Jamon Jamon (1994)

Salted pork shanks as leitmotiv in a dark comedy about an absurd love triangle: this is what post-Franco cine is all about (food and sex). Spanish tortillas (i.e., potato omelets) are also big in this one. Director José Juan Bigas Luna's Jamón Jamón is intelligent, wry, and--despite the formulaic narrative that melodrama must essentially contain--unpredictable. At times his film exudes a certain Almodóvar flavor, but there is an edge, perhaps a heavy-handedness, to the dark humor that is either Luna's success or his downfall. The film garnered the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival, after all. Try to follow: sexy Penelope Cruz (Belle Epoque) is growing up with her mother outside town on the highway, on the wrong side of the highway. Together they run a truck stop where cars and life literally race past. Cruz is in love with Jordí Molla, by whom she is pregnant. Molla's bourgeois mother, played by Anna Galiena (Being Human), thinks he can and should do better. (Of course, neither Cruz nor his mother knows of the erotic, hmm, avian interludes Molla enjoys on the side.) To save her son from the lower classes, Galiena hires Javier Bardem, a muscular, pretty man (whose regular consumption of the pork he distributes for a living has enhanced his sexual appeal) to pursue Cruz. The dark comedy finds a proper ending to the triangle in a grotesque but comedic landscape of death. This is not a cookie-cutter movie but rather one that will resonate with both your light and dark sides. After each surprise, you'll chuckle, feel guilty, and chuckle again. --Erik Macki Amazon.com

about the movie jamon jamon.....

The story is basically to conclude that all memebers in the family is just good for nothing...:-)

December 9, 2004

Small correction for Jerry McElhaney

I would just like to point out that Jamon Jamon was originally released in Europe in 1991, and that Penélope Cruz was just 17 years old at the time - not 19.

I was surprised to find that this movie made it past the censors and remains available today. Underage nudity is generally permitted in non sexually-explicit situations (ie, family photos at a naturist colony). However, "Jamon Jamon" contains fairly explicit scenes with [...]

If underage teen sexploitation is your thing, then dig in. If not, Penélope Cruz fans should skip this boring flick and buy the funnier, sexier, non-explicit "La Belle Epoque" instead.
November 19, 2004

A Love Triangle like no other...

I had the privilage of seeing "Jamon Jamon" in the theatre several years ago, thank you.

Anyway, "Jamon Jamon" (translation: Ham Ham) takes it's story straight from those overblown dramas of the 1980's like "Dynasty" or "Knot's Landing". The twist is just how far these characters will go to fulfill their "lustful" desires in spite of the consequences. Although every character in the film is dead serious, this is actually a comedy, and not a bad one at that. A sort of "Dallas goes Airplane" without the cheap gags.

To describe the plot without giving away too much is daunting, but here goes; A young man has gotten his girlfriend pregnant. His parents, who run a successful underwear business, dissaprove of their son marrying the daughter of a prostitute. So his mother hires one of the underwear models to seduce the girlfriend, but the mother falls for the underwear model.

With me so far, good. Here's where it gets complicated;

The young man (remember him?) is also having a dallience with the young girl's mother (the prostitute). Meanwhile, the underwear model manages to seduce the young girl, but is still bedding down with the mother (the underwear Mother). The young man has now become insanely jealous which leads to a confrontation with the underwear model. The father of the young man is about the only character with his head on straight, but even he gets involved in this mess.

The performances are first rate and the sex/nude scenes are plentiful. Perhaps the most outlandish is a bullfight with the matadors in the nude (definately something for the ladies...and perhaps a few guys as well).

Those interested in seeing what a young (19 years old at the time) Penelope Cruz looks like nearly naked will not be dissapointed. This film is definately not for the kids.

Overall, "Jamon Jamon" is a very well made comedy whose laughs come from the characters, not from any "jokes". I can certainly recommend it to those looking for a more "sophisticated" sex comedy. The type that American film makers have trouble pulling off...so to speak.

Trivia: The box cover depicts probably the most dramatic sex scene in the film. Problem is, the two people depicted are not the actors in the scene. Perhaps it's a rip on Romance novel book covers?



August 10, 2004

Nude Matadores and Lottsa Ham

This is a fun film! A black "who's sleeping with who?" comedy that draws its viewers into this bizarre, crazed love triangle. Anyone who is a fan of early Almodovar will get something out of this.
The acting is great, especially by Bardem. The script has alot of subtle one-liners, and the sex and nudity is explicit and contributes to the anything goes atmosphere. So if you're looking for a fun dark/tragic comedy with lottsa sex, pick this one up. February 2, 2004

Javier Bardem and Tomas Penco in all their glory.

Sometimes an aspiring actor has to do a little film to pay the rent or fulfill a contract agreement. What this film shows is how excellent Javier Bardem has become as an actor. He has come along way. Still young Bardem was in great shape. The film might hold your interest in a fun way and the cinematography will hold your attention. I don't mean to embarass the two male actors that are 100 percent nude, but since they probably got a good size paycheck, what the hay. You'll see Javier Bardem pretend bullfighting in blue shorts, then later Javier and Tomas Penco (Tomas Martin) model underwear. Later in the film, Javier Bardem and Tomas Penco decide to have some fun at night time nude bullfighting. These scenes are remarkable to watch because it is a real bull they are teasing. Penelope Cruz and Jordi Molla are also in the film. Javier Bardem and Jordi Molla later starred in SECOND SKIN (2000) May 29, 2003

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