Gigante 2009

Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: As with the recent Chilean comedy The Maid, Gigante is a sharply acted piece that presents to the audience several forks in the road by which the main character could choose either to escalate matters, or not. Read more

Stephen Holden, New York Times: An appealing, gently comedic prologue to a love story. Read more

David Fear, Time Out: Is this guy Lloyd Dobler or Travis Bickle? That you're still unsure until Gigante's end is a credit to Binez and his actors, who don't push Jara toward caricature and never pander to our sympathies. Read more

Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times: In his feature debut, Biniez could easily be setting in motion a familiar, suspenseful stalker thriller, but thankfully he is much more concerned with exploring the workings of the human heart with a touch of wistfulness and a dash of humor. Read more

Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News: A spin on all the recent films utilizing video and found footage, this comedy from Uruguay has more than a few sweet, well-observed moments. Read more

V.A. Musetto, New York Post: Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: Going to the movies is, at some level, pure voyeurism -- if they involve people, that is. Transformers don't count. I admire films that consist only or in large part of watching. Read more

Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice: With potentially lethargic materials, Biniez has made a quiet, intent, involving film, a moony-innocent urban alienation fairy tale of bashful ogre and village beauty--and it never quite crests. Read more