Reviews
Mambo Italiano (2003)
In this case truth is "funnier" than fiction.
In this case truth is "funnier" than fiction. The premise of "Mambo Italiano" - that is, Italian families having to face the vagaries of reality - is certainly a truth, but being Italian-American and viewing this film with my own experiences at hand I can honestly say that this is no fiction. No fiction could be funnier than this. Even if this family's circumstances focus on dealing with the knowledge that their only son is gay, the premise is universal among Italians - life is filled with "catastrophes" but somehow we all survive and hopefully end up better for the process. Call it passion, call it pessimism, call it anything, just call it (this movie) funny. It is a comedy based on tragedy (from the family's point of view), a reverse kind of "Pagliacci", not dark and brooding but colorful (literally filled with color) and humorous - designed for a modern audience. Well cast, well acted, and worth seeing, "Mambo Italiano" can make you laugh and cry (but mostly laugh) at the same time. This is living, Italian style (replete with North American Italian "villas" and statuary). Some say it is a kind of spin-off of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and the protagonist Angelo even implies this at the very end of the film - confirming my impression that this is an honest, open and very enjoyable film.
The Passion of the Christ (2004)
Work of Art
Whether one agrees or disagrees with Mel Gibson about religion which, one assumes, is the reason for his having made "The Passion of The Christ", this film, in my opinion, must be called a work of art. In the two-thousand year old tradition of religious art in Western and particularly Roman Catholic Christianity, this movie is the newest addition to the masterpieces depicting the passion and death of Our Lord. The movie chronicles scene-by-scene the well known events of Holy Thursday and Good Friday artistically on film. Beginning with The Agony in the Garden, depicting the Stations of the Cross, several Sorrowful Mysteries (of the Rosary), the famous "Ecce Homo" (which scene justifies the prolonged filming of the horrific Scourging at the Pillar), Veronica Wiping the Face of Jesus with his visage indelibly imprinted on the cloth, the Weeping Women of Jerusalem, the privileged ordeal of Simon of Cyrene, through the brutality of the Crucifixion and the profundity of the Death of Christ, concluding with a sublime creation (tableau vivant really) of the Pieta, this film equals the great paintings, sculptures, stained glass, altarpieces and other works of art and even the music dedicated to these themes over the centuries. This, to me, is the real value of the film and explains why at times people find it literally overwhelming (some in the audience weeping, breathless or complete silence). It is impossible not to respond in some way. It is difficult to imagine any other filming of the passion and death of Jesus ever happening again as this has got to be the ultimate portrayal. As with the other great works of Western religious art, one hope that this film will be preserved for posterity, for future generations to see.
The Nun's Story (1959)
An unforgettable film.
I as a youngster first saw this film upon its initial release. Already being a fan of Audrey Hepburn, I was eager to see the movie. I wasn't really prepared for the impact. The unrelenting cinematic beauty of the film, its score, and its star are unforgettable and I have periodically viewed the film ever since, first on rare TV showings and now on video.
Anyone who is interested in film making should see this movie. It is a masterpiece in nearly all respects (as far as I can tell) and scene after scene captures your attention and your heart. My favorite scene is the train scene in the Congo and the flower-filled cabin. The drama of the moment, the marvelous score by Franz Waxman, Audrey Hepburn's exquisite skills as an actress (this movie is I think her best dramatic performance) and Fred Zinnemann's direction, in my opinion, place this on the list of great cinematic moments. Who can fail to see the pathos? Much of the film is like this and therefore unforgettable. Treat yourself and view this great film. Really.