I was speaking with a friend the other day (xfighter1138) about how few really good movies came out this year. I wasn't excited about any of them really.

And then I watched Roma.

Roma constantly impressed me with it's creative and well executed shots. The tracking shot is used extensively in this film, showing us raw, lively, characterized sets. Despite the film being shot in black and white, there was still so much to keep my eyes interested.

Although the plot was perhaps not as engrossing as the cinematography and sets, it was touching and visceral. There are a few scenes that I wasn't really sure how necessary they were to the narrative, and at times I felt they were just included as a way to show off the director's (Cuaron) craft. Mind you, I did not mind it, though perhaps the flow of the plot did suffer very mildly at times. For example, the scene where Cleo visit's her friend's boyfriend at his band practice seemed a little long for it's purpose in the narrative.

The characters in Roma were realistic, but not boringly so. Our heroine, acted superbly by new actress Yalitza Aparicio, was a very simple girl, but still provided enough intrigue and character to keep me wanting to learn more about her. For example, how she imitates the Lucha Libre-esque trainer infused her character with a bit of mystery.

If you enjoy a well-crafted movie, this is a must-see.

9/10