Crimen Ferpecto, released in the United States as The Ferpect Crime, is a 2004 Spanish black comedy film co-written, produced and directed by Álex de la Iglesia.
kasserine31 October 2005
This Spanish film, Crimen Ferpecto, doesn't sound so appealing based on its fairly typical plot. Rafael, a women's department manager at a Spanish clothing store, is a womanizer concerned only with his own personal advancement and achieving what he believes to be a perfect life, is thwarted by Lourdes, a sales clerk in the same store, and a rather unattractive woman, blackmails Rafael into a relationship, after discovering a secret Rafael cannot have revealed.
However, I was pleasantly surprised at how often I laughed out loud. Crimen Ferpecto moves at a fairly quick pace with lots of entertaining situations. First off, both Guillermo Toledo, as Rafael, and Monica Cervera, as Lourdes are convincing in their portrayals. What makes their performances enjoyable is their mutual ability to create interesting dynamics within their characters. Rafael, is, essentially a boorish lout, yet Toledo manages to make him sympathetic at times especially as his entanglement with Lourdes get more and more complicated. By the same token, Lourdes, the 'ugly' sales clerk, proves, as a twist on the character type, to be just as ugly on the inside. They are constantly sparring, as Lourdes tries to rope Rafael into marriage, and he tries to remove her from his life. While amusing, the sparring, as the film reaches its climax, does get a little wearing. The first half of Crimen Ferpecto working better then the latter half. Also, a standout is Luis Varela as Don Antonio, Rafael's rival in becoming store manager. Without giving too much away of the plot, his character gets a surreal treatment and haunts Rafael as he attempts to deal with Lourdes. I thought some of the interplay between Rafael and Don Antonio were among the best in the film. Crimen Ferpecto is light entertainment at it's best. It offers some genuinely funny moments that are well conceived and executed. Guillermo Toledo and Monica Cervera also give stand out performances in their roles as Rafael and Lourdes with Luis Varela, as Don Antonio, backing them up admirably.
24 out of 25 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. A wickedly funny and original black comedy/thriller
Permalink
mcnally11 September 2004
I saw this film at the 2004 Toronto International Film Festival. I knew I was going to enjoy this film from the moment a large rumpled man in a Misfits t-shirt lumbered onto the stage to introduce himself. 'Hola, amigos. The person who is supposed to introduce me is not here. I am here but she is not here. She is in the bathroom.' Director Álex de la Iglesia had us laughing even before the first frame of his film. While admitting that Ferpect Crime was just about the worst title for a film ever, he told us that this film was about a man who was so obsessed with living a perfect life that it was bound to cause problems. It's no surprise to learn that the director has a degree in philosophy.
Rafael works as a salesman in the ladies' wear section of an upscale department store. He's very popular at work, especially with the ladies, and he's very very good at his job. So good, in fact, that he considers himself a lock for the position of floor manager. But after losing the promotion to his hated rival Don Antonio, things take a turn for the worse and pretty soon Rafael has a dead body on his hands. His only help comes from the one woman he hasn't already bedded, the unattractive Lourdes. Before long, Lourdes has Rafael wrapped around her finger and his life is far from the model of perfection he has always pursued. As the plot thickens, the comedy becomes much darker and the film almost turns into a thriller. There is also a strong element of satire, making this much more substantial than the laughs would indicate. The conclusion ('lesson' seems too strong a word here) is that it's only after we give up our unrealistic expectations of living a perfect life that we can really begin to live at all. But if that's too heavy for you, then go just to see the scene where Rafael goes to meet Lourdes' parents. This film makes me want to see every other film by this warm and wickedly funny director. (9/10)
42 out of 47 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. How can anyone in the universe not LOVE this film?
Permalink
rooprect22 January 2007
It's hilarious. It's poignant. It's artistic. It's even philosophical at times. I can't imagine anyone not liking this film. 'Crimen ferpecto' is a great surrealistic comedy along the lines of 'Being John Malkovich', 'One Night at McCools' or even the masterpiece 'Brazil'.
The plot begins bizarre, and from there it gets ever bizarrer. Set in a department store (the perfect metaphor for the human condition!), this film brilliantly weaves the themes of glamorous/plastic life versus the mundane/real. Trapped between worlds and desperately trying to achieve the former is our hero Rafael, a man whose entire life exists within the ladies' clothing department. Somehow he gets wrapped up in murder, blackmail and ectoplasmic visitations from lovable corpses. Yeah, I told you it gets bizarre. But despite the zany plot, there's a very poignant & sober message that runs just below the surface. It's subtle, but it comes to fruition during the magnificent climax when we realize exactly what this whole wacky movie is about. If you've paid attention to symbolism, metaphor, allegory and all that intellectual jazz, you'll get it, and you'll see how everything fits into place. If not, fine, you'll enjoy the picture anyway because it's just plain funny. The beauty is that you can take it at your own pace. Great film. Damn near perfect. Er.. ferpect.
