TETRO written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, with Vincent Gallo, Alden Ehrenreich, Maribel Verdú, Klaus Maria Brandauer and Carmen Maura. Some subtitles. A Mongrel Media release. 127 minutes. Opens Friday (August 14). For times, venues and trailers, see Movies. Rating: NNN
Tetro explores the damaged structure of an artistic family in microcosm through the reunion of two members of the shattered Tetrocini clan: wild-eyed, emotionally scarred Tetro (Vincent Gallo), hiding out as a lighting manager in a Buenos Aires cabaret, and younger, idealistic Bennie (Alden Ehrenreich), who’s tracked him down after more than a decade of estrangement.[rssbreak]
It’s an old story – one character even refers to it as “ancient” – and Coppola stuffs it with as much melodrama as he can, cramming the already busy narrative with distractions like an adorable puppy, a theatrical reworking of Faust, a few shots at celebrity culture and more.
A third-act betrayal launches the narrative in a new and somewhat convoluted direction, abandoning the intimacy of the film’s first hour, when Tetro, Bennie and Tetro’s infinitely patient lover (Maribel Verdú) just sit around and talk wistfully about family.
It’s still Coppola’s best movie since Tucker – though given the last couple of decades, that’s a pretty low bar to clear.
