User reviews

With its bold colours, heightened melodrama and clunky dialogue, 'Strange Way Of Life (2023)' often feels like a parody of... itself, I guess. Those already accustomed to Pedro Almodóvar's work will recognise these elements, as well as the sincere camp aesthetic they contribute to. However, here it doesn't cohere as well as it typically does in the director's other movies. Perhaps his dialogue has always been this dodgy but, not being a native Spanish speaker, I haven't picked up on it; either way, even actors as good as Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal struggle to sell the dialogue here. Still, the piece operates on a kind of down-to-Earth unreality that just about works. A bigger issue is that the story just... ends. Like, almost in the middle of a sentence. It feels as though the screenplay was still being written when Yves Saint Laurent's production company called and offered a green light on the condition that filming started almost then and there, so Almodóvar put down his pen and picked up his viewfinder and shot what he had. There's a lot more that could have been done with this tale of long-burning, societally repressed romance; the ending feels like the midpoint of a much more affecting feature-length affair. Another smaller issue with the flick is that it's nowhere near as erotically charged as you may expect. Hawke and Pascal do a good job at conveying their barely hidden attraction for one another, and there's a sense of tragedy that underlines their once-flourishing relationship, but they display no real physical connection and the only time they get hot and heavy is in a flashback (when their characters are portrayed by younger actors). Their connection is believable, but not as fleshed out as it could have been. It's also remarkably tame if you're familiar with Almodóvar's earlier efforts. Ultimately, though, the piece is entertaining enough for what it is. It has a solid central story that's underexplored but interesting, and two strong lead performances that lend authenticity to the generally clumsy screenplay. It's not a bad effort, by any means. It's just not as moving, or fun, as I'd like it to be.

It's literally a short film. Only half an hour and the ending leaves you perplexed and wondering what is it the director wanted to say or is it just a window into the hidden love and lust of cowboys for each other in times past. The acting leaves alot to be desired and the plot I found to be overly simplistic. There are some scenes of passion especially the younger actors who in flashbacks of both the sheriff and this ex lover share their love and passion for each other in a wine drinking splashing rolling moment in the movie. Plus a very short sequence of the older ones in bed together after they have dinner. This short film reminded me of back mountain and thinking why this one too wasn't made into something on par in depth and sophistication with that. In one word it was disappointing.

Oh so very gay and well acted. I can absolutely see how this was Pedro Almodóvar seemingly long overdue version of Brokeback Mountain in a way, as referred to by both him and the fact that he wanted to direct Brokeback Mountain to begin with. Sadly I have still not yet watched that movie despite hearing nothing but fantastic things about it, and after watching this one I really don't think that Almodóvar would have had it in him to make something that widely well received.

I think this works best a short film, although at the same time I can't help but feel like it's far too short to really get much from it at all. What is there however is at the very least incredibly decent and has some really major highs, such as the spectacular acting from both leads (Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawke), and what I consider to be a very good solid score that really elevated what was an otherwise mediocre time.

A story of two men who were lovers at one point 25 years ago in the past, meeting each other again after one of their sons commits a heinous crime in the others town. They immediately hit it off after not seeing each other for over two decades, and the little chemistry that is shown between the two with the very limited time we get with them is palpable and honestly very cute at times to say the least. But that doesn't really matter much when we barely get to spend any time with the two of them, so we barely get to explore their seemingly very detailed and interesting lives - which is what I think drags this down a great deal.

The weird thing is I don't believe this should be any longer either, I don't think it particularly works as well as it could've as a short film but at the same time I don't think even another thirty minutes of this would be all that appealing to me. It's a very conflicting thing as it clearly has some really good parts and is executed well by the actors themselves, but I cannot tell if it's the writing or the directing that makes it all feel just a tad lackluster.

Overall I liked it enough to consider it worth checking out, especially due to the fact it is only at a brisk thirty minute runtime. It's filled with two immensely talented actors being gay as hell and looking good doing it, which is at least enough of a reason for me to watch it. Nothing special if we're being honest, but it could for sure resonate with other people far more than it did with me. I slightly enjoyed what it was going for and I liked the execution of the majority of it, but it didn't really make a lasting impact on me. A perfectly serviceable short film that I think you should check out if you have Netflix as it just dropped on there.

