A very lengthy film, be warned.
In Italian, be warned (although there is an English version).
The basic premise of this film is the rise of the Italian Republic in 1860 and how it effects one of the many Royal families.
The...
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A very lengthy film, be warned.
In Italian, be warned (although there is an English version).
The basic premise of this film is the rise of the Italian Republic in 1860 and how it effects one of the many Royal families.
The Story is long and slow and drawn in like that of the first puff on a cigarette on a chilly night, held in and swirled there for a while. It is played out slow enough that you don't ever get truly lost, even at the length.
The star of this epic, is the acting. Burt Lancaster is memorable, full of his regal manner and royal air that it's almost as if this part was made for him. He is the star of the show, thankfully, because he's in just about every scene. And his presence in them, with the incredible dialog, is never diminished. It is movies like this that I learn foreign languages for.
I'd like to say that not a scene is wasted in this movie, but there were a couple of moments where my attention waned, but once the heart of the story was opened again, through the fully realized heart of the main character, it was easy to refocus.
Italian is so beautiful and the movie so passionate, it's almost impossible to not feel something grand about the feel of this, right up to the last frame.
Claudia Cardinale, as Angelica was well cast, but there are some incongruencies in her character that are never cleared up for us.
A very good film, those that have given it 5 stars are probably correct, unfortunately for me, the small plot issues keep me from giving it that kind of merit.