Law of Desire (1987)

I just can't take to Almodovar. Much of this seems less like a parody or pastiche of a bad afternoon soap and more like a very poor example of one. There's something interesting in the typewriter being the source of all the trouble, but having a dramatis personae so near to his own circle smacks of indulgence to my eye. A bit of a yawner, all in all.The best shot - of a young man making love with his own mirror image comes from Genet's ballet Adam Miroir, and the idea that Banderas' love is a "crime" are ripped off wholesale from Genet's general point of view. But I reckon the old French thief would have found Almodovar's middle-class outrage aesthetic pretty distasteful. Almoldovar's main audience is Blairite nebulous Third Way, Guardian-reading home owners. This plays at subversion whilst actually flattering a very wealthy demographic.

You will find all the familiar Almodovar devices here: telephones, drug use (cocaine in particular), dysfunctional families, sexual ambiguity, pedophile priests, and hospitals. These themes permeate his work, but they are woven intricately throughout this film.Pablo (Eusebio Poncela) is a writer/director of fantastic movies. He gets into the snares of an obsessive (Antonio Banderas in a great performance) who has a fatal attraction and will kill for his love. At the same time, he has to deal with his transvestite sister played by Carmen Maura (Volver, Women on the Verge, Matador) in another magnificent role.It is a melodrama about love as that is the overriding need for Banderas and for Maura, who has given up on men since her father left her. It is also about family. Of course, there is a crossing of genres as there is some comedy, but that is minor.Another magnificent Almodovar film.

The story is simply about a love affair intruded upon by a pathologically jealous third party. If somebody in this day and age feels that sexual orientation destroys a career in film, the person who believes such stuff clearly doesn't get out much.I liked the film. I do not ask much of a film, other than it be somehow entertaining, so I cannot pretend to any expertise as a critic. I suspect that many critics simply look for new ways to say they liked or did not like any work they view. If I were not trying to fill ten lines of space, I would stop with the clear and brief comment that I liked the film.In any event, for those who are not of a Victorian mindset and who realize that gay love affairs are no more pathological than any other love affairs, I recommend this movie.The film is not likely to be playing at local theaters, and I am finding it difficult to locate a video or DVD of the movie in Mexico; however, it is worth it to me to see the film again.

This is one of my favorite Almodovar movies. I was amazed at the level of acting and the quality of the script. As always full of sex and full of demonization towards the Catholic Church and its "celibate" priests. Pedro Almodovar usually tells the untold story of the church in Spain in a way that's always cynical and objective. The relationships of love between two men are what most of his most celebrated films are about. Love, sex, murder, and all of the sins of the flesh are also present in this film. In conclusion, this film possesses all of the qualities of a great Almodovar movie. LA LEY DEL DESEO is a Truly Amazing Movie. 10 Stars!!!