Neon Bull

Hip Brazilian director Gabriel Mascaro turns in a neorealist feast for the eyes here that unfortunately comes at the expense of story and plot. Neon Bull immerses the viewer in the dusty, dirty world of Brazilian rodeo, capturing the sport's visual essence as well as anyone could hope for, but the finely wrought images and scenes don't add up to much beyond a few striking moments, such as when an exotic dancer does a slow, oddly discomforting routine bathed in red light while wearing an equine mask. Later, viewers are treated to a for-the-hell-of-it shock-value scene featuring a couple of burglars masturbating a prize horse, presumably to make off with some of its valuable semen. The de facto “star” of the film is a junior cowhand named Iremar (Juliano Cazarré), who qualifies as the only two-dimensional character in the film: he's a tough-guy rodeo worker by day, but in his off hours he pursues an avocation in fashion design and visual art. Mascaro's hyper-real onscreen rendering of a dying Brazilian tradition is a visually effective but not completely satisfying cinematic experience. Even with a warning for the graphic sexuality (human and animal), this is still a strong optional purchase. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include an interview with director Gabriel Mascaro (21 min.), a behind-the-scenes featurette (15 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for an unfocused though often visually striking drama.] (M. Sandlin)