THE MAN OF THE YEAR/O HOMEN DO ANO Rating: (out of 5 stars) Director: Jose Henrique Fonseca Producers: Jose Henrique Fonseca, Leonardo Monteiro de Barros, Flávio R. Tambellini Writer: Rubem Fonseca; based on the novel by Patrícia Melo Director of Photography: Breno Silveira Cast: Muril Benicio, Claudia Abreu, Natalia Lage, Jorge Doria, Jose Wilker Visit the IMDB page for full cast and crew

(Read more 2003 AFI Film Festival reviews)

Review by: Warren Curry
11/29/03

I'll say two things for The Man of the Year, a new Brazilian film from director Jose Henrique Fonseca: It has a pulsating, extremely cool opening credits sequence (which belongs in a better movie) and it sports, hands down, the best performance ever by a pig. I'm sure the latter half of the previous sentence makes it sound as if I'm being facetious, but I can't overemphasize how remarkable "Bill" the pig is in this film. Every squeak and snort is so sincere and delivered with such precision -- and to think this is his screen debut.

The Man of the Year is a story about an ordinary man named Maiquel (Muril Benicio), who unwittingly turns into a revered assassin after he kills the town bully, Suel (Wagner Moura). Initially fearing punishment, Maiquel is showered with adulation and gifts from his community for eliminating the hated Suel. One of these gifts happens to be a piglet, but Maiquel can't bring himself to make the animal into a meal, so he turns it into a pet -- and a much-loved one at that.

Maiquel's love life also becomes complicated when Suel's now ex-girlfriend, Cledir (Claudia Abreu), forces her way into the man's apartment, all of her possessions in hand, and announces that he must take care of her because no one else will. Word of the new roommate doesn't sit well with Maiquel's girlfriend, Erica (Natalia Lage), but the man can't get too consumed with this situation, as he must attend to professional matters when a mysterious dentist, Dr. Carvalho (Jorge Doria), hires him to rub out some other unsavory types in the area.

Director Jose Henrique Fonseca embellishes the film with style, and initially the movie appears that it will play out as a very entertaining romp. But The Man of the Year's momentum decelerates about halfway through. Maiquel fails to remain an interesting focal point and the plot twists -- mainly revolving around Maiquel's increasing involvement in Dr. Carvalho's web of criminal activity -- are simply bland. Fonseca tries to darken the tone, but the effort is made too late, causing the film to feel schizophrenic.

The Man of the Year, given the components that make up the film, would've have come across better had it gone in a lighter direction ala Pulp Fiction. The movie's a completely fun ride for its first half hour, but Fonseca doesn't capitalize on his strengths. He could've made a solid, highly derivative, hipster crime flick (think Guy Ritchie), but instead the film is burdened by the weight of the director's need to venture into "serious" terrain.

From the most promising of beginnings, The Man of the Year sadly turns lifeless and boring -- a fate that so easily could've been avoided. However, I still can't say enough about that pig…

(Screened at the 2003 AFI Film Festival.)

Comment on the message boards.