In his last picture, 2024’s “The Room Next Door,” writer/director Pedro Almodovar ventured out of his comfort zone just a little bit, working with English-language actors (including Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton) to give the feature a higher profile and different vibe than his usual Spanish offerings. The stretch was interesting but not overpowering, returning the helmer to his home country for “Bitter Christmas.” It’s the latest melodrama from Almodovar, with the screenplay following his interests in troubled relationships, adding an overall examination of creativity and manipulation in the process. “Bitter Christmas” retains the vibrant filmmaking Almodovar is known for, with impeccable technical credits, but it’s not entirely gripping work, playing with timelines and realities without much of a dramatic hold, though the endeavor periodically scores with moments of passion and distress that help to snap the feature to life. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com
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