Neruda Review - Unconventional Chilean Biopic

Pablo Neruda was a Chilean politician/poet/communist/fugitive who went underground after the Second World War. This sounds like material for some nice Oscar bait, but here Pablo Larrain decides to say "sod it" and make an unusual caper that plays like a serious Grand Budapest Hotel which toys with ideas about narrative theory. The result: something potentially alienating but definitely interesting.

Luis Gnecco plays the titular flawed poet, pursued by police inspector Gael Garcia Bernal. The line between fact and reality is more blurred than a partially sighted person's eyes filled with sand. Gnecco delivers some delightful witticisms ("I like reading police novels. It takes my mind off the police pursuing me.") and Bernal's reflective performance and immaculate movements retain attention. However, the way of editing conversations between different rooms smacks of the weird way Rory Kinnear follows Daniel Craig around in Skyfall, saying a single line for each exercise Craig does in each room.

The ideas about supporting characters and protagonists have confusing implications, but Larrain examines Neruda's communist alliances, relationship with his wife and desire to have a "fabulous" chase to spite the government with gusto.

FOUR STARS. I think.