X
- 2023
- R
- Amazon Prime Video
- 1 h 47 m
- 2023
- R
- Amazon Prime Video
- 1 h 47 m
Summary Saúl Armendáriz, a gay amateur wrestler from El Paso, rises to international stardom after he creates the character Cassandro, the “Liberace of Lucha Libre.” In the process, he upends not just the macho wrestling world, but also his own life.
Directed By: Roger Ross Williams
Written By: David Teague, Roger Ross Williams
- 2023
- R
- Amazon Prime Video
- 1 h 47 m
- 2023
- R
- Amazon Prime Video
- 1 h 47 m
Cassandro
76
7.0
Summary Saúl Armendáriz, a gay amateur wrestler from El Paso, rises to international stardom after he creates the character Cassandro, the “Liberace of Lucha Libre.” In the process, he upends not just the macho wrestling world, but also his own life.
Directed By: Roger Ross Williams
Written By: David Teague, Roger Ross Williams
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally favorable
Based on 33 Critic Reviews
76
88% Positive
29 Reviews
29 Reviews
12% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally favorable
Based on 33 Critic Reviews
76
88% Positive
29 Reviews
29 Reviews
12% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Gael García Bernal is astounding in this film.
[A] triumphant narrative feature debut.
User Score
Generally favorable
Based on 6 User Ratings
7.0
50% Positive
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
50% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
User Score
Generally favorable
Based on 6 User Ratings
7.0
50% Positive
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
50% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
García Bernal luce irreconocible en los zapatos del campeón de la lucha libre que creo una tendencia y, también se convirtió en la voz de una minoría. No está de más verla, haciendo de lado cualquier prejuicio.
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This one is a celebration of Cassandro, and like so many great sports movies before it, it’s an underdog story. But it’s one steeped in the grittiness of reality that avoids leaning too hard into easy sentimentality.
In Williams’ hands, the laughs never come at Saúl’s expense, ridiculous as this arena might seem to audiences. Luchadores are entertainers, first and foremost, and “Cassandro” celebrates that while taking Armendáriz’s achievements seriously.
The story is so sensational that you almost wish Cassandro was instead a feature-length documentary.
All this sporting entertainment turns out to be an unexpectedly mellow affair of the heart, with Bernal completely winning you over.
The focus is on his star quality and the qualities that made him a pioneer: sunniness, grit, passion for his sport, the unconditional love and support of his mother, and his unbreakable confidence to be himself. It’s undeniably heartwarming.
Gael García Bernal is marvelous as the iconic **** lucha libre icon Cassandro. Unfortunately, everything else is rather dull in this biopic. Side characters are not fully fleshed out, and the story doesn't fully explore the **** in Mexican culture. Either way, wrestling scenes are entertaining, and the soundtrack elevates some emotional moments.
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Up until this film, director Roger Ross Williams had only made documentaries and it shows in his lack of imagination to give a more active setting to this chronicle, which could have lent itself to more, but he manages to pull through because the narrative itself is compelling, and Gael García Bernal fully embodies his character, which amplifies the audience's investment.
However, the screenplay falls short in capturing the true struggle Cassandro faced in becoming an exótico luchador. When it comes to that regard this biopic goes the safe and easy route to put it more practically.
Cassandro loses momentum as it approaches its climax, particularly because it doesn't adequately emphasize the significance of Cassandro's match against El Hijo del Santo, considering the legend that mask means in Lucha Libre, but for the most part it flows as well as its elements and execution allow it to.I liked it, I mean it's an extremely simplified film, but it served its purpose.
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