Seen: July 19th, 2007
Format: DVD
Rating: 9
This is a fantastic film. And by that I mean that it is fantastical, that it resembles, but isn't a part of, reality. It's not quite of this world. Not that there's witches or dragons.
But there is magic.
If you can't suspend your disbelief, if you want films to be"real", to reflect reality, then this isn't for you. But if you can the rewards are great.
Basically, it's a simply wonderful story, which has been very meticulously and lovingly rendered. There's almost nothing that I can fault with in this film. Everything that happens does so to honor and support the underlying story.
The first thing to be mentioned is the music, which is simply stunning. Morricone is known more for his iconic western themes, but this is a brilliant melange of styles and attitudes. The piano work is amazing, I'm ashamed to say I don't remember, and can't find his name. The music serves here to bind the entire film together. At it's heart, this film is about music as metaphor for life. It both stands out on it's own, as well as serves the story.
Characterization is excellent. While the characters may seem a bit broad, this stems from the genre of the novel. The characters are intentionally larger than life. They tend to be very defined by their roles, and don't stray from them, but within that realm, they are magnificent.
Tim Roth and Pruitt Taylor Vince are both exceptional here. I recognized Vince's by his voice-over before his reveal, which surprised me a bit. He far exceeded my expectations here. Roth is consummate in all aspects. His depth and nuance is amazing. Bill Nunn is a welcome sight, and though his part fairly minor, a great asset.
Visually, the film is feast. The use of lighting is stunning. Some of the darkest scenes are the most effective in the film. Dark represents many things here, all of them important. Watch for the camera moves. There's some very original ones, and they convey and focus the action in very unique ways. The period costuming and sets are marvelous as well.
I love this film because it's fantastic. It's beautiful without being sentimental. It's tragic without being sad. It's a grand metaphor for life, riding on a quirky premise which smirks at us from the very beginning. It's a work of love and passion that can't be denied.
Note: The version I watched is ~120 minutes. The original Italian version is closer to 160. If anyone know how I can get hold of the longer version, please let me know!
The Good: Beautifully rendered, start to finish
The Bad: Occasionally choppy in the editing
The Ugly:Limiting yourself
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