Man Of The Year review

Why you can trust GamesRadar+ Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.

While the once-touted "Good Wave" (Bueno Onda) of Latin American filmmaking hasn't exactly been a cinematic tsunami in the UK, first-time director José Henrique Fonseca's Man Of The Year is further proof that Brazilian movies, at least, can provide a welcome splash in the face.

For a start, the premise is a doozy. Having lost a footie bet, swarthy dosser Maiquél (Murilo Benício) dyes his hair blond. Unexpectedly, the transformation causes him to tap into a hidden reservoir of machismo; so when a local hood insults his new barnet, Maiquél responds by gunning him down. Ironically, his dumb bravado elevates him to the status of a neighbourhood hero, and it's not long before he's working as a vigilante hitman for a trio of Rio de Janeiro's richest bigots...

Rather than take the predictable route of a GoodFellas-style rise-and-fall tale, Fonseca keeps things dark and satirical. After all, it's a pretty damning view of Rio society when a petty murderer becomes the titular "Man Of The Year". Sure, it lacks the warmth and humanity of City Of God, but it's a bold, twisted and compelling portrait of a man who gradually has the goodness sucked out of him.

More info

Available platformsMovie
Less

The Total Film team are made up of the finest minds in all of film journalism. They are: Editor Jane Crowther, Deputy Editor Matt Maytum, Reviews Ed Matthew Leyland, News Editor Jordan Farley, and Online Editor Emily Murray. Expect exclusive news, reviews, features, and more from the team behind the smarter movie magazine.