Several hundred people turned up at this one-night-only cinema screening and very, very few of us appreciated that is was only going to be half an hour long!! "Silva" (Pedro Pascal) rides half way across the desert to meet up with his old pal "Jake" (Ethan Hawke) who is the local sheriff. It's pretty clear from the get-go that there is a degree of personal baggage between the pair and that the true purpose of the visit is more than to relight old candles and have a good old reminisce... It's OK, this - nothing more. A testament to the drawing power of Almodóvar and Ethan Hawke to watch what is essentially a non-story that tells a little by way of flashback but for the most part just shows us a glimpse of something not especially interesting or unique. Looks good enough but I left a little disappointed and certainly underwhelmed.

I remember watching the trailers for "A Strange Way of Life" months ago and very much anticipating this movie. I tracked the release through Spain and other countries before it came around to the United States.

Though the movie is a short film, it was very interesting to watch, however not enough gay scenes to even portray being gay in the old west. I may watch it again, however my expectations have been lowered at this point.

My recommendation? Definitely watch it as it is a good movie! I'm even thinking of watching it again - which shows how good the movie stands on its own. For those who are sensitive to gay drama and themes, you have nothing to worry about with this movie. Gay is insinuated, but not completely played-out.

At the start of this short film the lip-synced actor Manu Ríos (who moves middlingly the lips silently in synchronization with the pre-recorded soundtrack) performs a song and actually sung by Brazilian singer Caetano Veloso, the title is inspired by this ballad sung at the beginning. After many years Silva (Pedro Pascal) rides a horse across the desert to visit his friend Sheriff Jake (Ethan Hawke). They celebrate the meeting, but the next morning Jake tells him that reason for his trip is not to go down the memory lane of their friendship. Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal play a sheriff and a cowboy who meet 25 twenty-five years years after having lived a few days full of desire and sensuality. However, the reason for this meeting is not only to relive the past, as Pascal has a secret agenda.

This is the second short film in English (after The Human Voice starred by Tilda Swinton) directed by Pedro Almodovar. This movie is inspired by the Portuguese poem song by Amália Rodrigues called "Strange Way of Life¨or "Estranha forma de vida", released in 1959. A disruptive tribute to the spaghetti Western with overtones of melodrama where Almodóvar explores the sexuality of two cowboys, middle-aged men, who have lived a life far behind their own desires, as director Pedro himself explains. It has a pleasant soundtrack by Alberto Iglesias, ordinary composer of Almodovar films. As well as colorful cinematography by José Luis Alcaine who also worked a lot with Almodóvar. And the Costume Designs are signed by Saint Laurent and Anthony Vaccarello. Being shot on location in Desierto de Tabernas, Almería, Andalucía, Poblado Western 'Sergio Leone', Tabernas, Almería, Andalucía, and Mesa de Ocaña, Toledo, Castilla-La Mancha.

This ¨Strange Way of Life¨ is a strange mix between "Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain" (2005) and Spaghetti Western sub-genre , and only the second English-language feature by Pedro Almodóvar, the first being La voz humana (2020). This was filmed in the Tabernas desert, the place where Sergio Leone set his most legendary Spaghetti Westerns, such as: ¨Fistful of dollars", "For a fistful of dollars more", "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" and "Once upon a time in the West¨. Being a project produced by Pedro Almodovar himself y his brother Agustin Almodovar with their production company El Deseo and the first film financed by Saint Laurent Productions, a production company from the Yves Saint Laurent fashion house and the head designer, Anthony Vaccarello, also served as an associate producer and gowns designer on the film. In 2023 Cannes Film Festival "Strange Way of Life" (2023) was nominated Queer Palm - Short Film.

Even the best of the best fails on their work occasionally, and Almodovar is not the exception, this short film, along The human voice may be festival-material, those shouldn't have come into commercial exhibition.

Strange way of life looks like a spaghetti western from the 50s, there are even a few clothing flaws, (like plastic buttoned shirts) that break its weak western-like atmosphere.

The human voice, although Tilda Swinton is a great actress, this one-voice performance is exhausting to watch, even for for just 30 minutes.

Just two short films with 70 minutes in total, spare your ticket, your time and your gasoline.

