Solemplex To me, this movie is perfection.

Inadvands Boring, over-political, tech fuzed mess

TaryBiggBall It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

Kien Navarro Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

natasha661 Set in a Spanish prison. A riot breaks out, leaving a new guard on the inside where all the action is. His quick thinking to pretend to be a new prisoner saves his life for now... But the mayhem is only just beginning.The two main players, Malamadre (Luis Tosar) as the top dog inmate and Juan (Alberto Ammann) as the young newbie guard act their parts extremely well. The other prisoners and guards are also believable. Prison is definitely not somewhere I want to go! The movie is raw and realistic with the different fractions within the prison jostling for their position. The guards may not be any better than the prisoners. But it's also a movie about love, friendship and loyalty. Don't let the fact it's subtitled put you off. You won't even realise your reading it and will be gripped to your seat for two hours. You don't need megabucks of special effects and well known actors to have a great movie. Just a good story well acted. Any Hollywood remake is not going to be nearly as good as the original. So don't miss this one.

thealefmagnus Cell 211 tells you a gripping tale of how a new prison guard, Juan Oliver, gets thrown in the front line of two warring philosophies: government officials trying to keep peace and order against mistreated inmates with nothing left to lose but their time in jail. What started out as a day for Juan Oliver (Alberto Ammann) to make an impression at his new job became a matter of life and death in a den full of savage criminals. Will he ever make it out alive and see his pregnant wife, Elena? Notorious prison war leader Malamadre, translates as "Bad Mother" in English, starts the revolution as he successfully takes the keys from an unknowing guard, freeing all the prisoners on the block. Juan's first day at work is supposed to be for tomorrow but he went an unlucky day ahead for a tour. This ends up with him getting injured from falling concrete while the prisoners take over. Left by the guards in the infamous Cell 211, Juan realizes his situation and the adrenaline for survival kicks in. When discovered and taken out to meet Malamadre, Juan lies and makes the inmates believe that he is but another criminal serving time.Quick-witted and smart, Juan navigates his way into unknown territory playing on the side of the prisoners as they turn the crisis into a hostage situation. The cell block holds members of the 'terrorist' group ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna) and Malamadre uses this opportunity as a means for bargain. This brings the crisis to national attention instead of a localized one and the media experiences a blackout from what is truly happening inside the prison.Juan Oliver has to prove his worth as a new part of the group while posing undercover and trying to get his chance to escape. But he can't do this if he has Apache (Carlos Bardem), a snitch, watching his back all the time. How long can Juan keep his secret amidst a sea of the country's most wanted criminals? Let's just say, he knows how to deal with danger very well, having been in odd jobs before landing the prison route.Sharp, intense, and suspenseful, Cell 211 will keep you at the edge of your seat while making you cringe on specific gruesome scenes. It doesn't shy away from obvious character development ad consistency as you continue to root for Oliver and his attempts to free himself from the testosterone filled atmosphere. While focused on the thrilling and suffocating scenario, the flick also tackles the idea of trust and friendship. As the situation gets out of hand, a newly formed alliance is tested as Juan begins to question which side he is really on.Versatile actor Luis Tosar cements his reputation in this high-tension flick, playing the vicious yet sarcastic skinhead Malamadre. He has the ability to display several shades of his character in one scene through gestures and delivery of lines. Newcomer Alberto Ammann does not disappoint as he is able to take on the panic of being stuck in a life-threatening situation onto the screen. Marta Etura's presence increases the drama and tension of film, earning her a win for Best Supporting Actress. Based on their performances in the film, it is no doubt that the flick is deserving of its 8 wins in the Goya Awards (the Spanish version of the Oscars). Director Daniel Monzón has created a film that is sure to leave a lasting impression. I am eager to see more films from him in the future.Cell 211 is a highly suspenseful, Stockholm Syndrome inducing prison drama that will keep you juggling sides with what is LEGAL and what is RIGHT.

kynick2 I have to admit that I am an American that loves films and increasingly the best females I've seen over the last decade or so have mostly been NON-American films. This film was great in so many ways. It was captivating from the opening scene and gave me a ride on the emotional train. I had hoped for a different ending for the protagonist...down to the last few minutes but it was not to be and the reveal in the cell (what he wrote on the wall) revealed so much. This was a really good film with more than it's share of powerful moments. There were also some important political leanings in the film that I'd imagine speaks to the heart of prison conditions all over the world. Sadness, hope, despair, moments of joy and bliss, this movie had everything you could ask for. Do yourself a favor and watch it.

Hasan Bilal Cell 211 is a brilliant drama thriller that centers on rebellion and riot against the status quo. The movie quickly develops the characters with flashbacks and side stories and sets the premise and circumstances early on in the movie. The one thing that comes to mind while watching the movie is Murphy's Law; if something can go wrong, it will.Cell 211 is about two men, both of them in stark contrast with each other: one has everything to live for while the other has nothing to lose. It's a story of how a person falls victim to circumstance and ironically, ambition. The plot is set in a prison where the protagonist- a newly recruited guard- is caught in between a staged riot and is forced to pose as an inmate. Amidst the ulterior motives of the riot and the threat of a mole within the prison inmate foiling the riot attempt, the movie strikes a tense balance between control and chaos, where the protagonist attempts to maintain his impersonation in face of certain death.The movie is written spectacularly and portrays feelings of both betrayal and loyalty, and depicts how people show their true colors in face of changing circumstances to protect their own motives. The movie is a gradual portrayal of a man whose life changes in a day while inadvertently he himself changes with it. Cell 211 is an admirable movie which pulls viewers in quickly and keeps them on the edge of their seat, rooting for the main characters. A must see foreign film.