19 out of 20 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Outstanding black comedy
Permalink
newland801 November 2004
After his latest experiment with new genres (no less than a western) with '800 balas', Álex de la Iglesia goes back to his habitual black comedies and proves he is still in top form. 'Crimen ferpecto' is probably his most accomplished film so far, and surely the funniest.
Looking back at his oeuvre, there are very good films ('La comunidad' is still his best) but also average ones ('Muertos de risa' had its edge, but was pointless). 'Crimen ferpecto' is the deserving follow-up to 'La Comunidad', after the failure of '800 balas', and keeps showing the evolution of the director/writer towards creative maturity. Guillermo Toledo plays Rafael, de la Iglesia's best leading male character so far. He is at his best playing this womanizer in trouble, elegant, seductive and utterly charming. He is accompanied by Mónica Cervera, who will certainly break through in this film after his impressive turn as a retarded young woman in 'Piedras'. She plays the wicked witch of the men's department, ugly, manipulative, evil but yet a character one can sympathize with. The high point of this comedy is certainly the part in which the couple visits the girl's family (Gracia Olayo is brilliant in a bit part as Lourdes' mother), the audience could hardly stop laughing. The rest of the footage combines lighter comedy, dark comedy, thriller and even a little share of action. It's a shame, however, that I could not be pleased by the ending. It's difficult to find a satisfying ending when one has sympathized with both Rafael and Lourdes, who both have played the roles of 'good' and 'bad' in turns. Eventually both of them get what they deserve, but is life really like that? I expected an edgier ending, but still appreciated 'Crimen ferpecto' as one of the best comedies of the year. Overall rating: 8/10
28 out of 31 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Striving for the 'Perfect Life'
Permalink
pdx35253 October 2005
Rafael Gonzalez (Guillermo Toledo), is a salesman in the ladies section of a fashionable department store in Madrid who has it all: good looks, a sharp wardrobe, and a confident, brash manner that allows him to get his way with women and in the workplace.
Rafael has clear goals, too, the most important of which is to lead a 'perfect life,' and little patience for anybody who settles for less. Such a proud man, of course, is perfectly set up to take a fall and Rafael plunges very far indeed in this hilarious black comedy by Spanish director Alexis de la Iglesia. Rafael's slide begins when a hated rival, Don Antonio (Luis Varlea), wins a coveted promotion. An argument follows and Don Antonio ends up dead. Rafael's role in the accident goes undetected by the police only because Lourdes (Monica Cevera), an unattractive coworker he has long ignored, helps dispose of the corpse. Lourdes assistance comes with a price. She has long carried a torch for Rafael and uses the threat of police exposure to get her own 'perfect life.' She insists Rafael become her lover, meet her parents, and marry her. In short, Rafael is about to be trapped in the kind of dull, mediocre existence he has always mocked. Watching Rafael try to escape from the world Lourdes plans for him raising children in a badly decorated suburban apartment filled with clown paintings and spending evenings collecting ugly miniatures -- provides lots of laughter and entertainment and plenty of insights into contemporary Spain. In the end, each character gets what they want but as usually happens in life itself there is a clear winner and loser. Highly recommended. 9/10
11 out of 12 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Fast, funny, well interpreted
Permalink
massimobrambilla15 April 2005
Now, this movie is not going to mark the history of dark comedy cinema, but believe me it's waaay better than a whole lot of stuff that has been strewn around by USA, French and Italian makers lately. The pacing is fast, well kept though with a few ludicrously foreseeable passages; the cast is really good in painting the characters, almost all of them well performed and denoted, in landscaping the interpersonal relations and the working environment, in adding the zest of surreality which makes the good of the movie but -at the same time- avoiding the downfall into clownesque. Indeed, there is a clear directorial decision to remove this movie from the 'credibility' section, to the surreal/grand-guignol/grotesque side, but the operation is successful, if you do not mind..and if you know where the 'FerPecto' inversion comes from, then you'll enjoy it. The very end is indeed below the expectations that the plot built, but you won't guess it in advance.
20 out of 25 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Austin Movie Show liked this quirky treasure
Permalink
leilapostgrad25 September 2005
El Crimen Ferpecto is absurdly funny from beginning to end. Rafael Gonzalez (played by a man who looks like the Spanish Dennis Miller) is a fearless lady's man from the moment he pops on screen and reveals his philosophy on life he goes for what he wants, and he only wants the best. That's why he doesn't mind working at an upscale department store. He's constantly surrounded by perfect things and beautiful co-workers. His perfect world comes crashing down, however, when Rafael and his boss get into a brutal fight that leaves a clothes hanger in Rafael's throat and a coat hook in the back of his boss's neck. His ugly, sex-starved, co-worker Lourdes helps him dispose of the body and cover-up the murder, and then blackmails him for all the sex, love, and affection he can give. Just when you think Rafael's life can't get any worse, it does, and every new punishment Lourdes inflicts on him is better than the one before. Pure entertainment.
