bella movie review

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• DVD & Streaming

Content Caution

In Theaters

• Eduardo Verástegui as Jose; Tammy Blanchard as Nina; Manny Perez as Manny

Home Release Date

• Alejandro G. Monteverde

Distributor

• Roadside Attractions

Movie Review

The name Bella means beautiful. And it’s a word that does not in any way apply to Jose or his life when we first meet him. Scruffy and forlorn, Jose hasn’t been the same since a tragic accident ended his promising soccer career. Now he’s the head chef at his brother’s fancy restaurant.

People worry about Jose.

Working at that same restaurant is a young, unmarried woman named Nina who does not want to be pregnant. But she is. And her morning sickness and late arrivals get her fired.

No one worries about Nina—except Jose.

Jose is drawn to the troubled woman and offers his help. She’s suspicious of his intentions at first, but her situation and his quiet persistence motivate her to accept the proffered friendship. Still, she brushes off his gentle encouragement to let her baby live. Nina has come to the conclusion that if her life is ever going to be normal again she must abort her little girl.

This artistically low-key yet emotionally complex and compelling story focuses on two friends—one damaged by the past and the other afraid of the future—who help each other make a pair of life-changing choices.

Positive Elements

Beyond friendship and caring for others, abortion and adoption are the two big themes in Bella . Both options are on the table, as it were, when the film opens. When it concludes, the former has been flattened, the latter lifted up.

[ Spoiler Warning ] Jose doesn’t make demands of Nina, but quietly listens as they walk around New York City, and she gives voice to her anger and panic. When actor Eduardo Verástegui, who plays Jose, recently spoke with Focus on the Family, he put it this way:

“My Jose never tells her what to do except for one question that he asks. … The rest he just leaves to her and loves her. He opens his own wound to her so she can see how wounded he is. He opens the doors of his house to her so she can see what family is. And then he adopts the baby. But first he shows love, because love and truth conquer everything. … He elevates her first and makes her feel important—and by doing that he makes it easy for her to make the right choice.”

When Jose and Nina get into their very first conversation about her pregnancy, he assumes she will keep the child. She quickly corrects him, listing all the reasons why a young woman like herself couldn’t raise a child. “I can’t have this baby and have it suffer with me,” she says. She dismisses the idea of adoption as being worse than abortion—except to sneeringly offer the baby to Jose. All of this sets up and strengthens the impact of her change of heart. And images of her at an abortion clinic, sobbing, seal the emotional side of the moral “deal” Bella presents.

Jose arranges a new job for Nina with a friend. And when he takes her to his family’s home, they welcome her warmly. Over dinner, family members openly share their joys and problems.

A tender mother-son moment happens when Jose and his mom have a private talk during which she expresses her concern for him. As she reaches out for him, he breaks down and sobs in her arms. Meanwhile, Jose’s father, who speaks very little English, “talks” alone with Nina, who speaks very little Spanish, and in doing so symbolically pushes aside racial tensions.

Nina is touched by the acceptance and love she sees in Jose’s family. And she later tells Jose that he is “seriously lucky” to have such a good family.

At one point during their day together, Jose and Nina stop to talk to a blind man. Nina takes the time to be his eyes by describing the street scene around them. The blind man joyfully receives her verbal picture.

Other restaurant employees speak positively of Jose for his consistent compassion toward the people around him. He messes up when he walks out on his brother during the restaurant’s peak hours, but the movie uses his impulsive action (he wants to help Nina) to show us how differences can ultimately be resolved if both sides try. (He and his brother eventually share a hug of resolution.)

Jose and his father plant small trees together in a gesture of renewal. Dad says, “Gardening. It’s food for the soul.”

Spiritual Elements

Although there are very few direct mentions of God in the film, we’re given the strong impression that Nina is wrestling with not just a physical and emotional decision, but also a spiritual one. At one point in their discussions about the baby, Nina asks Jose, “Do you think this is all there is?” In flash-forward vignettes, he’s seen sitting in an abortion clinic waiting area, praying with rosary beads.

Jose says, “My grandmother used to say, ‘If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.'” The blind man’s sign reads, “God closed my eyes. Now I can see.” And at the family dinner, Jose’s younger brother gives the blessing for the meal in Spanish. His words translate to, “May the One that gave us our lives, bless this food.”

[ Spoiler Warning ] Jose’s “wound” relates to an automobile accident that claimed the life of a very young girl. He was driving the car. And when he describes what happened to Nina, he speaks of the child’s mother: “I can still hear her crying for God to give her daughter back.”

Sexual Content

There are no sexual scenes depicted. Nina, however, is pregnant by a man who is not her husband. Jose asks if she loves the man. She responds that she does not.

Nina is shown taking a bath, but only her head pokes out above the bubbles.

Violent Content

[ Spoiler Warning ] In flashback we see the accident that torments Jose. He recklessly hits and kills a 4-year-old girl with his car. We don’t see the impact, but the unfolding hide-and-seek lead-in scene—that we know will cause her death—is so tense that the whole sequence feels quite violent. The bloodied girl is very briefly seen on the pavement and in her mother’s arms.

Nina bangs her head against a mirror in frustration over being pregnant. Tormented by his past, Jose intentionally burns his hand over a flame in the kitchen. Angry at Jose, his brother hits a wall.

Crude or Profane Language

“Gosh” is the strongest word said. At one point, Nina speaks of Jose’s restaurant-running brother and says, “He is such a piece of …” but she doesn’t finish the thought. A man insults a convenience store clerk by calling him “Korea.” One Spanish word could be translated as a crudity in certain parts of the world.

Drug and Alcohol Content

A younger Jose smokes a celebratory cigar and people are seen smoking on the street. At a family dinner, wine is poured and consumed. As a toast, family members each drink a small glass of tequila. Nina twice drinks alcohol and once she smokes a cigarette—after she knows she’s pregnant. And she tells a story of getting “stoned” as a teen.

“ Bella is a moving and inspirational movie,” Focus on the Family founder Dr. James Dobson told Plugged In Online . “In a day of Hollywood’s excesses, profanities and foolishness, this sensitive film speaks eloquently of life, love and beauty. I enjoyed it very much.”

Indeed, Bella is an unusually intelligent, humane film that reminds us how easy it is to impact one person’s life—and perhaps save another’s—simply by being sensitive to hurting people and carving out time to care. It is a tender tale of grace, faith, redemption and the sanctity of life. It doesn’t showcase A-list stars or wield a multi-gazillion dollar budget. Rather, it’s an intimate narrative that will surely fly well beneath the Hollywood blockbuster radar. But it’s a film that does fly directly in the face of Hollywood’s—and society’s—”it’s all about me” credo.

