7 Prisoners

I expected a bit more. As a pessimistic dive into the lives of workers in Brazil, it works somewhat well; it’s quite depressing to watch, but the creators seemed to forget about any real build-up. It didn’t really engage me as a viewer, which I consider a major flaw of the film. Rodrigo Santoro is definitely the standout of the cast, showcasing undeniable talent. On the other hand, the actor playing Mateus didn’t really convince me. The ending, with the main character’s transformation, was somewhat acceptable. It just barely made it to three stars, but Brazilians definitely make better films (like the excellent Elite Squad, which I fondly remember). 5.5/10 (11/14/2021)