9 out of 10 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Ferpect crime
Permalink
jotix10029 September 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Alex de la Iglesia is one of the most daring Spanish directors working today. Right from the start we must confess we don't particularly care for his style in his previous films. With the exception of 'La Ciudadela' and this savagely funny comedy, 'Ferpect Crime', the others don't measure up to the quality of these two. The director must be forgiven for the excesses of the past. In a way, this film shows a lot of control, something his previous work didn't have.
The result is one of the funniest movies that came from Spain recently. We didn't get a chance to see it in its commercial run, since it didn't last too long in local theaters. The story is a modern fable about what lengths human beings go in order to succeed. Never mind that in order to attain one's goal involves murdering your enemy. Rafael, a personable salesman at Yeyo's department store, has a rivalry going with Don Antonio, who is also assigned to the same floor. Both men hope their sales will make their superiors value the best and make him floor manager. When Antonio wins, because he discovers an irregularity on Rafael's sales receipts, the losing candidate vows to avenge being humiliated by the other man. Rafa, who is a ladies' man, doesn't have a clue about to what extent will Leonor go to claim him for herself. Leonor is a rather homely woman who is the epitome of efficiency. She has witnessed Rafa's sexual involvement with some of the other sales women and she happens to be at the right place, at the right time when Don Antonio suffers a fatal stroke. Leonor will stop at nothing, and Rafael must pull away from this woman who wants to own him at all costs. When he does, little does he know what a genius Leonor turns out to be on her own. The best thing in the film are Guillermo Toledo and Monica Cervera. As Rafael and Leonor, these actors make a wonderful team under the director's guidance. Ms. Cervera reminds us of another actress with a peculiar look in the Spanish cinema, Rosy DePalma, another excellent comedienne. Mr. Toledo and Ms. Cervera are worth the price of the DVD as they are fantastic in the film. Alex de la Iglesia should stay in this course when directing other film.
8 out of 9 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Hollywood, try to learn!
Permalink
Turbominchia20 April 2005
And obviously try not to copy.. What about this movie? I loved it! De La Iglesia hit perfectly the target using very well Spanish actors playing style. Spanish language, if well managed, allows movie to get a fast sequence of dialogs and scenes, that fits well black comedy style. I usually like all Spanish movies, that always bring all enthusiastic feelings of the recent country welfare. Spanish society deeply enjoy democratic and rich lifestyle, and Spanish movies communicate its happiness to the world. Raphael character reflects 'Spanish dream', i.e. reaching success (such as 'american dream') and also deeply enjoy life! Lourdes is a 'clichè' of modern Spanish movies: the ugly, determined and sexual woman, who desires to be loved and struggle to obtain it. This movie is another strong lesson to the worldwide filmmakers: you don't need enormous budget to have a great movie: simply pick a good screenplay, good actors and manage all in the right way. Then you have to add some spices: foolish characters (Lourdes family) and grotesque elements (inspector squinting, the accident in Luna Park). Then put all together in the good environment (the shop: a little world that represent all characters life) and you have a magic movie!
20 out of 27 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Fast and funny.
Permalink
Zuluu30 March 2006
I Just can't get enough of this. I watched this movie alone the first time, then I showed it to my flat mates. Now I'm looking forward to the next time friends visit me so I can watch this movie again with them.
The thing I liked most about this movie was the extremely smooth way of telling the story. As the movie started, I almost immediately got sucked into the story by the hypnotic, yet very funny way of displaying the plot. Not only the script or the acting, but also camera, light, sound and editing - all aspects of the movie presentation where thoughtfully placed and dozed to make up the right mix for a really well made movie. The way of telling the story is almost a story for itself. The sequence of the scenes performs twists of its own, the way they are filmed and edited adds a whole new level, a sub plot so to speak. The scene presentation, the 'image', plays an important role and I'd say it's the most grave factor that makes this movie unique. The pace of the movie (regarding the story telling style, not the plot itself) slows down towards the end to leaves space for more roughness and suspense. I really hope to see much more of Alex del la Iglesia in the future because what I got to see yet is always getting even better. 8 out of 10.