Eduardo Verástegui knows his little film (he also co-produced it) won’t dominate the box office. But he doesn’t mind. “I was caught up in the stardom and money of this business, like so many actors,” he told us, “But I was drawn to do this. To just do something worthwhile.” Thus, he and his fellow producers stepped away from successful careers to pursue an independent film with no guarantees. He said with emotion, “What I’d love to see happen with this film is to someday have this 12-year-old knock on my door and say that her mother was going to have an abortion. But she saw this film. That would be my Oscar.”

He continued, “This film is for the Ninas of the world. This film is not for the people who already agree that life is personal and has dignity. I want to touch the girls who come from broken families who don’t know anything about all these important issues—and next thing you know they find themselves pregnant and they think it’s fine to just go and have an abortion because that is what they have been taught. I want to reach them and embrace them and love them through the film and then by that they can choose what is best for them, which is to have their baby.”

Bella ‘s pondering of love and true values may just be vivid enough to accomplish the things Verástegui hopes it will.

After spending more than two decades touring, directing, writing and producing for Christian theater and radio (most recently for Adventures in Odyssey, which he still contributes to), Bob joined the Plugged In staff to help us focus more heavily on video games. He is also one of our primary movie reviewers.

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"Bella" is a film about selfless love that wants to be loved too much. Manipulative pic trades in fairy-tale views of New York life alongside briefly sustained emotional confessions, which may partly explain its victory as Toronto fest's aud winner.

By Robert Koehler

Robert Koehler

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So slight that a gentle breeze might tip it over, “ Bella ” is a film about selfless love that wants to be loved too much. Manipulative pic trades in fairy-tale views of New York life alongside briefly sustained emotional confessions, which may partly explain its victory as Toronto fest’s aud winner. Mexican-born helmer Alejandro Monteverde’s debut will be remembered as a curious case of a mediocre film that wows crowds; still, domestic distrib still isn’t set four months after preem, portending that best prospects may remain in vid and cable.

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Former soccer pro Jose (Mexican pop and telenovela star Eduardo Verastegui) is lead chef at a fine Manhattan-based Mexican restaurant owned and operated by his brother Manny (Manny Perez). Intolerant of sloppy behavior or tardiness, Manny fires server Nina ( Tammy Blanchard ) when she shows up late, unaware that she’s just learned that she’s pregnant.

Popular on Variety

Nina, however, could easily have been to work on time, since her delay was due to her buying and using a homepregnancy test — something she rationally would have done after her shift was over. Though it would be easy to conclude that her character sabotages her own best prospects in life, such an intriguing wrinkle is never even contemplated in Monteverde and Patrick Million’s cut-and-dried script.

Similarly burdened with half-developed motivations, Jose impulsively ups and leaves his post just as the restaurant is about to open its doors for lunch and accompanies Nina around the city for the rest of the day, despite the fact that he barely knows her and the entire kitchen operation depends on him.

With its storyline based on such inexplicable behavior, “Bella” is seriously behind the dramatic eight ball, and trusts that the effective chemistry between the two leads will help auds ignore the many narrative potholes. One doesn’t object to Verastegui’s habit of directing puppy-dog looks Blanchard’s way — a clear attempt on the heartthrob’s part to soften his sexy image, furthered by wearing a large beard that gives him an odd Jesus-like visage. (Jose’s unshaven face is seen in flashbacks to five years earlier, when his troubles began.)

Jose and Nina spend the day visiting his loving parents (the fine Angelica Aragon and Jaime Terelli) –a model of middle-class Mexican familial harmony that emotionally touches Nina, who has no family herself — and delivering monologues to each other about their pasts. Jose’s speech ushers in the film’s major set piece, a tragic mishap followed by several needlessly time-bending montages — in which Jose convinces Nina to keep the child and allow him to raise it — and a strangely elliptical ending.

The warm stars can do only so much to humanize a mucky narrative that unavoidably lessens the film’s emotional thrust. Perfs are suited to Monteverde’s staging and Andrew Cadelago’s bland lensing, both tuned to a television-like aesthetic. Editing by Fernando Villena stutters where it should flow, and is occasionally gripped by hysterical bursts of cross-cutting.

• Production: A Metanoia Films presentation in association with the One Media and M Power Worldwide. (International sales: International Creative Management, Los Angeles.) Produced by Alejandro Monteverde, Eduardo Verastegui, Leo Severino, Denise Pinkley. Executive producers, Sean Wolfington, J. Eustace Wolfington, Ana Wolfington, Steve McEveety. Directed by Alejandro Monteverde. Screenplay, Monteverde, Patrick Million.
• Crew: Camera (Technicolor), Andrew Cadelago; editor, Fernando Villena; music, Stephan Altman; music supervisor, Frankie Pike; production designer, Richard Lassalle; art director, Justin Kemler; set decorator, Susan Ogu; costume designer, Eden Miller; sound (Dolby Digital), Richard Murphy; sound designer-supervising sound editor, Stephen Flick; re-recording mixers, Scott Hinkley, Jonathan Wales; associate producers, Dan Genetti, Matthew Malek, Glen Trotiner; assistant director, Trotiner; casting, Beth Dowling, Kim Miscia. Reviewed at Santa Barbara Film Festival, Jan. 29, 2007. (Also in Toronto, Los Angeles Latino, Miami, San Diego festivals.) MPAA Rating: PG-13. Running time: 91 MIN.
• With: Jose -- Eduardo Verastegui Nina -- Tammy Blanchard Manny -- Manny Perez Mother -- Angelica Aragon Father -- Jaime Tirelli Celia -- Ali Landry Eduardo -- Ramon Rodriguez With: Sophie Nyweide, Ewa Da Cruz. (English, Spanish dialogue)

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Dove Review

“Bella” is a film which picks up steam as it goes. It opens at a slow pace but once the story begins to move, it is a quality story worth telling. An international soccer star named Jose (Eduardo Verastegui) is about to sign a multi-million dollar contract when tragedy strikes. He suffers grief for a long time but his life eventually becomes entwined with that of a young waitress named Nina, who is dealing with her own problems. She is unmarried, pregnant, and contemplating having an abortion. Jose plants the thought into Nina’s mind of adopting the child out to a good home and the subsequent story surrounds that theme, as well as Jose helping his brother. His brother Manny is a manager of a successful Mexican restaurant, but he only thinks of himself and not his employees. You will have to wait until the end of the film to learn who “Bella” is, but this name plays a pivotal part in this story. This film is a quality picture with some beautiful cinematography and a good theme, and we award the movie our Dove “Family-Approved” Seal.