I am reviewing because there are so many negative reviews. Thought this was a beautiful glimpse into the universe of some beautifully portrayed characters. Both Ethan and Pedro did a great job. I loved their chemistry. Pedro especially was very moving in his role. This short film packed a heavy emotional punch for me and I would love to see it as a feature film. (as for the negative reviews, if you have to say you're not homophobic in your review, you probably are). As for the complaints about the use of the green jacket. I loved it, loved all the costuming. It made Pedro's character stand out, which I assume was the point.

This was a promotional short by Saint Laurent, and that makes sense. It goes hand-in-hand with Almodovar's heightened, melodramatic style, so the fashionable cowboy cliches didn't mess with the verisimilitude of the story.

Unfortunately, the dialogue suffers from being absurdly expositional, and not in an intentionally comedic way. It's understandable at first, because it's a short, and you want to give it some slack for this, but then there's a flashback scene that goes on for 3 minutes longer than it needs to.

The acting by everyone besides Hawke and Pascal is very mid. Their characters had a really deep and interesting relationship that could have easily sustained a hundred minute flick, but with the time-constraints, that depth can't be explored well enough.

Could have been something genuinely great if this story was given the weight and space to breathe it deserves.

The ending is also rushed and just stops.

I'm particularly a fan of Ethan Hawke and recently watched his excellent performance in The Good Lord Bird, and have watched many of his westerns with delight. But this short film was just wrong. I have no problem with the premise of gay characters in any setting on screen. That wasn't the problem. But you could tell from the outset that this was forced. The characters were uninteresting, the script was quite terrible and the bright green jacket made no sense at all. I see other reviews calling for a full length feature, but honestly, if this presents the condensed synopsis, I have no desire to experience more of this 25 year long saga. 🙄 3 stars for the ladies in the flashback.

The great idea that blossomed into Pedro Almodóvar's mind isn't completely new when dealing with the nature of men and their complexities on love and emotions. But he's such a skillfull and artistic director/writer that one can easily admire what's he doing and for a brief moment think they're seeing something very original. But since it's the western genre one doesn't go much further with the genre because practically everything that needed to be said or shown in it was already done...yet Mr. Almodóvar has some tricks to show, injecting new life in the genre with barely explored themes in it.

I didn't want to make the comparison but I have to because it gets near in certain aspects or at least the way audiences and critics perceived a certain movie some years ago and that is "Brokeback Mountain". For some odd reason everybody was saying that it was a gay western when in fact just the main characters fit the notion of the genre (cowboys) but there was no western in it, it was mostly a love story between two cowboys. "Strange Way of Life" takes the step further and gives us the Old West with conflicts, bandits versus the law but also gives us a romance from the past between two buddies back when they were outlaws. One of them is still an outlaw of sorts, which is Silva (Pedro Pascal) and his return to the smalltown after more than 20 years to meet again the love of his life, Jake (Ethan Hawke), now a sheriff, comes with some second intentions rather than just rekindle a special time they had many years ago.

And that's where the conflict begins.

Like Ennis and Jack in Ang Lee's movie, Silva and Jake are a complicated duo where one sees a future where they can grow together and share some love and affection (Silva) while the other is so hardened with his caged reality, not knowing how to show his feelings that he refuses any possibility of break out of such world (Jake). The twist here isn't about wives but it's related with the families of both and a tragedy that connects them on opposite sides. And on an environment violence is the rule, how could anyone find time to experience something different than that and feel good about it? Intriguing.

It's a very nuanced work, sober and slightly uncharacterestic from what Almodóvar usually does yet it has some of his usual elements, though presented in a very different (and also obvious) way. Gladly his first choices for the roles accepted their parts and they both were outstanding, most notably Pedro Pascal. It was a little sad that their moments together mostly relates with the impasse scenario rather than most loving and tender one - which is presented through a flashback when they were younger (played by José Condessa and Jason Fernández).

I really loved this one, it was worth waiting for it even though it wasn't necessarily a spectacular work from the master - still better than many features out there. And on a side note, I'm really glad that he managed to drive people to theaters to see a short film. I had never seen anything like that happening before with a short. Almodóvar was asked time and again about a sequel to it, to which he replied that though he had the ideas and explained how it would work out he also said he won't make it (but why not make of this one as a feature? But he had his reasons). Even though he told about the ending of such sequel, I'd still love to see it done. There are so much more about Jake and Silva that needs to be addressed. 9/10.

