After the Credits — Immediate impressions. Before the dust settles.
Two-thirds of “La Bola Negra” is exceptional cinema. The other third? Not nearly as compelling.
Everything set in the 1930s is terrific, with three strong lead performances and a visually engaging style that makes those sequences stand out. Unfortunately, the material set in 2017 feels like it belongs to an entirely different, lesser movie. It’s hard not to spend much of those modern sequences wishing the film would just return to the 1930s.
To its credit, “La Bola Negra” brings all three narratives together for a satisfying conclusion, even if the modern storyline never quite justifies the time spent away from the more interesting material.
The film’s frank sexual themes won’t appeal to everyone, but adventurous cinephiles should find plenty to appreciate. It’s worth seeking out, particularly once it arrives on Netflix, though there’s little reason to rush out to a theater when the stronger two-thirds can be enjoyed just as easily at home.
