These two movies couldn't be more different; or more precisely, the characters in them have completely different relationships with their creators. Almodovar can even reserve some love for his reptilian construction magnate, and the voyeuristic poseur son. However dark, fearlessly exposing and vibrantly vengeful the exchanges in Solondz' film, I was left with the sense that he really doesn't like any of his characters, and that simply asks the question: Why should we pay them any attention? Only Philip Seymour Hoffman can carry the weight of the self-pitying, phone-masturbator without descending into a stagey live-action cartoon. There's nothing as naked as the moment Penelope Cruz steels herself to walk back out of her hotel bathroom, made-up and ready to perform after exhausting sex with the magnate. 'Broken Embraces' is carried strongly enough by Almodovar's respect for his creations to carry the very simple blindness-creation dichotomy that his plot sets up; in contrast "Happiness" only blares misanthropy at every masturbation scene and accusation of molestation or mutilation.
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