Che: Part One (15) (From The Argus)

Che: Part One (15)

11:22am Monday 5th January 2009 in Blogs By James Tully - film blog

Traditionally the first film of the year I see ends up being one of the best. So it was with apprehension I went to see Steven Soderberghs 'Che: Part One'.

A huge 4 and a half hour epic split into two parts covering the life of Che Guevara. I knew very little about Che Guevara beyond the image on a T-shirt and was hoping to learn more about him. Unfortunately I didn't really get it from this film. It's hard to be critical of this film as without seeing part two I don't know how it will play out. The first part had very little characterisation, even of Che himself. There were no other characters of note in the entire movie so the whole film rested on Benicio Del Toro's shoulders.

Benicio Del Toro is fantastic in the central role and embodies the power of a general. Direction from Soderbergh is also reassuring and the Cuban vistas are breathtaking. Its the script and the pacing where the issues lay. There is a flash forward device that shows Che being interviewed in America in the 60's but it appears to bear little relation to the war story depicted. The war story is photographed well but you don't get the sense of mission that is trying to come across.

The film cant decide whether it wants to be about the man, the legend or the revolution and in the end doesn't satisfy any of these aspects. But as I mentioned it feels harsh to judge without seeing the second part. I may then probably contradict myself and declare it a work of genius, but unfortunately I doubt it.

6/10