Li'l Duce's Reviews Palace

[noodles_leone]

Do you mean that OUATIA is exactly as good as The Hoods?

[dave jenkins]

Still, like I said, I don't care about the twist ending. The movie works. The real story works and is told in a compelling way. I'm seeing actual human beings struggling with life (and death). It's good.

You mean "actual ghosts." Which, whether they exist or not, can't be "actual" human beings.

It's a BS story told in a BS way. The fact that you like this AND E.T. indicates that you should never be listened to on anything.

[noodles_leone]

You mean "actual ghosts." Which, whether they exist or not, can't be "actual" human beings.

It's a BS story told in a BS way. The fact that you like this AND E.T. indicates that you should never be listened to on anything.

He said, while arguing in Titoli's thread.

[titoli]

Delicatessen (1991) A piece of shit.

[noodles_leone]

See?

[Kurug3n]

I haven't the chance to go through all 42 pages in this thread but whats your rating on John Carpenter's The Thing?

[titoli]

I haven't the chance to go through all 42 pages in this thread but whats your rating on John Carpenter's The Thing?

I liked it, though I haven't seen it in decades.

[dave jenkins]

I liked it, though I haven't seen it in decades.

This is so scary. We're like psychic twins now!

[titoli]

Knife in the Water (1962) I saw it first in the early '70's, in a cinema, of course. Then again on TV, but this third time undubbed. I remembered little of the plot development, actually I thought there was a mounting tension between the 2 males which is not the case, as the fight comes almost by chance. I think that all the speech of the wife to the boy is too didactical ("You will become like him") and it doesn't rhyme with the character who doesn0t seem to have a gripe with the husband. But still it is the best Polansky with Chinatown (though I haven't seen The Pianist).

[dave jenkins]

But still it is the best Polansky with Chinatown (though I haven't seen The Pianist).

No love for Tess?

[titoli]

No love for Tess?

I think I couldn't make it beyond the first 15'.

[titoli]

The Thing (1982) As a thriller is well paced, right from the start. The special effects are still effective, maybe even too much. What doesn't work is the fact that you can see it is all shot in a studio, with a few exceptions. Still it earns 8/10.

[titoli]

Nella città l'inferno (1959) The only, superficial,  thing in common with forerunner (?) Caged is the "progress" of the naive inmate to prostitute. But there all connections end. First of all Masina is as miscast as can be: not only she's very old for the part, as noted by jinxy, but she's made to talk with a roughly venetian accent which is clearly not hers (she's from Bologna's vicinity), so she's twice a bogus. The Magnani character is just as bogus, as all the other ones of the inmates in the movie, about whom we know little, if anything.  The jail looks like a summer camp with bars, run by benevolent nuns and no Hope Emerson in sight.
Magnani is full of advices to her companions, which doesn't explain her violent reaction to Masina's tribute to her mentor. A good bad lady, melodramatic as can be. Masina's acting is embarrassing, her gestures and mimicry can be anticipated 2 seconds before. Same for most of Magnani's, who has the advantage, though, to speak her native tongue, though she sometimes (too many times) slides into an italian which doesn't rhyme with her character's linguistic faculties. Same goes for the direction, that betrays too many times itself in too clearly staged shots. The only moment where the movie overcomes itself is with the uncredited appearance of Sordi: as monumental as he was in the late '50's. 6/10

[dave jenkins]

The only moment where the movie overcomes itself is with the uncredited appearance of Sordi: as monumental as he was in the late '50's. 6/10

I forgot to mention him! Yeah, that was a surprise when he cameo-ed, a very pleasant one. Who was the old man?

[titoli]

I forgot to mention him! Yeah, that was a surprise when he cameo-ed, a very pleasant one. Who was the old man?

No idea. Never seen before.