Dove Rating Details

A child is killed and blood is briefly seen on her clothes; a customer throws something near a clerk with whom he is angry; a girl bangs her head against a mirror.

A young couple date in the film.

H-1; Su*ks-2

Some drinking of wine and cigarette and cigar smoking.

A discussion as an unmarried woman considers abortion; a mother's grief is seen as she deals with the loss of a child.

More Information

Film information, dove content.

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What You Need To Know:

(CC, BB, L, V, A, M) Strong Christian worldview with a man atoning for his sin, a Christ-figure allegory and a woman being delivered from abortion, plus strong family elements and strong moral elements; one light obscenity; tragic car accident, tastefully portrayed; nothing sexually offensive; no nudity; alcohol use; no smoking; and, man fires pregnant woman, man yells at brother, brother quits, but everything resolved by the end.

More Detail:

BELLA opens up with the wonderful narration, “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.”

Jose has just been signed to a big soccer contract. Filled with joy, he signs a frayed old soccer ball for some of the street kids on the block and then promises to get the ball signed by all their favorite stars. Jose is a good-looking, clean-cut, athletic young man at the top of his game.

The movie cuts to a bearded, down-hearted Jose cooking in his brother Manny’s restaurant. When Nina, the waitress, arrives too late, Manny fires her. Jose goes after her just to befriend her, not to romance her. He finds out she is pregnant and contemplating an abortion. He asks her if she’ll consider adoption. He even says that he’ll take the child.

Manny, meanwhile, is furious that Jose, his top chef, has walked out. Jose, however, is trying to help Nina. He takes her to his parents house on Long Island, either Queens or Brooklyn. There, he finally tells the story of how the fateful day when he was signed as a soccer star, he ran over a little girl and was sent to prison for involuntary manslaughter.

Jose’s family is a delightful group of Spanish-speaking immigrants. One parent is Puerto Rican and the other parent is Mexican. They love each other deeply.

The ending of BELLA will bring tears to many eyes. Produced by Mel Gibson’s former partner for a very low budget and directed by a young man just out of film school, BELLA is an amazing movie. Audiences who have screened it have loved the movie, and most have ended up crying. It is not a perfect movie. There are a few slow moments as a result of missing plot points or other structural problems, but otherwise the movie is incredibly captivating for those who like character studies. Jose’s character clearly has some Christological elements. The acting is superb. The scene between Manny and Jose is so lively and natural that it brings back memories of childhood friendships.

BELLA has some positive prayers, positive statements about God, and wonderful pro-life, allegorical elements. It is not preachy or off-putting, but delightful and winsome. MOVIEGUIDE® highly recommends BELLA and commends all those who made this wonderful, lyrical movie.

Bella (2006)

“Put yourself in my shoes.” So says Nina, without enough hope to call it pleading, in a key scene in Bella .

Artistic/Entertainment Value

Moral/spiritual value, age appropriateness, mpaa rating, caveat spectator.

One of the winsome things about Bella , Alejandro Gomez Monteverde’s intimate, appealing feature debut, is that it listens to Nina instead of preaching — to her or to us.

Nina (Tammy Blanchard) works as a waitress with José (Eduardo Verastegui), the line chef, whose brother Manny (Manny Perez) owns the restaurant. Nina is in trouble, of a sort that many movies would be very vocal about what should happen — and why viewers who think otherwise are bad people.

José’s views aren’t hard to guess, but Nina doesn’t ask him for advice, and he offers none. Instead, he offers her what she really needs: understanding, compassion, support, and ultimately something much more.

Bolstered by engaging performances and an appealing Latin milieu, Bella tells a simple, idealistic story with considerable style and charm. Shot in just three weeks in New York City, the film unfolds largely over the course of a single day, interspersed with glimpses of past and future events in a way that allows viewers to discover for themselves the relationships between persons and events.

For instance, an early shot shows a bearded man sitting alone on a beach watching a young girl playing alone. Passers‑by observe the scene with concern, and the viewer may feel some apprehension. Later, though, the scene appears in a different light.

Bella opens and closes with scenes set at the seashore, with one other notable scene in the middle on the beach. The sea, incalculable and eternal, surrounds the city in which the story is set, unseen for the most part, but never entirely absent. A popular proverb, quoted in the opening moments of the film, sets the stage: “My grandmother always said, if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.”

José was once a rising star with the Real Madrid soccer club before his budding career took an unexpected turn. Nina, already struggling at work, discovers that she is faced with an unwanted pregnancy. When she arrives at work, Manny fires her for being late one too many times (and because he attributes previous performance problems to being hung over rather than to morning sickness).

When Nina — standing in a subway, speaking through steel bars like a prisoner — begins to open up to José, the solicitude with which he responds suggests an obvious explanation. Later, further revelations invite us to reevaluate the nature of his concern and support.

José and Nina are each, in their own way, damaged goods. Although José is ultra-simpatico, a dark side comes through occasionally, as when he deliberately holds his hand to the flame over the restaurant kitchen stove. The scruffy beard obscuring Verastegui’s heartthrob looks (the actor started in telenovelas , Mexican soap operas) is likewise a sort of stigma, a literal self-effacement related to a flashback in which his whole head is shaved. In another scene José inadvertently steps off a sidewalk into the path of an oncoming car. He’s distracted and upset, but not only by the events of the moment.

The screenplay, despite some missteps, is attentive to the realities of its characters’ lives. Autographing a battered old ball for young fans, rising star José takes the time to ask them where they play. In the street? What about cars? A bit later, when Nina goes to the drugstore to pick up a pregnancy test, she finds herself at the cash register without enough money to pay for it, and has to plead with the cashier to trust her to bring the money later.

Verastegui, last seen in Chasing Papi , has charisma and presence as the one-time soccer star. With his out-of-control beard, he oddly resembles Jim Caviezel’s Jesus. Blanchard shines in the most difficult role, vulnerable, winsome, bitter, wounded. Her monologue on the beach could have been distractingly talky, but the strength of her performance makes the scene a standout. Under Monteverde’s direction, some of the best moments are wordless, notably a wrenching point-of-view shot with a camera turned sideways, a low-key scene involving jostling elbows at a breakfast table and a luminously playful shot toward the very end.

Bella is at least the third film this year about a young woman dealing with an unexpected or unwanted pregnancy — and the second independent film about an unhappily pregnant waitress, after Adrienne Shelly’s problematic but heartfelt Waitress . (The same theme was also the premise for the raunchy comedy Knocked Up .)

Intriguingly, while none of these films is a polemic against abortion (although in Waitress Keri Russell does affirm her unborn baby’s “right to thrive”), to one degree or another a life-affirming or pro-life sensibility runs through each of them, even Knocked Up.

In fact, National Post columnist Chris Knight wrote a grumpy column complaining that abortion wasn’t more seriously considered in the two earlier films. Will Knight be more appeased by Bella , in which the prospect of abortion is considered at greater length? Or is does he really want to see movies with characters that make one particular choice?

Like the earlier films, Bella is not about the pro-life and pro-abortion “positions,” movements or causes, nor does it address the question of laws permitting or outlawing abortion. It is a drama about specific characters, relationships, events and decisions; broader issues are present only implicitly. José is Catholic, and his family, highlighted in a delightful domestic sequence, seems to take their faith seriously. José is clearly troubled by Nina’s decision — but he shows his commitment to life not in word, but in touching and heroic deed.

From a pro-choice perspective, Nina has all the reasons in the world to want an abortion. She rattles off a litany of them to José over lunch. They are understandable reasons. Over against this, Bella ultimately interposes, not more words or arguments, but a moment of revelation — a transcendent affirmation of life in its incalculable value.

In the end, Bella has something to challenge everyone, pro-life or otherwise. For pro-lifers, the inspiring ending represents a call to love of neighbor. It isn’t enough just to oppose abortion: We are called to love those in need with the love of Christ, potentially at a cost to ourselves. For those who favor abortion, the ending represents a challenge to recognize that life is a beautiful and precious gift even in far from ideal circumstances, and the choice to embrace life, even when it involves great sacrifice, is also beautiful.

Juno (2007)

Yet it’s right around this point that Juno , which has been clever and insightful, unexpectedly reveals hidden layers of complexity and depth.

Bella : Metanoia Films’ award-winning first film about wounded hearts, family and a crisis pregnancy celebrates love, life and understanding

For Verástegui — a former boy-band and telenovela heartthrob known to Latino fans as “the Mexican Brad Pitt” — the mission is simple. “Hollywood doesn’t belong to the studios,” he recently told Decent Films. “Hollywood belongs to God. And we need to take it back. And that’s what I’m trying to do, by example first, trying my best every day to be involved in projects that will inspire people to use their talents to do something positive for the world.”

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Bella Reviews

On the strength of the performances alone, Bella garners a recommendation.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.0/4.0 | Sep 2, 2020

Shining its own special glow, BELLA is about family, friendship, tragedy, joy and the undeniable healing power of love and touches on the humanness and need in us all.

Full Review | Nov 6, 2019

What works well on television does not always translate well onto the big screen and, despite some arresting moments, for the most part I found Bella's cloying sentimentality a real turn-off.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 5, 2018

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 18, 2011

The film is nicely shot in New York and subtitled "One moment can change your life forever". There's not a moment here likely to change ours.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Oct 6, 2010

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Oct 2, 2010

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 1, 2010

Bella is without doubt one of the least apologetic blendings of heartfelt intentions, cinematic manipulation, and ultra sentimentality that I have seen in some time.

Full Review | May 19, 2008

This is not a weepy, but a story about healing, forgiveness and redemption.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Apr 11, 2008

Bella is mostly harmless, feel-good fare, and not unlike a TV movie of the week in depth. And you could take your old granny with you to see it, without fear.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Apr 11, 2008

From the quiet performances to the sensitive direction, everything about this movie is convincing except the very story that drives it.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Apr 10, 2008

Bella is an irrefutably effortless and heartwarming film, another indie gem with a deep soul and a beautiful message.

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Feb 28, 2008

Bella is a gentle film with a big heart.

Full Review | Feb 14, 2008

Corn smothered in queso, this sentimental hokum sticks in your throat.

Full Review | Original Score: F | Feb 3, 2008

It's more of a life story than a love story. It's also a story that would play just as well if you waited to see this on the small screen.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 28, 2007

Its anti-abortion argument is loaded: How many pregnant waitresses discover they've been working alongside a kind, sensitive and handsome former millionaire soccer star with no girlfriend who's happy to become an adoptive father?

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Nov 26, 2007

An inspirational ethnic soap opera story about two damaged sensitive souls coming together in a stressed-out New York City.

Full Review | Original Score: B- | Nov 17, 2007

Through the bog of clichés in director/co-writer Alejandro G. Monteverde's melodrama, the flinty reality of Blanchard's performance shines.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Nov 16, 2007

Bella turns out to be a clumsy message movie, one that leaves a lingering bad taste, whatever your beliefs regarding its highly divisive subject, abortion.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Nov 15, 2007

Bella is a (...) parable of remorse and redemption, a tale of two damaged souls who end up helping each other find release from their tragic pasts.

Full Review | Nov 14, 2007

Reviewed by: Rev. Bryan Griem CONTRIBUTOR

“True love goes beyond romance”

Here’s what the distributor says about their film: “An international soccer star (Eduardo Verástegui) is on his way to sign a multi-million dollar contract when something happens that brings his career to an abrupt end. A waitress (Tammy Blanchard), struggling to make it in New York City, discovers something about herself that she’s unprepared for. In one irreversible moment, their lives are turned upside down… until an impetuous action brings them together and turns an ordinary day into an unforgettable experience. Once a famous athlete, and now a cook at his brother’s Mexican restaurant, José has retreated from the world but he recognizes something in Nina, a young waitress, and reaches out to her. In the course of a single day, he not only confronts his past but shows her how the healing power of a family can help her embrace the future.”

W hat do you do when you’re on top of the world; fame and fortune are in your near future, and suddenly, through one tragic turn of events, all your plans of happiness crash to a halt? This is the scenario for the main character José, played by Eduaro Verástegui. Hailed as the new Antonio Banderas , Verastequi performs superbly as the unfortunate great Latino hope, gone missing. Because of his dashed dreams of stardom, José fades into a humble, though respectable existence as kitchen chef in the family business.

What is notable about this character is that despite his continued struggle with the events of the past, he concerns himself with the plight of others. He respects those with whom he works, and his reputation is that of a good man who is also good at his job. It is the atmosphere at the restaurant which sets in motion the healing of José’s psyche, and it reminds of the environment exhibited in so many reality cooking shows where a despot runs the kitchen and everyone is set on edge because of him. In Bella, however, it is not the chef but his fastidious brother, Manny (played by Manny Perez), who owns the restaurant and is constantly picking at his staff to perform. When Nina (played by Tammy Blanchard) arrives on the scene, she is running late to her job as one of the restaurant’s waitresses, and Manny fires her on the spot. Not only does he find her unreliable, but he also believes that she has been showing up hung-over on previous occasions. It is at this point that José follows after her and discovers her secret. It is her secret that has caused her lateness and recent ill-health as observed by her boss.