11 out of 14 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Roaring and twisted film by the king of black comedy , Alex De La Iglesia
Permalink
ma-cortes29 December 2011
Outrageous movie with odd characters , surreal imagery and twisted plot . Rafael is the best salesman in the biggest mall of Madrid called Yeyo's , a Corte Ingles-alike . He is an attractive man; all his colleagues fell in love for him . He attempts to live high-standard existence . He is definitively mean and aspires to be the new head of sales at his department store . As the ambitious playboy named Rafael ( Guillermo Toledo) and his contender (Luis Varela) are two salesmen who reach the heights of success with their jobs , but a chief-vacancy turning them into deadly enemies . However , the hate between them grows as fast, and as much, as their strong facing off and there takes place a murder . Lourdes (Monica Cordero) , the ugliest woman in the floor , unexpectedly helps Rafael to hide the corpse , but her help isn't for free . It all ends with a breathtaking and operatic duel in a downward spiral of madness . Alex De la Iglesia is an excellent Spanish director . He had much success as 'Accion Mutante' , ' El Dia De la Bestia' , 'Perlita Durango' and ¨La Comunidad¨ , among others . De la Iglesia is back with a tragical comedy about an ambitious man pursued and blackmailed by a bad woman . Here deals with a homage to dark humor and a typical Spanish story in which there are comedy, tongue-in-cheek , humor, killings, action, drama and is pretty entertaining . It's an exaggerated drama/comedy giving the perfect tone through the entire film , you can either follow it or just wander about the ridiculousness of every single minute . Some may regard this kind of dramatic comedy dull or dumb , but the truth is its the most simple , minimalistic, rawest, and pretentious comedy you will ever watch .
This is a full-on surreal psychotronic black-comedy that blends thrills , suspense , tension as well as an intriguing script full of dark humor , drama and exciting situations . Packed with scenes of absurd nature, this story is a fantastic farce, as we follow the ridiculous careers of a pair of salesmen whose destination is dictated by a superior promotion, rather than by their own decisions , it is inter-weaved by the appearance a third character , a rogue and selfish girl . The narration is so filled with colorful characters , nutty comedy, crazy violence mixed with comedy or with surreal elements and an underlying sense of tragicomedy, and it is so excessive and plenty of surprises, one can't help but keep watching, much as it is over the top in many an occasion. The film works on various levels and is constantly reconfigured , however contains some embarrassing , contriving moments and also certain excess . Alex De La Iglesia has created a picture here that in all honesty is very difficult to categorise in terms of genre , as there's a little bit of action , quite a lot of comedy, a good deal of suspense and a host of extreme gruesomeness ; but it does not fit into any one genre very well at all, in truth this is one of the things that makes it good . Acting personnel all do excellent work in bizarre roles. But special notice needs to be made for Monica Cordero for also being quite ridiculously role throughout . Strong performance from three protagonists Guillermo Toledo , Monica Cordero and Luis Varela and excellent plethora of secondaries as Fernando Tejero , Javier Gutierrez , Rosario Pardo, Enrique Villen and a gorgeous Kika Miro . Interesting screenplay Alex De La Iglesia and Javier Guerricaechevarria who usually work united . Atmospheric and glimmer cinematography by Jose L Moreno with a good camera work . Suspenseful musical score by Roque Baños , the soundtrack flows great with the film in every way, and creates fantastic atmospheres in every moment. The motion picture is well directed by De La Iglesia . He's a cool director has got much success as ¨Accion Mutante¨ ,¨Dying of laughter¨ or ¨Muertos De Risa¨ , ¨Baby's room¨ , ¨Oxford murders¨ and ¨Balada Triste De Una Trompeta¨ and winner of several Goyas (Spanish Oscars), however his movies have not yet reached box office in USA, but he has strong followers . Nonsense, ridicule , laughters , absurdity , disturbing scenes . and many other issues ; you can find everything in this flick . The movie is a lot of fun, especially for those who enjoy surrealist humor . This is without a doubt a thrilling and enjoyable movie to be enjoyed for dark humor buffs and Alex De Iglesia fans.
4 out of 4 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. very very good comedy -- not as black as other comments imply
Permalink
todd100730 March 2007
Warning: Spoilers
I caught this movie purely by chance on cable. Without casting too many aspersions on other user comments, there is a slightly different dynamic that makes this movie so enjoyable. While others have purported that Rafa is seeking a perfect life, the much more accurate description of his character is one that is seeking overindulgence in the material (and carnal) luxuries that can be found within the store he works in, Yeyo's. Without Yeyo's, Rafa is nothing, and Rafa knows this. Rafa appreciates, understands, and desires all excesses that can be obtained as a floor salesman, and ultimately, the store manager. So, when his archnemisis, Don Antonio, is promoted ahead of him, on the fickle whims of the store's accountants, Rafa is ruined, as Don Antonio makes priority one to fire Rafa. As fortune frowns on Rafa, he is forced to become compatriot and lover to the store's most miserable employee, Lourdes. Lourdes personifies all that Rafa abhors. But, Lourdes nonetheless makes Rafa hopelessly entangled to her. The true comedy of this movie is how Rafa must continually splinter and sacrifice his love of the grandiose to constantly appease his tormentor, Lourdes. I thought that Monica Cervera was particularly exceptional in her portrayal of Lourdes. Cervera excellently balances the neurosis of Lourdes with her strangulating hold over Rafa. Her embodiment of this precarious character is very believable. Not an easy task. Of course, Rafa's two most humiliating scenes are meeting Lourdes' family, and the wedding scene in Yeyo's. They are both priceless. I found the ending much more entertaining the most. Rafa is able to escape his personal hell, and rebuild a portion of the missing luxury in his life, only to have Lourdes give him one last punishing blow. The mud shower on the street was unnecessary and cliché though. If you catch this movie, give it enough latitude to draw you in.
