Carlos

Olivier Assayas – 2011 – France

This three-part, six-hour film was also released in an abridged single-film format (unseen by me), and although it admittedly takes detours from the known historical record, it is the most comprehensive and honest depiction of the infamous terrorist’s career to date.  Dubbed ‘Carlos the Jackal’ for no valid reason by a sensationalist press, since the 70s Carlos has attained almost mythic status, frequently credited with terrorist acts that he had nothing to do with, (such as the Munich Olympics and the plane high-jacking that ended in Uganda).  Comprising the whole middle act of the film, Carlos’ taking hostage of OPEC members was his only real success, and even that was only marginally so.  In the title role, Edgar Ramirez portrays Carlos as steely, vain, passionate, and unconcerned about his tastes seeming contradictory to his philosophy.  For example, though a devout Marxist, he made no effort to hide his enjoyment of the finer things in life, things not available to the oppressed he claimed to be fighting to liberate.  Personally, I felt the film might’ve been stronger at 4-5 hours rather than six, as – (like so many biographical films) – the protracted “later years” strain a bit due to lack of dramatic progress and the necessity of aging the actors.  This is a minor quibble, though, as the entire film is compelling.  It’s only real weakness is director Assayas’ insistence of backing it with pop/rock songs that match neither the mood nor the milieu of what’s happening on screen.