Labyrinth of Passion

Silly undisciplined film probably doesn't play as well to someone introduced to Almodovar via his 90s and 00s successes. Flashes of his future style are present here but overall the formless narrative, and variable performances, are ultimately frustrating.

My favorite Almodóvar movie--the inspired lunacy approaches Preston Sturges. Sure, it's a little tasteless, but I defy anyone not to laugh during the scene where the portera, who has just taken her laxative, keeps being waylaid on her way to the toilet... It's also fun to watch a VERY young Antonio Banderas.

81.000

I would give this film more points if it weren't for a few scenes of absolute tastelessness (the diarrhea) and boredom (I get it, Almodovar, you're singing). It's ridiculousness is the film's greatest asset; it never lets go in absurdity and its pacing is mostly fantastic. Definitely a great example of emerging film talent.

Entertaining in its weirdness and continuously amusing.

Very much a rough blueprint for most of Pedro's great '80s work, right down to plot details he would reuse in later films (the Muslim terrorists from Women on the Verge... to name just one example). It's a bit cruder in more than one sense, and for someone who's later work could get densely plotty this is very slapdash and freeform, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Almodovar cites Wilder, but the lowbrow humor reminds me more of Sturges, and the congenially risque vibe could only be Pedro.