Running Out of Time (1994)

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

"With the Days Numbered" or ¨Dias Contados¨ or ¨Running out of time¨ is a thrilling movie filled with intrigue , drama , turns and sexual situations . A raw punchy love story set set against the background of terrorism . This is an intense thriller unflinchingly directed by Imanol Uribe . A womanizer and sex-addict man named Antonio (Carmelo Gomez) belongs to commando Madrid (also formed by Elvira Minguez and Joseba Apaolaza) from the terrorist organization Eta which is preparing a massacre in the capital. Antonio is posing as a photographer but he sets other priorities when he meets a druggie young named Charo (Ruth Gabriel) who is addicted to dope and for whom he falls in love . Later on , Antonio meets up the friends's Charo as the prostitute Vanesa (Candela Peña) , the local junkie Lisardo (Javier Bardem) and Ugarte (Pepon Nieto) . Meanwhile , the terrorist group carries out various attacks until the final outrage . Moving thriller plenty of emotion , suspense , intrigue , delusions , plot twists , nudism and a strange love story . Despite being somewhat of a cinematic cliché, rarely has a feature been so aptly deserving of its description as a thriller picture along with some elements from Noir film , action , politics and bloody terrorism . Good acting by Carmelo Gomez as a killer member of the ETA terrorist organization who feels a strong attraction for a junkie well played by Ruth Gabriel . It is an entertaining picture in which suspense is well developed from start to finish , though crammed with abundant erotic scenes -in softcore style- between Carmelo Gomez and Ruth Gabriel who holds several nude scenes . Imanol Uribe , also writes the script along with Juan Madrid , based on his novel , filmed in his usual formal and stylistic scholarship , without leaving a trace the thought-provoking issues , in terms of dramatic and narrative excitement . Hard-edge thriller/drama centers around terrorist conflicts and a peculiar love story . However , the film relies heavily in the rare romance among protagonists and on a motley group of displeasent characters , as there appear terrorists , whores , junkies , panderers , peddlers , drug dealers and nasty policemen . Because the story needs a vibration more real than the one offered in this sometimes slow-moving flick , though also contains interesting scenes , thrilling images and sensitive moments . Anyway, its is compensated with the great performances from main cast , and nice support cast , interpreters who provided a considerable boost to the result . Imanol is a great director of actors and the main players are complemented by a good cast of secondaries ; all of them forming a powerful human group and giving excellent interpretations such as Karra Elejalde , Candela Peña , Elvira Minguez , Pepon Nieto and special appearance by Javier Bardem . Atmospheric musical score by Jose Nieto who composes a stirring soundtrack by means of synthesizer . Including a spotless pictorial cinematography by Javier Aguirresarobe and a willingness , almost perfect of the elements of each shot , every sequence , every space ; being rightly filmed in Madrid . Aguirresarobe subsequently would make a prestigious career in Hollywood such as ¨Fright night , ¨The twilight saga: eclipse¨, ¨The road¨ , ¨The others¨ and many others . The movie achieved 27 wins and 16 nominations ; being nominated and winning several Goya Awards 1995 such as Best Film , Best Director Imanol Uribe , Best Actor Carmelo Gómez , Best Supporting Actor Javier Bardem , Best New Actress Ruth Gabriel ,Best Adapted Screenplay Imanol Uribe , Best Editing Teresa Font ,Best Make-Up and Hairstyles , Best Special Effects Reyes Abades , among others . This Andres Santana production was professionally written , produced by Imanol Uribe who also directed , though has some flaws and resulted to get big success at Spanish Box office . Uribe who lived and had a son with actress María Barranco , gained fame early in his career for his controversial socio-political portraits of the Basque people , such as ¨Fuga Segovia¨, ¨Muerte Mikel¨ and he turned to thriller as ¨Adios Pequeña¨, , ¨Plenilunio¨ , ¨Carta Esferica¨ , ¨Dias Contados¨ or ¨Running out of time¨and drama as ¨Bwana¨ , ¨Rey Pasmado¨ and ¨Extraños¨ .

I read a few comments by other movies and rented it to watch it. It turned out to be a decent one. May be I missed a lot of stuff because of translation from Spanish.. Perhaps a "Lost in Translation" case. Any way it is about a terrorist who falls in love with a prostitute and the prostitute who falls in love with him, thus jeopardizing the entire mission!! The ending is a bit too melodramatic and almost expected the moment you come across the main plot... Lot of naked scenes, but then they are only semi erotic... Actually it is funny too if you can catch some subtle dark humor. (I am referring to the prostitute telling that she never lets any one have normal intercourse with her... she only allows people to see her naked...). I give it 6 out of 10.

Dias Contados (Running Out of Time) is a movie about love, lust, desire, hate, death, and regret, that takes place in Madrid, Spain. Antonio (Carmelo Gomez) is in town with two others on personal business. Charo (Ruth Gabriel) and Vanessa (Candela Pena) are two roommates with a laundry list of issues. Lisardo (Javier Bardem) is a local junkie. Portugues (Chacho Carreras) is a drug dealer trying to evade the cops. Lourdes (Elvira Minquez) is one of Antonio's companions to Madrid, who loves him far more than she gets in return. Throw in a husband of Charo getting out of jail, and edgy cops trying to bust Portugues; and you have an amazing movie that should've gotten much more attention here in the states. The performances in this film are much better than most you see by actors who receive far more attention. Especially Ruth Gabriel, who gives one of the most memorable performances by a young actress (18 or 19) I've seen. Carmelo Gomez is a leading man who should be a household name here, and would be if we respected international films, the same way they do ours. They both give Oscar worthy performances in a film that will definitely leave an impression on you. Recommended for those who liked Dirty Pretty Things, or 21 grams.

An ETA member comes to the city of Madrid to commit some terrorists actions, there he will start a relation with a prostitute addicted to the heroine. This love will overlap his mission and will involucrate him in other problems. The story is about an ETA activist, but it's not an story about ETA. It's a thriller about heterogenous relationships and non-hopes; because none of the characters have any future.