4 out of 4 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Another corker from Alex De La Iglesia
Permalink
simon_booth5 November 2005
Mining fairly similar territory to LA COMMUNIDAD (secrets, rivalries and suspicions in a closed community escalating to absurdity), CRIMEN FERPECTO is a black comedy that's fairly lightweight and accessible, but still clever and very funny. As with LA COMMUNIDAD, the view of 'ordinary people' he presents is rather misanthropic - but affectionately so (if that makes sense). Iglesia has definitely matured and mellowed out since the days of ACCION MUTANTE and PERDITA DURANGO, but his wicked sense of humour remains intact and his films provide more rounded entertainment for not trying so hard to be 'out there'. CRIMEN PERFECTO rates a little lower than LA COMMUNIDAD, possibly for the sole reason that Carmen Maura is not the star, but it's still well recommended.
6 out of 9 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. One of the Funniest Movies of the Year
Permalink
noralee14 October 2005
'Crimen ferpecto' is one of the funniest movies of the year.
Director/co-writer Álex de la Iglesia carries on the wickedly black comedy tradition of Blake Edwards, Billy Wilder and Danny DeVito. While it is full of social satire -- of consumerism and department stores; of male/female stereotypes, including chauvinist Latin lovers; reality TV -- it is poking fun not polemics. There's much talk about the return of the 'R' rated raunchy comedy with 'Wedding Crashers' and 'The 40 Year Old Virgin,' and with plenty of half-naked women and frequent use of the 'F' word this would be a hard 'R' if it hadn't gone out unrated in the U.S., but it has little of the sentimentality or atonement that weakens those funny films and I would hate to see that tacked on for a Hollywood re-make. This one is a cheerfully cheeky reprobate from beginning to end, though just about each character gets some kind of comeuppance and revenge in surprising ways. It intentionally spoofs several genres, even having the lead character watch old movies to get noir ideas that he hilariously enacts, as represented by the spoonerism of the title. References to other movies come and go, from 'Saturday Night Fever' to Hitchcock's 'The Trouble with Harry,' but are irascibly exaggerated for broad humor. While satirizing films with ponderous narration, the voice-overs are very funny as the wonderful Guillermo Toledo, who segues from suave to frenetic, suddenly looks to the camera and asks 'Oh no, can you hear me?' Mónica Cervera matches him as his nemesis in surprisingly spirited ways. The sight gags and pratfalls abound but that just helps to keep the frantic pace up so you don't stop laughing from one crazy situation to the next. Some of the situations do get just too silly, such as a ridiculously bizarre family. The scenes in an amusement park go for the usual laughs in that setting. But the direction emphasizes the humor with zooming close-ups and dizzying movement so it stays laugh out loud hilarious, from belly laughs to chuckles, even when the sight gags have been seen many times before. The colorful production design heightens the unreality of the department store and shopping mall where most of the film takes place. The competition between the men's and women's clothing sections is as much represented visually as through the characters' interplay.
5 out of 8 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Hilarious and insightful
Permalink
rgoodden9 September 2007
A very funny Spanish film, and I share the opinion of a previous reviewer: why didn't this movie receive more play in the USA? Could it be that some of us are so afflicted with political correctness that we can no longer recognize the richness of more traditional gender-related humor? This film creates hilarity in so many directions that it's hard to categorize it as mere comedy (the director has something to say about the mores of society, too.) Let's hope Hollywood doesn't bowdlerize any remake into something pallid, p.c.-- and forgettable.
Fine acting, an entertaining script with cleverly-translated subtitles, consistent laughs, and a satisfying ending make this movie a worthy pick!
3 out of 5 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. The tragedy of an Elegant man
Permalink
hhbooker2-113 September 2006
Warning: Spoilers
This film is about the tragedy of an elegant man, Rafael, played by Guillermo Toledo. The most seductive and ambitious salesperson of a large department store who loves beautiful women, elegant clothes, and select environments. He considers himself blessed. He is convinced that one day his triumph shall be absolute. Rafael possesses a very distinct talent, he was born to sell. It is in his blood. That is why he works in a big department store. He has turned the ladies' section into his domain. The perfume girls are crazy for him.Rafael also has a definite goal in life. He aspires to become the new floor manager. His main rival for the position is Don Antonio Fraguas (Luis Varela), the veteran responsible for the gentlemen's section. Due to fatalities of fate, Don Antonio accidentally dies after a heated argument with Rafael. The sole witness of the crime is Lourdes (Monica Cervera), a very ugly, insignificant, and obsessive co-worker. Aware of the unusual situation, Lourdes begins to blackmail Rafael. She first obliges him to become her lover, then, her slave, and finally, her husband. Rafeal becomes exasperated to see his highly refined milieu degenerate to a vulgar-hell. In the verge of madness, he plots to end with Lourdes once and for all. This time Rafael, cannot commit a mistake. The motion picture is in the Spanish language with English sub-titles which are brief and very easy to read, even if they were not present, the acting speaks for itself in a universal language that crosses all boundaries. Respectfully yours, Sarge Booker of Tujunga, California
3 out of 5 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Narcissus and the Bride of Frankenstein
Permalink
nycritic14 March 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Rafael (Guillermo Toledo) is a Casanova and makes no apologies for it. Having worked in retail for a department store similar to Macy's (YeYo's) he is the Lord of the women's section, a male stud who without being dashing manages to sweep the girls who work there -- and clients -- right off their feet and into sublime desire. We're introduced to him via a staging of a botched sale. Two men enter an all-white stage and playact what would be an angry, difficult client wanting to get something and the salesman who doesn't have the skills to handle him. Then it reverts to the man who is head of an unknown company, and his telling of how no wonder their sales are kaput: they've got a total lack of the ability to convince that the product is worth buying.
