The Last Circus

Name: The Last Circus
Genre: Comedy
Released: August 19, 2011
Duration: 107 min
Rating: 70

2011

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 21 Ratings

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5.6

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5.6	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 21 Ratings

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The Last Circus

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Movie Details & Credits

Magnolia Pictures | Release Date: August 19, 2011 | R

Summary: 1937, Spain is in the midst of the brutal Spanish Civil War. A "Happy" circus clown is interrupted mid-performance and forcibly recruited by a militia. Still in his costume, he is handed a machete and led into battle against National soldiers, where he single handedly massacres an entire platoon. Fast forward to 1973, the tail end of the1937, Spain is in the midst of the brutal Spanish Civil War. A "Happy" circus clown is interrupted mid-performance and forcibly recruited by a militia. Still in his costume, he is handed a machete and led into battle against National soldiers, where he single handedly massacres an entire platoon. Fast forward to 1973, the tail end of the Franco regime. Javier, the son of the clown, dreams of following in his father's career footsteps, but has seen too much tragedy in his life - he's simply not funny and is only equipped to play the role of the Sad Clown. He finds work in a circus where he befriends an outlandish cast of characters, but as the Sad Clown he must take the abuse of the brutish Happy Clown Sergio, who humiliates Javier daily in the name of entertainment. It is here that he meets Natalia, a gorgeous acrobat, and abused wife of Sergio. Javier falls deeply in love with Natalia and tries to rescue her from her cruel and violent husband, unleashing Sergio's jealousy. But Natalia is torn between her affection towards Javier and her lust for Sergio.With neither man willing to back down, this twisted love triangle evolves into a ferocious battle between Sad Clown and Happy Clown, escalating to unbelievable heights in this absurd, shocking, irreverent and unforgettable film. (Magnolia Pictures)… Expand

Director: Álex de la Iglesia

Genre(s): Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 107 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Jeannette Catsoulis

Aug 18, 2011

Brilliant, bizarre, dazzling and utterly demented, The Last Circus views Franco-era Spain through the crazed eyes of two clowns doing battle for the love of one magnificent woman. Read full review

Aaron Hillis

Aug 16, 2011

Baroquely sinister and grotesquely funny, the latest overstimulated bout of dark comic mayhem from writer-director Álex de la Iglesia (Common Wealth, The Day of the Beast) is a stunning funhouse-mirror allegory of Franco-era Spain that makes "Pan's Labyrinth" look like "Sesame Street." Read full review

Andrew O'Hehir

Aug 18, 2011

It's also possible, I suppose, that a movie as deranged and grotesque and spectacular as Álex de la Iglesia's near-masterpiece The Last Circus, an overcooked allegory that's been dialed to 11 in all directions, simply doesn't appeal to you. But if you like your baroque sex and violence with a side dish of heavy-duty symbolism, and if the idea of an unholy collaboration between, say, Guillermo del Toro, Federico Fellini and William Castle appeals to you, then put The Last Circus on your must-see list right now. Read full review

Keith Uhlich

Aug 16, 2011

Inventive yet exhausting tale of two circus clowns. Read full review

Joe Neumaier

Aug 19, 2011

Before going off in conventional directions, "Circus" is terrifically weird, funny and garish. Bozo and Clarabelle it ain't. Read full review

Shawn Levy

Sep 8, 2011

Begins with an eye on satire but dissolves quickly into grotesquerie -- and if the first tack was a bit narrow, the second is far too scattershot. Read full review

Una LaMarche

Aug 24, 2011

By the time the end finally comes, there's no relief. You're left with the vague recollection of an interesting movie you were watching before you got kidnapped and subjected to over an hour of torture porn starring a fat, sadistic clown. Read full review

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User Reviews

CPD98

Sep 27, 2014

Conocida como Balada triste de trompeta en España, esta es una de las películas mas extrañas y perturbadoras del gran Álex de la Iglésia. No es mi favorita de este director, pero mantiene un tono lúgubre genial durante todo el metraje y los actores están sobresalientes.

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Thothistox

May 27, 2016

Pan's Labyrinth meets Youtube's Italian Spiderman.[1] The resulting movie isn't quite stupid enough to be funny (except for the CGI), but easily enough to lose the audience. There is more tragedy in the actors' attempts at making this sensible than there is in the final scene where they fallPan's Labyrinth meets Youtube's Italian Spiderman.[1] The resulting movie isn't quite stupid enough to be funny (except for the CGI), but easily enough to lose the audience. There is more tragedy in the actors' attempts at making this sensible than there is in the final scene where they fall off of Spanish Christo Rendentor. It's sad because neither the concept nor the acting is at fault. With much better writing it could have worked. But the script is clearly in B movie territory.
[1] Yes, it's Spain and not Italy, but the coarse level of subtlety of this movie wouldn't distinguish the two.… Expand

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