Cronicas

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Cronicas

R

Released May 16, 2004

1h 38m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

71%

Tomatometer

72 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Reporter Manolo Bonilla (John Leguizamo) goes to a jail in Ecuador to interview Vinicio Cepeda (Damián Alcázar), a hit-and-run driver whose crime incited a riot. After Cepeda tells him he knows where a murderer called the Monster of Babahoyo buried a young female victim, Bonilla posts bail in the hopes that he'll learn more about the crime. Bonilla finds the girl's body, but, as he nears the scoop of his career, it looks as if Cepeda might be withholding some key details.

Critics Consensus

An unsettling and absorbing cautionary tale with John Leguizamo playing an unscrupulous TV reporter who uses the medium to further his own goals.

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Kirk Honeycutt

The Hollywood Reporter

A riveting exploration of good and evil where the line between the two is unclear.

Nov 1, 2005

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Janice Page

Boston Globe

Nothing in this would-be thriller grabs you by the throat, never mind reaches down to your guts.

Rated: 2/4

Oct 7, 2005

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Ann Hornaday

Washington Post

An ambitious social-commentary melodrama that works about half the time -- until it engages in the very behavior it sets out to condemn.

Sep 8, 2005

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Kiko Martinez

San Antonio Current

Director/screenwriter Sebastin Cordero delivers a lurid and absorbing drama about the power of the media and the steps some will take to get the big scoop.

Rated: B+

Jan 29, 2018

Full Review

Prairie Miller

Long Island Press

Proceeds breathlessly and hysterically towards a story that in the end, seems to have hardly left the finish line.

May 24, 2007

Full Review

Lewis Beale

Film Journal International

A blunt instrument of a tale, with considerable emotional impact.

Mar 1, 2007

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Audience Member

An engrossing, entertaining, and troubling exploration of human nature. Very well done.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It was an ok movie... not a nail biter... but sad again, to see, what people consider "more important"...

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A powerful, well-made drama, exploring the limits of morality and the fine line between good and evil. Clever plot, deft direction. Solid performances from John Leguizamo, Leonor Watling and Damian Alcazar. Alfred Molina gets a cast credit, but you hardly see or hear him - a bit of a waste to use a name-actor for his role.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The premise is interesting, the cast is solid but ultimately this ultra-violent film fails to deliver the goods. What a waste!

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

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Audience Member

Interessant plot, men kjedelig fortalt, og en halv time for lang. Kunne med enkle grep ha blitt mer spennende.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Inefficient, dull, melodramatical & theatrical acting, quite predictable and actulally rather speculative, although claiming the opposite. Great potential plot-wise, but as a movie, Cronicas is criminally overrated.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

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Sebastian Cordero

Director

John Leguizamo

Manolo Bonilla

Leonor Watling

Marisa

Damián Alcázar

Vinicio Cepeda

José María Yazpik

Ivan

Alfred Molina

Victor

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RT Interview: "Crónicas" Director Sebastián Cordero

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Synopsis

Reporter Manolo Bonilla (John Leguizamo) goes to a jail in Ecuador to interview Vinicio Cepeda (Damián Alcázar), a hit-and-run driver whose crime incited a riot. After Cepeda tells him he knows where a murderer called the Monster of Babahoyo buried a young female victim, Bonilla posts bail in the hopes that he'll learn more about the crime. Bonilla finds the girl's body, but, as he nears the scoop of his career, it looks as if Cepeda might be withholding some key details.

Director: Sebastian Cordero
Producer: Alfonso Cuarón, Isabel Dávalos, Bertha Navarro, Guillermo del Toro, Jorge Vergara
Screenwriter: Sebastián Cordero
Distributor: Palm Pictures
Production Co: Tequila Gang
Rating: R (Language|Violence|Scenes of Sexuality)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: Spanish
Release Date (Theaters): May 16, 2004, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Jul 8, 2005
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 15, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $299.3K
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, DTS

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