Enter Rafael. The opening sequence describes all we need to know of who he is. He is a male chauvinist pig who lives in a messy bachelor pad. He struts with the cockiness of a man who owns it all, who's on top of the world. He steals the morning paper from the newsstand and kisses from the passing girl. He aspires to live the high life drenched in luxuries and babes left and right. He works as a salesman at the women's department and has his pick of the lot of the salesgirls, all babes, and the occasional female client whom he seduces into purchasing items from the store. As a matter of fact, to his admission (in a hilarious sex scene) born there: it's his home, who he is. But he has one enemy. One man who can't stand him and marinates in envy at Rafael's apparent success. Don Antonio Fraguas (Luis Varela) is one of those salesmen who have worked all their lives as such and are next in line, via seniority, to achieve the upper realms of management. He's not a nice person by any standards. If there were any other word to describe him, it would be a stuffed old curmudgeon. Both Rafael and Don Antonio, on the death of their supervisor, are competing to be the next floor manager. On the morning where the overall sales of both men will determine who rules the floor, the doors are opened and a flood of people storm the store as if the world were about to go to hell. Rafael seduces a woman -- a difficult buyer -- into getting a lovely mink coat as if he were making love to her. When numbers tally up, Rafael comes up the winner. Or so it seems. A reversal of events take place due to a bad check from Rafael's female client and Don Antonio becomes the floor manager and immediately unleashes his hatred upon Rafael. Things reach a head, Rafael gets fired, they have a fistfight inside one of the fitting rooms.. and Don Antonio winds up very dead. And then disappears. And someone knows. And it's the last person anyone would have suspected: the ugly girl whom Rafael has ignored. Lourdes (Monica Cervera). And to top it off.. she has an agenda of her own. EL CRIMEN FERPECTO is a clever comedy in the style of early Almodovar, without the sexual reversals. Where Rafael drives the first half of the story, it's Lourdes who makes a powerful transition from invisible frump to monster who holds the cards that can make or break Rafael. Alex de la Iglesia could have made a much different story in which the meat of the plot would have resolved itself in the course of a couple of nights. However in bringing forth Lourdes as a psycho in her own right -- think Alex Forrest, but likable -- who functions as the one who brings Rafael down to Earth while coming into her own, he turns EL CRIMEN FERPECTO into a tale of crazy feminism that sides with those who are ignored by today's beauty obsessed society. A movie that starts and ends in a virtual bang if it's a little too long here and there, this is a growling battle of the sexes with a delicious turning of tables.
3 out of 5 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Light, somewhat underwhelming movie
Permalink
bodomo24 September 2005
De la Iglesia has come up with a pastiche of good ideas from pre-existing, classic movies, and stuck them together into 'El crimen ferpecto'. The gaudy sets and primary colors are a dead ringer for Almodovar movies, the cops with their mannerisms are pure Hitchcock, and the ending is a straight rip-off from Fellini's '8 1/2'---the only missing thing there is Nino Rota's score, although they substituted that by something equivalent.
The result is a movie that you will have a good time watching, but about which you'll forget all 2 days later. On the positive side, it's a funny dark comedy. On the negative side, it loses *a lot* of steam in the second half, and the numerous imitations of other directors yield a disjointed end result---like expecting to get a working animal if you grab one part (even the best part) from many others and then put them together haphazardly.
6 out of 14 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Absurdist black comedy at its blackest and funnest -- This one will kill you!
Permalink
El Crimen Ferpecto was viewed at the 2006 Valladolid film Festival in Spain. Director: Alex de la Iglesia. Stars Guillermo Toledo and Monica Cervera. A sidesplitter about a skirt chaser who works as a salesman in the women's wear section of an upscale department store and is bucking for the job of floor manager. Rafael is not only the best salesman in the biggest department store in Madrid but an irresistible lady's man whose female colleagues cannot get enough of. His philosophy of life is live it to the hilt and get laid as much as possible. But he is an ambitious go getter as well and aspires to be the new head of sales on his floor. However, to do so he has to beat out Don Antonio a surly veteran top salesman who has much more seniority. The competition between them gets more and more acrid until Rafael accidentally kills Don Antonio in a scuffle inside a changing booth. Lourdes, the ugliest woman in the store, the only witness to the event, volunteers to help Rafael hide the corpse. After much bungling they manage to dispose of the body in the store incinerator. He's now in the clear except for Lourdes who is in love with him and threatens to expose him unless he marries her. No buts and ifs about it!
