Judging from Possible Loves (Amores Possiveis), Murilo Benicio is capable of everything: a hopeless yet absolutely adorable mother's boy who refused to grow up and had his mum to run his life; a man who was confused of his sexual orientation after a hot dance with his ex-wife; and a successful yet rigid lawyer who became guilt-striken after initiating an affair with a girl who stood him up 15 years ago.
OK, when we really look deep into all three characters, there might be a lack of depth in characterisation in that they are all more about a particular moment in life, but the performance is of such sublime quality from all involved (the chemistry between mum and son being the most best), Possible Loves outshines most of its competitors in this genre from around the world. I got a sense as well - which was not dispelled even after second viewing, Possible Loves is a possible sequel to... In the Mood of Love from HK. While the latter dealt with love that was strictly bounded by morals, the former beg the question of what if... and comes up with three different answers. Though there was a romantic ending to one of the stories in Possible Loves, the overall mood is sadness, as in In the Mood of Love.
Murilo Benicio is, I know I am biased, probably one of the best of actors. It was a sad surprise to realise that he stars also in Woman on Top, a film that completely failed to impress me, possibly due to its annoyingly sexist and silly poor scripts. I am expecting more from him.
PS: I borrowed Orfeu in my next visit to the library and put it on the first chance that I had. Murilo Bencio played a gangster in a baggy jacket and a tight hat. But probably because he was playing the third fiddle to the pop idol and his Indian beauty queen girlfriend, he seemed eclipsed in it.
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