Escobar

The story of Pablo Escobar (Javier Bardem) is told through the eyes of glamorous Colombian TV personality Virginia Vallejo (Penélope Cruz), Escobar's lover and the woman who would eventually have to betray the deadly drug lord to escape his control. Despite the rich source material and jaw-dropping cast, nothing about this first-hand account of a crime legend is distinct or fascinating. Cruz's persistent narration obliterates any subtlety, and leads us down a familiar crime drama route of graphic violence and growing dread. Bardem makes for a foreboding presence, while Cruz gets the script's best moments, particularly as the walls close in on her character. However, the film glosses over too much and becomes tedious as the two-hour running time drags by. The many biopics of the Colombian kingpin that came before this 2017 treatment were better crafted and more nuanced than a bland affair that wastes the talents of its stars. Escobar is a case of too little, too late.