To save his skin he goes through with a most unwelcome wedding but now he has to figure out a way to get rid of her .. another 'perfect crime'? -- as ghastly visions of Don Antonio with a knife protruding from his green head come back to haunt him regularly -- Because of the bungling all around the director purposely misspells the Perfecto (perfect) of the title so it becomes 'Ferpecto' -- and the Perfect Crime becomes most imperfect.-A super hilarious black comedy from start to finish with plenty of subliminal social commentary embedded in the madness and deliciously sly rib-tickling work by actor Guillermo Toledo. One of the funniest films I have ever seen and Toledo's Rafael is one for the all-time comic record books. In any case a perfect madcap comedy with a side splitter every other minute. All supporting roles uniformly brilliant, notably Monica Cervera as the unwanted blackmailing bride. A black comedic masterpiece. Ten stars and no complaints.
1 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. In this movie 'no one is innocent'
Permalink
mario_c21 December 2009
CRIMEN FERPECTO is a Spanish film by Alex de La Iglesa that mixes the black comedy with the crime-thriller genre.
It's about a man that always got what he wanted, especially about women (someone like a 'Casanova' ) and had no scruples to get it. But one day after he killed his boss accidentally, his life turns around, as a woman that he always despised blackmailed him, and turned his life into a living hell. How? Forcing him to love her and doing everything she wanted to! It has two or three good metaphors about the way people relate nowadays and the decadent values of our society, but it's essentially a comedy so it takes these issues with sarcasm and irony. One great example is LOURDES family: a completely dysfunctional family that seems to be taken from a 70's Italian movie! LOURDES (played by Monica Cervera) is completely bizarre and paranoid herself, making RAFAEL (Guillermo Toledo), the main character, look like a victim that he's definitely not! Mentioning a very famous quote: in this movie 'no one is innocent' So, the film is not 'ferpect', I mean perfect, but it's very good, and funny, in an effective way!
1 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Great Spanish farce about capitalism
Permalink
Andy-2968 December 2007
Warning: Spoilers
I'm not a complete fan of Alex de la Iglesia's movies - he's technically proficient, but the things that tend to interest him (old style cinephilia, terror films of the 70s, pop culture in general) are far from mine. This biting satire of consumerism, though, is probably as perfect (or ferpect) a film as he can make. The movie stars Rafael, who works as the head salesman in the ladies section of a large department store in Madrid (it is subtly touching that Rafael believes his position in society is far more important than it really is). Around him work very beautiful, model-like women, that he never fails to bed. He's the ruler of a very small kingdom. Soon, a job opens for one of the top posts in the department store, and he founds himself fighting for the promotion against the balding Don Antonio, one of the old-fashioned vendors in the men' section. Rafael accidentally kills him, and after wards disposes of the body. But there is one witness, Lourdes, the ugliest worker in the department store (and I mean, really ugly), who is in love with Rafael. She's also something of a psycho, has a really crazy family and she will then proceed to blackmail Rafael into marrying her in order not to blow the whistle about the murder; a nightmare for the consummate ladies man that is Rafael. The last 20 minutes are something of a letdown (De la Iglesia probably didn't knew how to end the story, since a tragic ending would be out of line with the farcical tone of the movie before), but overall this is a surprisingly strong, entertaining movie, that is also hilariously critical of capitalism.
Crimen Ferpecto 2004 English Subtitles Indonesia
1 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. A laugh riot
Permalink
lastliberal19 September 2007
This is one of the funniest movies I have seen in a long time. Writer/Director Álex de la Iglesia took a simple premise and made a film that never lags in the laugh department. Although he has done well with fantasy in the past, comedy is definitely his forte.
Guillermo Toledo (The Galindez File) and Mónica Cervera were hilarious as a lothario who accidentally kills his rival for manager, and the wallflower who knows his secret and helps him cover it up, only to get rid of all the competition and blackmail him into marriage. Iglesia's fantasy past comes into play with the victim haunting Toledo, sometimes headless, but always with a big knife in his skull.
1 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. A simple plan
Permalink
kosmasp18 May 2007
Well some plans aren't that simple. But then again, if they were, you wouldn't have a movie, now would you? So this black comedy revolves around a man who's used to be on top (quite literally sometimes) and they show him in that way. A man who starts up on top, can fall down very hard ..