What follows is a date of sorts. José and Nina go off to explore the city, walk the beach, and share their life stories. Nina, it turns out, had a rough childhood. She has no husband or family, and her future looks bleak. José, on the other hand, had a good childhood and family life, and is still very active with his loving and intuitive parents, but he harbors the deep hurt from the big tragedy in his life, and he has become somewhat stagnant. He still seems much better grounded than Nina, and he almost appears Christ-like in both appearance and demeanor. Always in his white chef’s tunic, José sports a prophetic beard and hair ensemble, and peaceably plies Nina with observations and bits of wisdom that ultimately transform Nina’s heart. She finally decides what can only be called a good and correct course for her “problem,” thus redeeming the life of José, putting her own life on a path of recovery, and warming the hearts of the viewing audience.

Christians may differ in opinion regarding some of the life-ways of the people in the movie, as José’s family happily dance their cultural styles, and drink freely at their family meals. Drunkenness is not a factor, nor is their dancing in any way lewd. Smoking is shown in two instances: when José is celebrating his perceived impending success he puffs a cigar, and Nina’s character is a typical cigarette smoker. There is no profanity, even in moments where most movies would not have restrained their dialogue, yet Bella does just fine without. Neither are there any sexual situations, and nobody felt in anywise shortchanged for lack thereof. There are a couple of peculiar moments of angst in the characters, but no real violence to speak of until the unsettling scene of José’s downfall. That moment is well shot, leaving room for the imagination to do its work, though there is the brief depiction of spilled blood and the panic of the crowd. It is a powerful segment in the film, and one which is first off the lips when the moviegoers exit the theater.

I think Christians will be especially pleased at the various references and observations about God which are distributed throughout the movie, as well as the positive presentation of prayer, which comes off as a regular part of life. It is ironic that a film which won the People’s ‘Choice’ Award at the Toronto Film Festival, is so absolutely pro-life in its message. The choice in the movie is one that people of faith will applaud, and it is what makes the movie complete, bringing to an end the pain of all that went before. Something of interest here is how much the actress playing Nina (Blanchard) looks so similar to actress Hilary Swank , who did Million Dollar Baby. The similarity ends there, however, as the comparable messages of these two movies answer at completely opposite ends of the spectrum.

There are several flashback and flash-forward scenes which might create confusion for the viewer at times, but the movie is otherwise well shot and directed. There are also some minor parts where subtitles are necessary, when Spanish is spoken, but this is rather inconsequential and lends to the authenticity of the film—which is actually based on a true-life story. Any shortcomings of the film pale compared to the many things for which it is laudable; like its positive depiction of family life, making right moral decisions, forgiveness, love, and compassion for others. The negative impact of promiscuity, though deduced rather than discussed or depicted, is properly presented with its looming repercussions, and [SPOILER COMING] all the typical pro-abortion excuses are raised, being answered and countered with the birth of Nina’s child and movie namesake, Bella.

See the movie. It’s good in a biblical way, it’s worth supporting, and it will provide plenty of food for thought. You’ll enjoy it. It’s also culturally relevant and the secular community is talking about it. What an opportunity to extol the virtues of following Christ by connecting to nonbelievers who have in common with us the appreciation of good movies!

Violence: Mild / Profanity: None / Sex/Nudity: None

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Netflix's Bella Mackie no.1 best-seller adaptation to star Golden Globe winner

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.

Anya Taylor-Joy might have been destined for success no matter what, but there's no way that The Queen's Gambit didn't help. The Netflix show was a breakout, runaway success back in 2020, and propelled her to new heights.

It might have helped that it came in a period when lockdowns were still rolling around the world, but we all hoovered the show right up, and Taylor-Joy's offbeat performance at its heart was key – and it won her a Golden Globe. Now she's teaming up with Netflix again for another completely different show.

This time around it's How To Kill Your Family – an adaptation of the no.1 best-selling novel success of the same title by Bella Mackie. Taylor-Joy will star as protagonist Grace Bernard, who sets off on a quest for violent revenge against her largely estranged family.

Taylor-Joy has issued a nice little quote to get people hyped for the show: "As soon as I turned the last page, I knew I had to be a part of bringing this story to life. After some (light) stalking of the inimitable Bella Mackie, I could not be more thrilled to be collaborating with the team that is executive producers Sally Woodward Gentle, Lizzie Rusbridger, and Emma [Moran]. I am looking forward to getting our hands even dirtier."

That does hint at the fact that this is very much just the announcement of a planned production – Netflix hasn't shared when the show will start filming, let alone when we might be able to actually watch it on the streaming platform. It has called it a "British show" though, so we're assuming it'll be produced on UK shores.

With more than a million copies of Mackie's book having been sold, there are plenty of fans out there who will be thrilled to hear about the adaptation. Netflix has also proven itself a dab hand at the mystery genre, thanks to modern hits like Rian Johnson's Knives Out .

Whether it can cement its place as the best streaming service for lovers of crime fiction and true crime alike remains to be seen, but How to Kill Your Family seems like it can only help that case. There's likely a fair bit of time to wait until we find out, though.

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Bella: A Pro-Life Film

Every once and a while a movie comes along that has the potential to change lives. But even more rare than that — one in a thousand — a movie comes along that has the potential to save lives. Bella is such a film.

Since Brett and I first saw Bella last September, we have not ceased to be excited about this film. Here is a powerful message, communicated artistically and with excellence, by three young men who are passionate about God, life, and family.

The Rebelution hosted a private screening in Salt Lake City, where we were able to spend the weekend with lead actor and producer Eduardo Verástegui. Last month, while in Los Angeles for several interviews, we stopped by Metanoai Films and spent some time with producer Leo Severino and director Alejandro Monterverde.

The three of them are an incredible picture of the Three Pillars of the Rebelution — character, competence, and collaboration — in action. Many of you experienced Bella in theaters last year and have asked how you can help spread the word. Others missed it in theaters and have asked when it would be available.

For both groups, we have great news: Bella is out on DVD. Already at least fourteen lives have been saved by this film. Through the dedicated effort of rebelutionaries, that number can be increased exponentially.

Talk to your parents, siblings, and friends and decide how you can be involved in spreading this beautiful film to a world that desperately needs its message. Go out and do hard things — and come back here to let others know what you’re doing.

