Films That Matter
Johnny on the Spot
There is no doubt that Roberto Benigni will forever have his name etched in the annals of film history after his Academy Award winning film Life is Beautiful – which took home Best Foreign Language Film, Best Score (for Nicola Piovani), and brought forth a most special moment when Benigni climbed atop the seats of the theatre to accept his Best Actor award. Yet, it is a bit of a shame that some of his pre-1997 works are lesser known outside of his native Italy. Case in point, the comedy Johnny Stecchino, circa 1991. Co-written (along with Vincenzo Cerami), directed and starring Benigni, he plays the titular character as well as a near identical lookalike of the man (who is actually our protagonist). Here’s a quick translation – Stecchino means toothpick. So, to explain, Dante is a charming yet rather simple bus driver (who is also trying to pull a disability scam with the government), when one day, he luckily. . . or perhaps unluckily, almost gets run into by a beautiful woman named Maria (Nicoletta Braschi – Benigni’s real life wife) – who seems to be immediately intrigued by the man. As she would exclaim – “Santa Cleopatra!”
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Rififi a Classic Crime Film
RififiApril 6, 2014Most scripts and movies are formed in one complete package, focusing on continuity, flow and character development as well as a definite beginning, middle and end. Yet some films are formed out of something different – a single shot, concept or idea that one then develops a picture around. It does not always work, but when it does, it is cinematic gold. This is the case for the 1955 French crime caper Rififi (originally titled Du Rififi Chez Les Hommes).
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This Scandinavian Entrée is Delicious
HeadhuntersJanuary 11, 2014One global region that has really gained traction and popularity in the film and television industry recently is Scandinavia. With the huge success of Stieg Larsson’s novels that became the highly popular Millenium film trilogy (Girl With the Dragon Tattoo), we have seen these northern European countries develop complex and entertaining stories that usually fall within the noirish crime genre. Television such as Forbrydelsen (The American TV show The Killing is based on this), Wallander, The Bridge, and Borgen (Stephen King’s favourite show of 2012) have not only found their niche in North America, but have also influenced the television and film industry in North America and Britain as well. One such movie that fits within this genre is Jo Nesbø’s Headhunters (the highest grossing Norwegian film of all-time).
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Not That Clouseau
DiaboliqueOctober 30, 2013When hearing the name Clouseau, most people automatically think of the bumbling French detective made famous by comedy genius Peter Sellers in the Pink Panther movies, or the uninspired remakes with Steve Martin. Yet I am not referring to that character, instead I am talking about serious film director Henri-Georges Clouzot who directed the horror mystery/thriller Les Diaboliques in 1955.
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The Vintage Horror Feel
The OrphanageOctober 16, 2013Too many horror movies today tend to go for cheap thrills, such as jump-scares and graphic violence, rather than focusing on what makes the genre so special – slow-building suspense and a thick and eerie atmosphere. There is nothing wrong with mixing the two together, but too often directors forget about the mood of the film altogether. It is quite rare to find slow-burning and cleverly crafted horror films such as past classics like The Shining or The Changeling. Some of the most recent motion pictures that do capture this more vintage style of horror film are from Spanish speaking countries such as Spain and Mexico. It has been quite impressive to watch the sizeable amount of these style of horror films emerge over the past decade or so. One such film is the 2007 horror flick The Orphanage.
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Ebert Didn’t Pan This Labyrinth
Pan's LabyrinthApril 23, 2013Roger Ebert’s top film of 2006 was the Spanish motion picture Pan’s Labyrinth, which he considered to be one of the greatest fantasy movies of all-time. A fairy tale meant for adults, the storyline follows a young girl, Ofelia (Ivana Baquero), as she moves to a secluded old mill with her mother Carmen (Ariadna Gil) and new stepfather, Captain Vidal (Sergi Lopez).