Bella.

Now here's something you don't see every day. Governor Rick Perry is encouraging his fellow Texans to go see Bella and has even sent a guest review into the Austin American-Statesman: "Not only will Bella give you hope that Hollywood can still make an inspirational movie, it might also renew your faith in humanity."

"Bella, the People's Choice Award winner at last year's Toronto International Film Festival, is already getting some buzz among Catholics and pro-lifers in the blogosphere, who've pinned it as the crossover anti-abortion hit they've been waiting for," writes Julia Wallace. "Sorry to break it to you guys, but... no."

Updated through 10/26.

In the Austin Chronicle, Joe O'Connell profiles director Alejandro Gomez Monteverde.

Certainly readable but not handily quotable: Ed Gonzalez in Slant.

Updates, 10/26: "This is a movie that wears its bleeding heart on its sleeve and loves its characters to distraction," writes Stephen Holden in the New York Times. "Nothing - not even significant plot glitches and inconsistencies - is allowed to get in the way of its bear-hugging embrace of sweetness and light."

"Despite the presence of a lovely leading lady and an impossibly handsome co-lead, the most dazzling star of the quixotic Bella is actually New York City," writes Gary Goldstein in the Los Angeles Times. "Director Alejandro Monteverde presents the melting pot that is 21st century Manhattan with an infectious vibrancy that makes you want to hop on the next plane and partake in the Big Apple's colorful ebullience. If only that vitality carried over to the film's wispy script, which Monteverde wrote with Patrick Million and Leo Severino."

The AV Club's Scott Tobias can't believe "this gooey pro-life advertisement, masquerading as a cheap-looking Mexican telenovela, robbed the likes of Volver, Away From Her, Borat, Rescue Dawn, and other popular favorites" in that afore-mentioned People's Choice race.

Posted by dwhudson at October 25, 2007 2:35 PM