Some reviews of the film Bella from our readers:

“We went and saw the movie Bella this afternoon. It’s pro-life message was very encouraging. Our family saw Jose as the prime example of a gentlemen. We talked about his character all the way home from the theater (an hour drive). The family life displayed in the film is what our family strives for everyday.” — The Koller Family +++ “[Bella] is amazing! They get the message across without being too preachy or compromising. The characters are believable, the story is beautiful, and the humor is great! It’s a glimpse into what true love is and it’s a home-hitter on the value of life.” — Ana +++ “I just got back from watching Bella. Everyone should see it! It is a movie that could change lives, heal wounds, and make an impact.” — Holly +++ “What we enjoyed about the movie were an engaging story line, up-close and compelling cinematography (even in the big city), great acting and character development, a believable plot, and most importantly, a beautiful underlying message about the gift of life.” — Evers and Lois Ding +++ “I think this movie is a beautiful work of art. The dialogue was alternately hilarious and heart-wrenching. The acting was superb. The camera angles were fascinating. Cinematographically, the film was amazing.” — Tara +++ “I saw Bella last night. Wow. I’m still a little shaken up. The music, the camera angles, the dialogue, the plot itself, the acting — they were all superb and really moved the movie along, making a simple plot (one day in New York) mysterious, intriguing, and convicting.” — Becky +++ “For any other guys who think this is a “chick-flick”—I didn’t come away thinking that at all! It involves a ‘chick’ and her very realistic problems. The lead guy character is a good guy figure to study and to have for a hero! It’s a powerful (and realistic) movie with a powerful message!” — Sydney +++ “EVERYBODY thirteen and up needs to see [Bella]. It is powerful, and it is truth. The sanctity of human life is obviously important to God, and here is a chance to get people to think about that through a great movie.” — Jenna +++ Have you seen it? Will you? Leave your review in the comments section!

About the author

Alex and Brett Harris

are the co-founders of TheRebelution.com and co-authors of Do Hard Things and Start Here . They have a passion for God and for their generation. Their personal interests include politics, filmmaking, music, and basketball. They are both graduates of Patrick Henry College in Purcellville, Virginia.

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YAY!!! It’s coming to Cincinnati! Finally! It sounds amazing!

Yesssss! Columbus next weekend. I can’t wait! 😀

I was so excited that it’s coming within an hour of us! I let out a cry of joy and ran up to where my mother was and started verbalizing my joy in a way that she couldn’t understand. 😛 We’ve been looking forward to this movie for months.

Hi Alex and Brett,

The above link to the Teen Mania website is listed as teemania.org instead of teenmania.org. God Bless!

Well, I should be grateful that Boston isn’t too far away…Somewhat. 🙂 At least it’s getting closer and closer!

Yahoo! Half an hour of driving saved! Marlborough isn’t as far away as Boston is.

Your average Mexican chick-flick usually does not merit two separate posts on a blog run by teenage boys. Therefore, I’m going to go out on a limb here and suggest that this movie is being recommended because of its perceived pro-life stance. But what stops the main character in the movie from getting an abortion? It’s not legal protection for the unborn. Abortion would have been completely legal in her scenario. She would not have been the first person in New York City to get a legal abortion. Also, she does not appear to be the most moral person in the world, as she is sleeping around before marriage. What stops her for getting an abortion is simple: emotional support. She finds a guy and has a family who doesn’t demonize her for getting pregnant before marriage. Horrid treatment of unwed mothers is one of the factors that has enabled Planned Parenthood and other baby-killing organizations to become such a powerful force in America. (Of course there are other factors as well, such as loose-morals.)

For anyone who opposes abortion, this movie offers an important message: There are ways to prevent abortion other than getting a law passed. Support unwed pregnant women, and maybe we can put Planned Parenthood out of business no matter what the law on abortion is.

I wish it would come to ours! The closest is Atlanta or one in FL a good 3 or 4 hours 🙁

We just came back from “Bella” (literally we walked in the door about five minutes ago). It was really good! There were a couple times when we got a bit lost in the flashback scenes, but other than that it was really nice. There was definitely a pro-life message there. The camera angles and lighting were really interesting too. It made for a very creative (and very believable) movie. 🙂

helpbella.com isn’t letting me fill out the form without entering in a credit card. Can you help us out with further instructions/information?

You don’t have to actually submit that part of the form to be signed up. I was trying to figure out how to get past it without the credit card information when I received e-mails from HelpBella.com in my inbox. Then I got a phone call from Corby, so I know it works.

Yay! It’s coming to a theater near home… and another one near school! How exciting! Thanks for reminding us to check the updated theater list! 😀

I saw it the other night and was very impressed. The acting was far better than I was expecting, the script was very good, and I loved what they did with the camera!

I just saw the movie this past weekend with my wife, and I must say that the message was encouraging and I think it’s helpful for all of us (who aren’t in that scenario) to hear and even feel the turmoil that is in the mind of someone contemplating abortion.

For a little critique – from a cinematic aspect, I didn’t like it. The closeness of the camera to the people’s faces and the way the camera “bobbed” a lot made my wife sick and it did “annoy” me, too. That said, I think it was probably due to the low cost of the film.

So, if you ask for a review – I give the clarity of the movie’s message an 8 and I give the camera focus a 3.

With these comments, I want to make sure that I’m clear in saying that I’m grateful that the message is getting across to so many people. It’s definitely much needed.

I hope to see it, but it’s not terribly close by, so I may end up having to wait to see it until it’s out on DVD…

I am very excited to see Bella is coming to the Indianapois area. Thanks for sending updates about what is happening with the movie. I look forward to supporting it.

It’s finally in Oregon!

I got to see an advanced screening of this at Teen Mania’s Honor Academy. It was very good film, and it was amazing how they could pull off an award winner with such a small budget. God gets all the credit for Bella’s success.

I saw it last night. We got lost on the way and after driving an hour, missed the first few minutes. Bella is well worth getting lost in the dark! It’s really hard to watch, though, becuase of the message. My mom, a former social worker, calls it a “cry, cry social worker movie”. 🙂 In spite of this, the message is important for our culture and the way they bring that message makes it less offensive and more persuasive, I think. It was definitely something I needed to hear in preparation for possibly helping women at my secular college.

My brother & I went to see Bella this afternoon. It was beautiful. It made me smile, made me cry…made me think about what real love and friendship really are. I wasn’t sure how it was going to end, but I loved it. I love how it’s about real people, real hurts and problems, about family and being there when someone needs you. Just a story about life. Not so much about the words, but the actions.

Beautiful, that’s all I can say.

I hope to see Bella soon. I have read several good reviews and am looking forward to seeing it. I also heard the producer, Leo Severino, on the radio this week. It was very interesting and made me even more exited about seeing the movie!

