no doubt, but at the same time there are plenty of qualities to be admired, especially if we consider this isn't a full view on the life of
beloved TV host/network owner/businessman Silvio Santos (1930-2024). It's focus comes on a near tragic event of his life (when he became
hostage on his own house, days after the kidnapping of his own daughter) and a summarized flashback chronicle about key moments of his life and how he became the famous man we became to know and
admire over the decades.
The major consensus from the crowd about the choice of Rodrigo Faro in the title role and his Silvio characterization is spot on:
he's simply weird and not good, and biopics must depend on a quality performance in order to succeed or make us believe we're seeing the
personality rather than someone else (in this case, the makeup department made him look like Quico from "Chaves"). It's a bizarre
performance that has some glimpses of good moments because some scripted lines reach a desired effect, other times is just embarassing to
watch. Faro doesn't have the energy, the grace and the charisma of the boss (it's something hard to be imitated, let alone equaled). He becomes
a caricature rather than the powerful man charmer of crowds who could dialogue with any person possible, from all social backgrounds.
The actors who play the young Silvio are quite good, but I prefer the one who played Silvio in the miniseries "O Rei do Show", that
guy has an incredible charisma and presence.
Another wrong thing about the movie was the timing. This was made during the pandemic and was held back for years, and when it was
finally released the real Silvio Santos had died. If the boss gave his blessing about the telling of such dramatic story (one that I followed
close with all the networks filming his mansion and waiting for the best outcome with his release and the kidnapper surrending himself), why such
a long time for a release? Was it a personal request of Silvio to wait for him to go? By the time it came out, after his death, it backfired bigly
as no one was interested in the movie, and the trailer release only served as a laughing stock.
But why "Silvio" worked for me? The human drama of it all kept me in the edge of my seat. It's a nervous and thrilling picture despite
its problems or lack of depth at some points. Johnnas Oliva, who plays the kidnapper Fernando Dutra Pinto, was a very compelling character,
and along with the always honorable Paulo Gorgulho (the colonel in charge of negociation) they're the best in the show. Through the hostage
situation we have a powerful story about the art of negociation, and how such a savvy and intelligent person like Silvio knew how to handle
an extreme situation with calm and composure.
At a gun point, he tries a simple conversation, exemplifiying to the armed man stories about
adversity, his personal life challenges as he tried to build an empire and raise his family (those flashbacks chronicling his early life are
pretty good to watch). At the center of it all and what resonates the most in the telling of this dramatic event was that this is a story
about faith, its powerful effect when needed the most and how Silvio managed to keep such faith, believing everything would work out right
despite things not being all that favorable and death could happen at any time.
It's not the terrible, dreadful film is painted out to be but it's easy to understand the backlash it got, the lack of appreciation it
got and all. But those with eyes to see and patience to deal with its countless problems will find in "Silvio" a quite watchable film. 7/10.