This is all a 30 minute film about actor performance and filming technique. It takes almost a half of it to get to the part where Pedro Pascal needs to protect a child. Meanwhile, it is all about how two people can lust and then long for each other, while living in an unforgiving world.

It's ridiculous of IMDb to ask reviewers to write a long text about short films, so here's the filler: if you don't like gay men, you shouldn't watch this; if you wanted action, you are not going to get it; if you wanted a heartfelt story about life choices from two people who love exposition, then this is the film for you.

'Strange way of life' is an English-speaking short film directed by one of the most prominent Spanish directors ever... who does not speak English. How (and why) this amateur piece of work with such bad writing, astoundingly dumb dialogues and even mediocre cinematography got produced and released theatrically is beyond me.

The story it's, most of the time, the same nonsensical exposition over and over. It hopes to trick the audience into believing there's a deep conflict, a sad story of tormented lovers and forbidden love, but there's none. The chemistry is just not there. The clumsy flashback scene is utterly ludicrous.

This film is something I would expect from a pretentious student at film school, a self-proclaimed artist who tries to write something deep just to show how smart they are, but fails because they don't know anything about it. However, it's not. It's a film by Pedro Almodóvar. Not worth the time, much less the cost of a full-length movie ticket.

Strange Way of Life brings sensitivity to the western with a melodramatic story that pitches family against love. It's really good but it's hard to shake the feeling that it feels rushed in short film form. Impressively covering a lot of ground in a very short amount of time even if it's at the cost of these moments having the lasting impact they could with more time.

Even in such a brief run time, Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawke are able to build a palpable chemistry and a real storied past. So many scenes have them just looking at each other or reminiscing about the past resulting in a sense of longing and happiness. Most of the other performances feel off so they really do carry this.

Pedro Almodóvar's direction helps the barren landscapes achieve a level of saturated beauty rarely seen within the genre. The film's at its strongest once it's powered through the action and just sits with the main duo for as long as it can. Alberto Iglesias' beautiful score really enhances it by embracing the telenovela nature.

The story of this film was a great blast on these two characters name jake and silva having been have a friend relationship on how they have not seen for 25 years. Oh man that was really so long.

The director, writer and actors were so great in making these film to come out for everyone to watch on daily basis of short films instead watch a movie that so long.

This film was worth it on the time I have seen.

I've heard about this film ever since last year but I did not seen this film yet because it was not there on digital so I've decided just wait for this film to come out on digital and their it was I've seen it.

I give this film a 7/10 because of the acting.

I was a big fan of Almodóvar movies back in the day but now I'm slightly saying to wonder if I was wrong all along. This about the level of a film school effort. Extremely obvious. Also, haven't we done the gay cowboy thing? It's now really just a trope.

I might be wrong, but I'd say it would be hard to be drawn in by this film unless you are under 17, pretentious and a gay cowboy.

I was a big fan of Almodóvar movies back in the day but now I'm slightly saying to wonder if I was wrong all along. This about the level of a film school effort. Extremely obvious. Also, haven't we done the gay cowboy thing? It's now really just a trope.

I might be wrong, but I'd say it would be hard to be drawn in by this film unless you are under 17, pretentious and a gay cowboy.

I was a big fan of Almodóvar movies back in the day but now I'm slightly saying to wonder if I was wrong all along. This about the level of a film school effort. Extremely obvious. Also, haven't we done the gay cowboy thing? It's now really just a trope.

I might be wrong, but I'd say it would be hard to be drawn in by this film unless you are under 17, pretentious and a gay cowboy.