I saw “Bella” this evening and was quite impressed. During the movie, my thoughts were positive but not stellar, but afterwards my mom and I talked the entire hour and a half home about it, and came up with some incredible allegories and discussion topics. It’s after 1 AM, so I have not time to write a complete review. However, I plan on doing so soon, and it will be posted on my blog, if you want to check it out.

The summary of the review: SEE THIS FILM!

Our youth group went to see it last night. It was an awesome movie with a very good message. By all means, you should try to see this film.

This might be of interest: http://www.ignatiusinsight.com/features2007/sgreydanus_bella1_sept07.asp

I want to see this very badly, but it is not showing at our local theatres! Too bad. I’ll have to wait for DVD I suppose!

God bless, Sheila

Bella FINALLY came to a theatre near us!!! Hurrah! My family and I went last night. What a wonderful film with a very pro-life, pro-family message. If you go see it, be sure to bring tissues! ( :

I really liked how they didn’t get married right away. I think it sends a better message to girls who are pregnant. They don’t have the excuse of “yeah, sure, if I found a perfect husband like Jose I’d keep the baby too.” Instead, all Nina finds is a family that’s willing to lovingly adopt her little girl – something that’s a realistic option for almost every pregnant mother. So – the big question: Did Nina and Jose end up getting married?? That’s the big debate in our house! ( ;

Great movie – definitely go see it and support it if you can, if not, get it when it comes out on DVD!!!!

This was such a beautiful film. As for Carlin’s question, I don’t think they get married. It just wouldn’t be right — it would be a very unbalanced marriage. But the adoption is really, really beautiful. The sensitivity and love in this film, mixed with strong and visionary truth, is astounding.

I got to see Bella about a week or so ago, and I loved it. I agree with Pastor Timothy that it was obviously a lower-cost movie, but I think that’s what makes it great-the movie is incredibly simple. Unless, like Mrs. PT, you get sick at a bouncing camera, I think the simplicity of the movie actually enhances the movies message. I kept thinking about what WOULD have been done if the movie was trying to become a super-popular movie and make a lot of money. But by keeping it simple, I think the message was more clearly heard, AND was presented incredibly realistically. As Carlin said, the movie presented an alternative to abortion that is a realistic option.

In short, I LOVED THIS MOVIE, and I think everyone should go see it if they can!

Oh, and I’m a big advocate of “voting with the pocketbook”-if you want to show your support for the movie go ahead and pay the money to see it, and pay the money to buy the DVD when it comes out.

I saw this movie last week, and I loved it! It was so powerful, and the acting was actually quite good, considering that it was a low-budget film. A must see for everyone!

I do not know anything about this movie. speaking of movies this is an alert DO NOT WATCH BEE MOVIE! VERY SUGGESTIVE AND THEY USE THE LORDS NAME IN VAIN!

Drastically, the article was in reality your newest about which laudable subject. Certainly along together with your findings and might undoubtedly desperately count on the honest changes. Declaring thanks won’t just be suitable, with the amazing clearness inside your producing. My spouse and i almost certainly will simultaneously pick up ones feed to be surprise connected with any type of improvements. Authentic perform and also significantly achievement together with your enterprise dealings!

I haven’t seen Bella yet but it sounds like a good movie. Also, there’s a new movie that I’ve heard is now in theaters called Not Today about modern day slavery. There’s a trailer on the website at http://www.nottodaythemovie.com/

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These Are Our Favorite Movies From 1999. What Are Yours?

In our view, these eight comedies, dramas and more have attained classic status 25 years later. Let us know your own picks.

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By The New York Times

On the 25th anniversary of what many argue is the greatest year in movie history, we asked film staff writers and critics to share the movie from 1999 that they love the best or feel is most overlooked. After reading their picks, let us know your choices.

Best Comedy

‘Being John Malkovich’

Capping a decade of high-concept comedies, Spike Jonze’s “Being John Malkovich” (available on most major platforms ) raised the stakes with the most outlandish premise yet: When a downtrodden puppeteer (John Cusack) takes an office job to make ends meet, he discovers a hidden portal there that allows him to enter the mind of medium-famous character actor John Malkovich. Jonze’s smartest instinct is to resist piling onto a concept that’s already perilously clever. Instead, the movie is underplayed, intimate and even a little scuzzy-looking. But that approach to Charlie Kaufman’s surprising screenplay leaves room for viewers to wonder as they watch: Why are we so certain that our lives would improve with even a modicum of fame? And are these bodies the wrong containers for what we feel inside? KYLE BUCHANAN

Buchanan’s other 1999 favorites: “eXistenZ,” “ Three Kings ,” “ Election ,” “ The Talented Mr. Ripley ”

‘Beau Travail’

A haunting exploration of desire and violence, Claire Denis’s “ Beau Travail ” (available on major platforms ) takes place in the East African country of Djibouti, a onetime French territory. There, French Foreign Legion soldiers practice drills, their bodies synced and individualities subordinated. At times, they dance with African women, their gazes uneasily summoning up the history shared by the formerly colonized and their colonizers.

Loosely inspired by Herman Melville’s novella “Billy Budd,” Denis’s beguiling tour de force takes shape after one soldier (Grégoire Colin) rescues another, an act that disturbs a sergeant (Denis Lavant). The soldier “seduced everyone,” the sergeant says in voice-over. “Deep down I felt a sort of rancor, a rage brimming.” With minimal dialogue, ravishing visuals and meticulous attention to sensuous detail, Claire Denis elliptically charts what binds these men — tracing lines between love and hate, past and present, nation and self, masculinity and militarism — in a film that remains as disturbing as it is seductive. MANOHLA DARGIS

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The Adams Family—a group of filmmakers led by father John Adams , mother Toby Poser , and daughter Lulu Adams —are some of the most fascinating horror filmmakers on the scene. Get thee to a streaming service and watch “ The Deeper You Dig ” as soon as possible—it’s one of the best horror films of the decade so far—and then chase that with their clever, twisted “ Hellbender .” These are deeply personal genre films, movies that hum with atmosphere and dread. Their latest is kind of a departure for John and Toby—Lulu gets writing credit but doesn’t appear this time—in that it’s their first filmed on location out of the country (in Serbia) and easily contains their biggest budget. Working with a bigger production company on a film that feels more like anyone could have made it than their previous works drains “Hell Hole” of some of the DIY charm of the other flicks by Adams and Poser. Comparatively, it’s kind of a disappointment, despite having some undeniable positives that should make it an easy watch for horror heads.

