Noriega: God's Favorite

TV-MA

2000

1h 55m

Drama

List

50%

6 Reviews

Tomatometer

30%

100+ Ratings

Audience Score

After growing up in the tough streets of Panama, Manuel Noriega (Bob Hoskins) joins the military in search of a better life. He finds success there, eventually becoming dictator of the entire country. But he wants to hold on to his leadership at any cost, including murdering those who get in his way and working with dangerous drug cartels. Eventually he goes too far, and everyone, including his wife (Denise Blasor) and his mistress (Rosa Blasi), abandons him as U.S. troops invade.

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Audience Member

An awful movie. I would never recommend this film to anyone. For one, it's about Manuel Noriega (A PANAMANIAN). They have Bob Hoskins (A BRITISH GUY) playing him. I like Hoskins as an actor, but that's beside the point. Anyone who knows anything about culture, knows that we (Panamanians) are NOTHING like Brits, in any way. The casting directing was a complete idiot. For one, Panama's population of Europeans is love. Most of the people are a mixture of African, Spanish, and Indian. Most of the people were White or East Asian. Then, they story of Noriega is so much more interesting than this boring film. This could've been an instant classic if done correctly. Blame that on the writer. The bumbling idiot they portrayed him to be was asinine. Blame it on the director. An instant disaster film.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The strength of this film is its acceptance of the inherent absurdity of historical events and staging them as a black comedy, rather than the usual somber historical drama. Bob Hoskins is excellent as the Panamanian dictator - it's always great to see an actor of his caliber tear into a strong, meaty role. Jeffry DeMunn steals his scenes as a passive-aggressive monsignor. It's clear director Roger Spottiswoode was limited by a TV movie budget, but he makes good use of the simple sets and locations.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Bob Hoskins is not the most convincing Noriega, but the story flows and if you don't know the history is still very interesting.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

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Roger Spottiswoode

Director

Bob Hoskins

Manuel Noriega

Jeffrey DeMunn

Nuncio

Rosa Blasi

Vicky Amador

Luis Avalos

President Nicky Barletta

Denise Blasor

Felicidad Noriega

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John Leonard

New York Magazine/Vulture

It would take a Garca Marquez, writing at the top of his Autumn of the Patriarch form, to bring off this odd amalgam of sadism and slapstick.

Feb 6, 2018

Full Review

Film Threat

Rated: 3/5

Dec 6, 2005

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Aug 10, 2005

Full Review

Angela Baldassarre

Sympatico.ca

Rated: 2/5

Jul 27, 2004

Full Review

TV Guide

Rated: 4.5/5

Jul 30, 2003

Full Review

Film Threat

Rated: 3/5

Dec 8, 2002

Full Review

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Synopsis

After growing up in the tough streets of Panama, Manuel Noriega (Bob Hoskins) joins the military in search of a better life. He finds success there, eventually becoming dictator of the entire country. But he wants to hold on to his leadership at any cost, including murdering those who get in his way and working with dangerous drug cartels. Eventually he goes too far, and everyone, including his wife (Denise Blasor) and his mistress (Rosa Blasi), abandons him as U.S. troops invade.

Director: Roger Spottiswoode
Producer: Arnon Milchan, Nick Wechsler, Roger Spottiswoode
Screenwriter: Lawrence Wright
Rating: TV-MA (S|L|D|V)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Runtime: 1h 55m