rodeoclown Reviews

Christiane F. (1981)

Where Trainspotting is novelized, this is true

[8/10 · 10 December 2002]

If you search for a document telling you the truth about falling into drug addiction in the 70s, this is the right film for you. But this is not a mere documentary; it's got artistic value, as well as great acting by the young and cute Nadja Brunckhorst and Thomas Haupstein. The scene where Christiane, after her first heroin sniffing, gets through a long gallery in a car with her friends is a wonderful metaphore of her first step into addiction. Great locations and a beautiful, functional photography complete this very good film, which represents an isolated case in director Ulrich Edels's career.

The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996)

one of the worst movies I've ever seen

[1/10 · 18 November 2002]

Why did Marlon Brando take part in this trash movie? This is garbage at all levels, often falling off into unintentional ridiculousness, and if you've been taking it as a funny movie for all of its length, the final scene will make you think that there's something wrong with the man who created this film. Not recommendable even to Brando's die hard fans; the man doesn't leave a mark as always, here he's just another actor. Horrible.

Radio Days (1987)

Nostalgia for times I've never lived

[8/10 · 18 November 2002]

In this age of consumerism and multimedia, this movie makes you wish you were born in the thirties, a time of naivety, fantasy and wonderful "tunes" as well. Woody Allen here remembers his childhood, and his narration is involving, funny and moving at the same time, making you say "past times were better", even though you've never been there. A delicious Mia Farrow and an awesome photography by Carlo Di Palma complete this perfect little jewel.

Madly in Love (1981)

If you like Celentano, a must see

[6/10 · 18 November 2002]

This is probably the best film starring Adriano Celentano, with the beautiful Ornella Muti by his side. Obviously, the script is all written around Celentano's personality, who is acting just by being himself, saying his classic, stupid jokes, that I personally find irresistible. If you are keen on him, you must see it, but even if you don't like him that much, this is a nice, funny light comedy.

1900 (1976)

Bertolucci at his best

[9/10 · 13 November 2002]

I saw it once and I said "very good", I saw it twice and it blew my mind. I really didn't felt the passing of 5 hours in front of the screen, because this wonderful movie just kept me glued to that. There's not one exceeding photogram in this, and many sequences are cinema-anthology worth. This film features an incredible cast as well, with stunning acting performances by Gerard Depardieu, Donald Sutherland (great and disquieting), Sterling Hayden and the superb Burt Lancaster. Only Robert De Niro is not shining here, maybe because he was not very suitable for his part. Vittorio Storaro's cinematography is amazing as always, and that makes me consider him the best photography director in movies history (just see Apocalypse Now). The locations are, as always in Bertolucci, simply astonishing, and the vision of the wide farmers' yard just moved me. If you're searching for an accurate historical reproduction, don't watch it. Bertolucci just talks about a time he didn't know, according to what he heard from other people's relations, and adding a little fantastic representation, which is the peculiarity of all of his works, that moves the watchers and makes them dream.

The Big Feast (1973)

An amazing piece of art

[10/10 · 13 November 2002]

You smell it, you taste it, you feel it in your stomach, it nauseates you, but it also enchants you. Never found another senses-involving movie like this.

SPOILERS

Four friends, Marcello, Ugo, Michel and Philippe (Ferreri kept the actors' real names here), tired of their ordinary lives, decide to commit suicide just by eating and eating and eating to death. They get together at Philippe's house on the outskirts of Paris, and their ritual begins. After some time passed just eating, Marcello and Michel decide to invite some prostitutes, to cheer up the situation. Philippe invites a female teacher instead. Her presence in the house will be determining, for she turns out to be insatiable, both for her eating and sexual appetites, bringing all of the four friends to death. The prostitutes leave the house soon, disgusted by its inhabitants eating behavior, and there Andrea, the teacher, will soon encircle herself of corpses, the dead bodies of the four poor friends.

Director Marco Ferreri reached perfection in this fantastic, opulent representation. Very few things connect with reality here, thanks also to the stunning locations, decòr and photography. Philippe's house is one of the best sets I ever saw. I'm going to take a trip to Paris and try to find it. The four great protagonist, taken from an ideal "top ten" of the best european actors, give a great prove of mere role-playing, together with the humongous, unreal Andrea Ferreol, who fills up the house and the screen. This is art in its purest form. 10/10.