“Hell Hole” was obviously inspired by the master John Carpenter , owing a great deal to his version of “The Thing”—a remote outpost overtaken by a monster that can look like an ordinary person—and movies he made about people essentially stumbling into portals to Hell in films like “ Prince of Darkness ” and “In the Mouth of Madness.” The hapless souls in this one are a team (led by Poser’s Emily) that’s fracking in a remote corner of Serbia when they drill into, well, something impossible. They find a body in a sort of cocoon of a centuries-old soldier, and he’s still alive. While they discuss what to do with this break in reality, they notice something even stranger about the Frenchman in that there appears to be something that occasionally peeks out of his nose or ear. Before you can say “burn it with fire,” the monster that was inhabiting the poor soul has jumped ship to John (Adams) and set out to wreak more havoc.

The main twist of the body possession tale here is a sort of male pregnancy narrative in that the creature is inhabiting men as a host for growth. Where’s mom? And what happens when it comes to term? The Adams Family has a lot of fun with some of their most out-there ideas, such as when the creature in a human host realizes it’s under threat and basically just flees by turning its current home into a pile of bloody goo. “Hell Hole” is a marvelously goopy movie with a whole lot of slimy red stuff and tentacles slicing through the air. It’s also a consistently funny movie, playing almost more like dark comedy than the foreboding work the family has made in the past.

On that note, I’m happy to see Adams and Poser kind of spreading their wings and trying something different here, but it’s hard to shake the feeling that this one doesn’t have the same teeth as their best films. It’s more of a lark. Sure, there’s some commentary about how f-ing with Mother Nature will eventually lead to carnage, but it’s very loosely sketched, and the characters have too few traits to be actually memorable. And, yes, it’s a bit clever that Emily used to be a hippie, and there’s some decent character work by Olivera Perunicic, but the people here are naturally forced to cede interest to the enemy they face, giving the whole thing a bit of shallowness that even great body horror avoids. It’s sporadically fun enough, but just not that deep a cinematic hole.

Brian Tallerico

Brian Tallerico is the Managing Editor of RogerEbert.com, and also covers television, film, Blu-ray, and video games. He is also a writer for Vulture, The Playlist, The New York Times, and GQ, and the President of the Chicago Film Critics Association.

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Movie Review: ‘The Crow’ reimagined is stylish and operatic, but cannot outfly 1994 original

This image released by Lionsgate shows Bill Skarsgård in “The Crow”. (Larry Horricks/Lionsgate via AP)

This image released by Lionsgate shows Bill Skarsgård, left, and FKA twigs in “The Crow”. (Larry Horricks/Lionsgate via AP)

Bill Skarsgard attends “The Crow” world premiere at the Village East by Angelika on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Rupert Sanders, from left, FKA twigs, and Bill Skarsgard attend “The Crow” world premiere at the Village East by Angelika on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

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One of the first things you see in the reimagined “The Crow” is the sight of a fallen white horse in a muddy field, bleeding badly after becoming entangled in barbed wire. It’s a metaphor, of course, and a clunky one at that — a powerful image that doesn’t really fit well and is never explained.

That’s a hint that director Rupert Sanders will have a tendency to consistently pick the stylish option over the honest one in this film. In his attempt to give new life to the cult hero of comics and film, he’s given us plenty of beauty at the expense of depth or coherence.

The filmmakers have set their tale in a modern, generic Europe and made it very clear that this movie is based on the graphic novel by James O’Barr, but the 1994 film adaptation starring Brandon Lee hovers over it like, well, a stubborn crow.

Brandon, son of legendary actor and martial artist Bruce Lee, was just 28 when he died after being shot while filming a scene for “The Crow.” History seems always to repeat: The new adaptation lands as another on-set death remains in the headlines.

Lee’s “The Crow” was finished without him and he never got to see it enter Gen X memory in all its rain-drenched, gothic glory, influencing everything from alternative fashion to “Blade” to Christopher Nolan’s “Dark Knight” trilogy.

Bill Skarsgård seizes Lee’s role of Eric Draven, a man so in love that he returns from the dead to revenge his and his sweetheart’s slayings in what can be best called a sort of supernatural, romantic murderfest. (The tagline, “True love never dies,” clumsily rips off Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera.”)

William Schneider, who co-wrote the screenplay with Zach Baylin, has given the story a near-operatic facelift, by introducing a devil, a Faustian bargain, blood-on-blood oaths and a godlike guide who monitors the limbo between heaven and hell, which looks like a disused, weed-covered railway station. “Kill the ones who killed you and you’ll get her back,” our hero is told.

The first half drags at it sets the table for the steady beat of limbs and necks being detached at the end. Eric and his love, Shelly (played by an uneven FKA Twigs), meet in a rehab prison for wayward youth that is so well lit and appointed that it looks more like an airport lounge where the cappuccinos are $19 but the Wi-Fi is complimentary.

Eric is a gentle loner — tortured by a past the writers don’t bother filling in, who likes to sketch in a book (universal cinema code signaling a sensitive soul) and is heavily tattooed (he’s often shirtless). His apartment has rows of mannequins with their heads covered in plastic and his new love calls him “brilliantly broken.” He’s like a Blink-182 lyric come to life.

Shelly is more complex, but that’s because the writers maybe gave up on giving her a real backstory. She has a tattoo that says “Laugh now, cry later,” reads serious literature and loves dancing in her underwear. She clearly comes from wealth and has had a falling out with her mom, but has also done an unimaginably horrible thing, which viewers will learn about at the end.

Part of the trouble is that the lead couple cast off very little electricity, offering a love affair that’s more teen-like than all-consuming. And this is a story that needs a love capable of transcending death.

There are lots of cool-looking moments — mostly Skarsgård in a trench coat, stomping around the desolate concrete jungle in the rain at night — until “The Crow” builds to one of the better action sequences this year, albeit another one of those heightened showdowns at the opera.

By this time, Eric has donned the Crow’s heavy eye and cheek makeup. He adds to this ensemble a katana and an inability to die. As he closes in on his target, mowing down tuxedoed bad guys as arias soar, the group movements on stage are echoed by the furious fighting backstage. A few severed heads might be considered over the top at curtain call, but subtlety isn’t being applauded here.

If the original was plot-light but visually delicious, the new one has a better story but suffers from ideas in the films built on its predecessor, stealing a little from “The Matrix,” “Joker” and “Kill Bill.” Why not create something entirely new?

“The Crow” isn’t bad — and it gets better as it goes — but it’s an exercise in folly. It cannot escape Lee and the 1994 original even as it builds a more allegorical scaffolding for the smartphone generation. To use that very first metaphor, it’s like the trapped white horse — held down by its own painful past, never free to gallop on its own.

“The Crow,” a Lionsgate release that hits theaters Friday, is rated R for “strong bloody violence, gore, language, sexuality/nudity and drug use.” Running time: 111 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four.

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