I think its time ´A Strange Way of Life´, deserves a second review. I first saw an Almodovar film when I lived in Berlin in the 90s. I have watched the majority of his movies. And as all people, he had his ups and downs. I had always dreamt of him making an English language Movie and, ironically, my life brought me to Madrid - the centre of Almodovar´s world. It is true he doesn´t speak a very good English, which is disappointing after 30 plus years of making movies and there is an abundance of English Teachers in Madrid, I know as I am one of them! In fact he used to live above a language school. Still, eventually he released the 30 minute ´The Human Voice´, with the delicious Tilda Swinton, being as marvelous as ever. It had the style of his Madrid films. Then, we heard rumours of a full length movie with Cate Blanchett, dreamy.......but this was postponed and in the meantime, Pedro decided to create this gay western vignette ´Strange Way of Life´, starring two very talented and attractive leading actors. It is short and sweet and ends just as you are really getting into it. Its style is more TV series than theatrically camp. Some people have said there is no chemistry between the 2 actors, I beg to differ. One review said there were bums everywhere, there is in fact just one. The story, though it will not change the world and is not deeply profound, is simple, adequate storytelling for the 30 minutes. It makes sense. The flashback scene is fine. The pace was good, the dialogue simple but effective. Pascal and Hawke were convincing. It was a very pleasant way to spend 30 minutes. I do hope that Mr Almodovar will soon release a full length movie in English. We have had the tapas, now its time for a main course.

Such a well framed and heartfelt short about life and the different paths we take forgetting our youth and love. Wanted this to be longer. Pedro Pascal is as always great. Ethan Hawke is fantastic . They both carry the pain and nostalgia that a happy yet ''forbidden'' past can inflict. There are shots where you can trace by a blinking of an eye that there is a deep love between the protagonists and that life maybe always knows better in the end. An equivalent theme could be seen in his previous feature yet this time we're seeing a new version of a more intimate and romantic as always Great Almodovar !

Life is strange... While Pedro Almodovar, who should have quit cinema 10 years ago, is still opening at festivals, Xavier Dolan, who should have made films for another 30 years, is retiring.

I think the thing that best explains Xavier Dolan's quote, "Cinema is not worth the effort" is that these kinds of things play at festivals and people buy tickets for them.

What would change if there were two other actors instead of Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal?

Does this film look like the work of a filmmaker with 30 years of experience?

What criteria do festival selection committees have? How do they choose movies?

Xavier Dolan... The movie industry did not appreciate you.

At just thirty-one minutes Pedro Almodovar's "Strange Way of Life" is hardly subtle. Basically it's 'Lust in the Dust' with a gay slant, (Think "Last Train from Gun Hill" with Douglas and Quinn as former lovers), and as it stands it's undoubtedly minor Almodovar but if it's just a taster it's really rather a delicious one and we can only pray that he extends into a full length feature soon.

Ethan Hawke is the local sheriff and Pedro Pascal his old bedmate who comes riding into town in the hope of rekindling their passion but is that his only motive as Hawke is about to arrest Pascal's son for murder? Considering the running time Almodovar manages to cram a lot in and both leads are excellent. It's also great to look at; this is definitely a Technicolor kitsch Wild West. Naturally it all ends too soon so that feature length version is something of a must.

Was expecting more from this but it was lacking in a few areas. The cinematography was very basic, seems like they skimped out on wanting to pay a decent cinematographer as this was just 'okay'. The lighting and editing was very minimal too. Overall it just made the film feel very style over substance so I'm guessing Saint Laurent maybe had too much to say in the production of this.

The story is also a bit wonky as when they first re-encounter each other, nothing is said until the next day about the reason he thinks he's returned :-s

If this was to be re-written and have a higher budget it could be decent film but right now it was just too short, cheap and rushed.

I LOVE Pedro Pascal. I LOVE Pedro Almodovar. I really like Ethan Hawke. So I was really excited when I heard about this short film. Perhaps that's why I was so disappointed in it, I had such high hopes. But it is just very much no bueno.

Because it's such a short film there's not a lot of time for character development - I'm aware that makes things tricky. But pretty much the whole 30 min is the two main characters having expository conversation. Then a few minutes of action, more exposition, the end.

There is one flashback scene with two actors who look nothing like Pedro and Ethan. So that was a bit odd too.

The dialogue, besides being almost purely expository, was stilted and awkward.

The whole thing was awkward and just not good. I'm giving it 5 stars because at least it was only 30 minutes and only cost $3 to watch. If it had been a full-length feature that I'd paid more to see, I would probably give this 2 stars. Lo siento.