Of course that is what happens here. And there lies one of it's faults maybe (in my eyes). While it was/is very fast paced in the beginning with many great jokes keep coming at you at an unbelievable pace, it feels like it stops after a certain point. The jokes come very slow after that and you're rooting for this anti-hero. At least I did root for him .. Watch it if you like your jokes to be as black as the night!
1 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. Cute Movie/black comedy/satire
Permalink
eman00729 September 2006
Warning: Spoilers
I stumbled across this by accident and I am surprised that it didn't get wide release. Its a susbstanially funny movie and satire attacking one aspect of the 'average Joe' Raphael (played by Guillermo Toledo) feels he is living the perfect life: working in an upscale department store as a handsome, well-dressed man, who haves sex with all the hot female employees (using the bed sets and the dressing rooms) while most of the other employees respect him. His only problem is a rival salesperson, who gets promoted over him. In a fit of rage, he accidentally kills him and the crime is witnessed by an mousy, unattractive sales clerk Lourdes (Monica Cervera). She vows to keep quiet, if he promises to go out with her. He agrees, but when she realizes she's got him wrapped around her finger, her demands of him increases as she forces him to do the 3 things he hates the most: marriage, settling down, and having children. As he's slowly driven insane by these developments, Raphael decides to get himself out of this rut once and for all.
The film does a great job of skewering salesmen, particularly ones based on commission and the workplace rivalries, politics, backstabbing and etc. Anyone working in or who has been in such positions would sympathize. Home life, marriage and children gets attacked too as one of the funniest moments of the movie comes where he pays Lourdes's family a visit. The best acting in my book comes from Lourdes who's transformation from the shy, meek, clerk, to dominating, conniving woman is great if not hilarious. One wonders if she had this planned all along. But the problem I had with this one was the running length. Its a bit too long for a movie of this type, and as such, the comedy runs dry as it becomes more of a detective/character study flick, which it isn't really good at. While things end somewhat conveniently (albiet contrived), one wonders if they could've ended it much earlier with a neater ending. All and all, a nice and somewhat clever and funny little diversion thats worth the rental/viewing.
1 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote. not bad, but I expected more
Permalink Crimen Ferpecto 2004 English Subtitles Full
dcldan1 August 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Rafael is a very greed man, he has born to sell and he knows he will triumph in live. He is the boss of the women's section in a shops center, but he wants to become the big boss. Whe he losses in the race for it with Don Antonio, he accidentally kills him, so Rafael becomes the director of the shops center. Everything seems to be perfect, but Lourdes, an ugly and obsessive saleswoman has seen it and starts blackmailing Rafael in order to become his wife. Mad and terrified, Rafael decides to do something to make a plan to throw away Lourdes. Everything has to be 'ferpect'. After doing so good films as 'la comunidad' or 'el dia de la bestia' I expected something more from Alex de la Iglesia. THe film is not bad, it has a great rhythm and it is not boring, creating a great and acid parody of the typical society where the only goal is to become rich. The result is not as good as expected, the film is not bad, but it could be better, manly because of the stupidness of the characters, it is clear that we are inside one of the De la Iglesia's grotesques universes, but the story is too absurd, and actors are not reliable. Both of them seem too artificial and not natural, which makes the film much worse. It is funny, but this dark comedy is not as good as I think an Alex de la Iglesia's film should be, I expected something better.
4 out of 10 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
An error has occured. Please try again.
Plot[edit]
Rafael is a women's clothing clerk at a large Madriddepartment store, Yeyo's. His department is filled with beautiful, comely young women whom Rafael routinely seduces. When Rafael vies for a management position with Don Antonio, a men's clothing clerk whom Rafael despises, a fluke causes Don Antonio to win the promotion. He fires Rafael and a fight ensues in which Rafael accidentally kills Don Antonio. Lourdes, an ugly and unassuming clerk at the store, witnesses the outcome of the fight, helps Rafael incinerate the body, and provides an alibi for the police. Rafael wins his coveted promotion, but at a terrible cost: Lourdes blackmails Rafael into an unwanted relationship. He is forced to fire his many former lovers, to marry Lourdes (she proposes on a live reality TV show) and to support clown-like women's clothing of her design. Rafael becomes so depressed he begins to hallucinate, seeing the ghost of Don Antonio who suggests Rafael should kill Lourdes. As the police are also pressing him again, he causes a fire in the department store and fakes his death, in front of his wife and a police officer. Dark souls 3 release date. Five years later, he (with a false identity) has a small business selling ties and socks, but Lourdes' clown-like clothes are a success and she becomes a millionaire.
Kanami finds Rance and asks him to help. Rance 01 save file free.
Cast[edit]
Reception[edit]
Diablo 3 patch 2.6 1 best class. The film received very positive reviews from critics, 85% of critics gave the film a positive review based on 53 reviews and an average score of 7.1/10 according to Rotten Tomatoes.
External links[edit]Crimen Ferpecto 2004 English Subtitles Pdf
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Crimen_Ferpecto&oldid=894297947'
Comments are closed.
|
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |