Alfonso Cuarón is one of the most distinctive directors of this century. As one of the Three Amigos of the film industry – that includes Alejandro González Iñárritu and Guillermo del Toro – Cuarón has directed and produced a lot of movies and TV shows. But when it comes to his personal voice, they resulted in one of the most remarkable movies of its various genres.
To honor the gringo auteur, here are all of Alfonso Cuarón’s movies (and one documentary short), ranked according to their Rotten Tomatoes score. And his highest rated film in the critics-aggregator site is a surprising one.
The Possibility of Hope (-)
A bonus feature in the Special Edition DVD of Children of Men, The Possibility of Hope is a documentary short, wherein Cuarón gathers seven figures (most of which are philosophers, scientists and book authors) to tackle different matters of that time, including immigration, global warming and late capitalism. The figures include Naomi Klein, Saskia Sassen, Tzvetan Todorov and Slavoj Žižek.
Ominous yet urgent, this short is encouraging to see, solely for the in-depth conversations between the seven figures. And it is fitting as a supplemental piece about an apocalyptic sci-fi.
Great Expectations (37%)
There have been many adaptations of this 1861 Charles Dickens novel. So naturally, Cuarón was one of the filmmakers who adapted this literary classic on 1998 with Ethan Hawke as Pip/Finn, Gwyneth Paltrow as Estella and Robert De Niro as Magwitch/Arthur Lustig. With a bright cast and a reliable crew that includes Emmanuel Lubezki, it could have been a winner.
But it was a middling effort from the great Mexican honcho. Its modern New York treatment from the 1800’s London could make it accessible, but its script was too saccharine.
Sólo con Tu Pareja (67%)
For his feature-film debut, Cuarón broke from the mold of Mexican television and brought a story that he and his brother Carlos penned. The premise of Sólo con Tu Pareja (translated as Only With Your Partner) is centered on a womanizer falsely diagnosed of AIDS by an envious lover falling for another woman.
This film had an interesting history when the Mexican government, their primary financier nearly dropping the project and refusing to distribute it. However, its impact on film festivals is what catapult the movie and Cuarón to attention.
Paris, je t’aime for the Segment: “Parc Monceau” (87%)
The Cities of Love anthology movies have been showcases for acclaimed directors and arthouse filmmakers to contribute their short films in a collection of film set on one city. Obviously, Cuarón jumped to action and directed his own segment, set on the titular park, about an old man and a young woman meeting together and discovering an appalling revelation.
Like his later works, the short is a single shot feature under its five-minute runtime. Nick Nolte and Swimming Pool star Ludivine Sagni are featured in this short. Poignant and warm.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (90%)
In comes when a great director will head a franchise movie. But in the case of the third Harry Potter movie, Prisoner of Azkaban is considered the best of the series, so far. That elevation of filmmaking is highlighted by its shift in tone, from fairly juvenile family fare to darker, more mature literary progression.
On a book entry that focuses on Harry discovering the mastermind behind his parents’ demise, it requires an elevation on cinematography and film aesthetics And Cuarón is a fine filmmaker to pull off that treatment.
Y Tu Mamá También (92%)
But the film that got Cuarón tapped for Prisoner of Azkaban is the 2001 Mexican drama film about two boys bringing an older woman in a road trip that takes them to various places in Mexico under sets of realities. Y Tu Mamá También (or translated as And Your Mother Too) is a tale of personal and sexual discovery, and it really pushed a lot of boundaries on Mexican and world cinema.
Because of its worldwide acclaim, it received Oscar nominations for Best Original Screenplay and Best Foreign Language Film.
Children of Men (92%)
Film fans always associate Alfonso Cuarón for his one-shot sequences. And they always cite Children of Men as an example of his artistry. And indeed, those who have seen this excellent dystopian thriller exactly know which scenes elevated the experience. Based on the P. D. James’ 1992 novel The Children of Men, the film takes place on a bleak future where infertility took a toll in society.
Clive Owen stars as a civil servant who must escort and protect an oppressed refugee who is the only citizen bearing a child.
Gravity (96%)
After a seven-year dry spell, Alfonso Cuarón brought his technical prowess to the big screen once more with this sci-fi thriller about two astronauts who got caught on a debris storm that sent them afloat in space and on a hasty search for help. Sandra Bullock stars excellently in the lead role that garnered her an Oscar nomination.
The true power of this Academy Award-winning film is its technical aspects with the immersive visual effects, Lubezki’s sweeping cinematography, the flowing sound and the gratifying score. It is worth the IMAX.
Roma (96%)
When this Netflix drama is reported to be a semi-autobiographical look on Alfonso Cuarón’s childhood, that one assures the quality filmmaking that he will give out. The premise is on the point-of-view of a housekeeper who deals with an average Mexican family over the backdrop of a Mexican Dirty War-centered Colonia Roma. But the true heart was its slice-of-life take on domestic life that made it look cinematic.
First-time actress Yalitza Aparicio is heartfelt as housekeeper Cleo. And the 70’s Mexican neighborhood setting is lively. His most personal is genuine.
A Little Princess (97%)
Yet, according to Rotten Tomatoes, A Little Princess is the most highly rated movie of the site. Based on the children’s classic novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, this family drama is centered on a young girl named Sara Crewe who was sent to boarding school after her father was presumably killed in battle.
There have been many adaptations of A Little Princess throughout many generations. However, Alfonso Cuarón’s version is rich and poignant on its own for its stunning cinematography, rich design and magic realism. This is a heartfelt surprise.