Pinocchio (2002)

An expected delusion

[6/10 · 21 October 2002]

Since when I heard that Benigni was going to film his version of Pinocchio, I knew I was going to watch it not with a free mind. Too high was the score reached by Luigi Comencini in 1972 with his Le Avventure Di Pinocchio, and I thought Benigni would not have been able to overstep it. Now my opinion is that I was right. Benigni's Pinocchio has been good for my eyes (awesome scenography, great computer effects), but it hasn't touched my feelings. To me, the worst point of all is Benigni's recitation, not credible in children's shoes, even ridicolous in the crying scenes. Carlo Giuffrè is so and so, but I heard that Benigni cut out a wonderful scene of Geppetto talking to Pinocchio inside the shark in the final edit, and now Giuffrè is awful angry with the director. Very good Cat and Fox by Fichi d'India, the only really funny actors in the movie. Maybe I should let some time pass, and then watch it again; maybe the too much attention around it has driven me astray; I'll wait and see, but I think my opinion will remain the same. 6/10 only for its visual value.

Le avventure di Pinocchio (1972)

The best Pinocchio

[9/10 · 13 October 2002]

I'm a little afraid to watch Benigni's Pinocchio, because I think that Luigi Comencini has already reached the top in the human versions of this story. Great acting (especially the great Nino Manfredi, Franco Franchi and Ciccio Ingrassia and the superb little boy Andrea Balestri), great photography (just look at the wonderful still image of the final scene, with Pinocchio and Geppetto on the beach), and great costumes by Piero Gherardi (Oscar for Fellini's La Dolce Vita and 8 1/2). I think this movie is better to watch for grown-up people, who can fully understand the philosophical and moral implications of this representation. Definitely, a story that will touch you, and make you somehow richer inside. I expect wonderful things from Benigni, or maybe I just hope it, because this time I don't think he can do the best.

American Beauty (1999)

One of the few very good films of the nineties

[8/10 · 9 October 2002]

Great script! This film features an amazing work in designing every single character, and they all fall together pretty good in their "double personality" common ground. Very good directing as well, and an ultra-beautiful Thora Birch playing the most positive role in this worth-seeing-movie. It was worth the 5 Oscars it won, for it's one of the few very good films of the nineties. This story has the quality to tell a lot of true things about people's behavior and their relationships in today's society. Watch it!

Bicycle Thieves (1948)

Perfection

[10/10 · 7 October 2002]

To call this simply a movie is not enough; I will call it the materialization of perfection. I'm waiting for the day when someone will overstep the limit this film has signed, but I don't think that day will come, because you can't surpass perfection. Obviously 10 out of 10, like I gave it to other films, but I think that Ladri Di Biciclette is out of the competition.

Jesus of Nazareth (1977)

Check Pasolini or Rossellini instead

[6/10 · 5 October 2002]

I'm surprised that almost everyone agrees that this is the greatest movie about Jesus Christ's life. I've seen the wonderful Pasolini's Il Vangelo Secondo Matteo and the very good Rossellini's Messia, and this Zeffirelli "masterpiece" really can't compare to any of these two. Anyway, this is one out of two or three Zeffirelli films I can watch, the rest to me is trash, including Fratello Sole Sorella Luna. 6/10.

Asso (1981)

Did Jerry Zucker watch it?

[2 October 2002]

Sure I'm wondering, but try to find out the great similarity between Asso and Ghost, and then consider that Asso dates back to 1981 and Ghost to 1990. Did Jerry Zucker ever watch this almost unknown italian film? Anyway, another really funny movie, if you like Celentano's particular sense of humor.

La Dolce Vita (1960)

The best film ever, together with 8 1/2, from the best director ever

[10/10 · 2 October 2002]

It left me in silence for at least half of an hour after watching it. It's simply incredible. No other movie has kept so glued on the screen (consider that this one is 3 hours long!). It seems like you're watching the matter of your dreams, especially in the world wide famous scene at the Fontana di Trevi and in the amazing final scene (again, the best final ever). I don't know what else to say, for there's no word to describe this astonishing vision. I don't understand the people who don't like this.

Last Tango in Paris (1972)

A masterpiece

[9/10 · 1 October 2002]

You can call it an amazing movie just for the great locations (the protagonists' empty room, the streets of Paris, the yard of Maria Schneider father's home, the club of the Last Tango) with the Vittorio Storaro's stunning photography. But if you think that this film also features what I consider the best Marlon Brando's interpretation ever, there you get the masterwork. I think everyone must watch it at least twice to fully understand the depth of the story and every single aspect of the characters, especially Brando's Paul. I don't give it a 10/10 only because I've seen some better movies than this.