Diabolik

It is an entertaining movie.

The soundtrack is beautiful.

It is clear that they put a lot of effort to crete the 60s vibe with a lot of liminal spaces.

You have all the tropes in it: the sensual woman, the attractive and skilled villain and the determined detective.

I think that the masks part was an inspiration from "Fantômas".

I had mixed fellings about how should I feel about a movie that glorifies crooks and killers but now I'm sure, I hate it because even if some of people killed haven't been clean they haven't been dirty enough to justify a killing and most of them have been regular people anyway.

This is a '60 movie for the "modern" audiences where the bad must be presented as good.

As a huge fan of the character, and having felt let down by the 1968 cartoonish effort to bring Diabolik to screen, I was really pumped to learn that this film was being made and had great expectations for it.

Well...

Truth is that I sat in horror during the entire first act as I could not believe the absolutely incompetent direction, writing and acting displayed on screen. The Manetti brothers should stick to TV films and soap operas as they are clearly not cut for this genre.

But hey what do I know? They are already working on the second and third installments lol.

I want to mention that when Claudia Gerini entered the screen, for a moment I forgot that I was watching a mediocre school play. I wish she was in for more. I also really felt that Marinelli, although he did a decent job, was wrongly cast as Diabolik as he does not have the phisique du role. Same for Leone, which beauty and hair pulled up are not enough to make her a believable Eva Kent. Music score was generic and did not help propel the story.

Although I was hoping for the contrary, Diabolik 2022 doesn't stand a chance against the many international titles out there in the same genre, and as a first installment of what it appears to become a trilogy, unfortunately it is not really promising.

Two charming starring , Luca Marinelli and Miriam Leone , star this nice and enjoyable movie set in a nameless European nation . Dealing with popular hero from famous comic books who previously performed John Phillip Law and Marisa Mell . Adaptation of the Noir comic book of the sixties by the Giussani brothers , concerning the world's deadliest and most dazzlingly robber , he evades the law while performing his criminal antics , as the eludes the police by disguising , changing cars , hot pursuits , and masking himself . Along the way , Diabolik uses his extraordinary powers to foil criminals and steal billions from the government . As the anti-hero of the film , Diabolik must face off botcher law enforcements . The film is a thriller with a markedly retro aesthetic that emulates the psychedelic adaptation to the big screen carried out by Mario Bava : Danger Diabolik (1968) . On this occasion the elusive , implacable thief with a thousand disguises , Diabolik (Luca Marinelli) , whose true identity no one knows , returns to drive his iconic Jaguar E-type to strike a new coup : seize the famous pink diamond, a priceless piece carried by the rich and enigmatic heiress Eva Kant (Miriam Leone) . Meanwhile , Inspector Ginco (Valerio Mastandrea) takes every precaution to ensure that the robbing don't take place at the local bank . He robs from the rich to give to the girls !. Meet Diabolik. Slick. Suave. Gentle. Brutal. Wild. Out for all he can take, seduce, or get away with...!

Agreeable and brilliant rendition , not taking any situation seriously ; being based on famous strip-cartoon thriller titled "Diabolik", one of the longest running - and most successful - Italian comic strips , known as "fumetti" drew by Angela Giussani and Luciana Giussani . This very campy picture contains thrills , action , phantasmagoria , psychedelia , pop art , tongue-in-cheek , absurd situations , and being competently developed , including split screen . Fantastic production design and art design influenced by the original comic books and James Bond movies , showing splendidly the breathtaking settings at a remote cave in a mountain and others . Through a retro aesthetic , this new reboot introduces the viewer into a tense and cold atmosphere that has the best ingredients of Noir cinema : impassive femme fatales , twisted criminals , a staging full of shadows and a police investigation determined to unmask to this relentless thief . Here Luca Marinelli and Miriam Leone replace John Philip Law and Marisa Mell but they do not reach those iconic figures resulting in being an inferior and overlong film compared to Mario Bava's classic . Diabolik (2021) won the 2022 David Di Donatello Award for Best Original Song : La profondita degli abiss and was nominated for 11 more statuettes, including a Best Lead Actress nomination for gorgeous Miriam Leone.

The main and support cast -with everyone having fun- are frankly good . Luca Marinelli is fine in the title character as the masked career thief known only as Diabolik , who eludes his official pursuers with his mistress and partner-in-crime . Bombshell Miriam Leone as wonderful colleague is ideal actress to her role , she shines and expands her beauty and extreme sexuality . The best of the interpretations result to be Valerio Mastandrea as stubborn police inspector who's usually duped and Claudia Gerini as Signora Morel . It contains lively and catching original music score by Aldo De Scalzi . As well as glimmer and glamorous cinematography by Francesca Ametrano . The motion picture was decently directed by Antonio Manetti, Marco Manetti who have made a sequel titled Diabolik - Ginko all'attacco! (2022) with Giacomo Gianniotti as Diabolik , Miriam Leone , Eva Kant , Valerio Mastandrea as Ispettore Ginko and Monica Bellucci. The picture will appeal to thriller genre buffs . Rating 6.5/10.

Amoral thief Diabolik is planning to steal a pink diamond from the wealthy Lady Eva Kant. An expanded adaptation of the third issue of the comic (L'arresto di Diabolik, 1963), where Kant's character is introduced.

The movie, set in "the late 1960s" in the fictional Clerville, is crafted like an Italian giallo of the time. Aside from the attention to scenography and costumes this stylistic choice is clear in cinematography, the use of editing, and the screenplay. The pace is much slower that what you would be used to in an action movie or thriller today, giving more of a vague vintage 'mystery' vibe, and sometimes relying too much on exposition. None of the camp of Mario Bava's "Danger: Diabolik", however: this is still a movie that takes itself seriously.

The main actors have good chemistry, with Eva Kant emerging as the real protagonist of the movie, but the cold and detached portrayal of the title character isn't inspiring and the actors beyond the main trio are forgettable.

Overall a charming and well-made work, although the style may not go well with all audiences.

To say I had a great Hype for "DIABOLIK" would be an understatement. Truth to be told, it was one of my most expected movies of the year.

Based on the premises, from the directors to the cast, from the settings to the various elements, I was pretty much sure to give my full trust to the whole project.

And I can say that my expectations were satisfied for the most part.

I sincerely can't understand what all those people who bailed this picture as a total failure, both professional critics and general audience, did actually watched.

This movie is veeeeery far from the disaster many declared (seriously, some folks almost put this on the same level as VENOM, what gives?!)

Of course, we're not talking about a perfect movie, but still a pretty decent one, and THAT should not make you think it's worthless.

As an avid reader of the original comic, I can say that for the most part its atmosphere was totally respected. Maybe a bit more, because one problem many will have is about the style.

The directors voluntarily reproduced the narrative and technical style of a '60s movie, and this won't suit well with modern audiences. But is it really a major flaw? I don't think so.

To prove my point, I'll say that I watched the movie with a friend who doesn't know ANYTHING about the original comics, or about those kind of movies ... and yet, he was never bored and truly enjoyed the picture.

There are several benefits, starting with the two protagonists, an always diligent Luca Marinelli as the dark thief, and a simply stunning Miriam Leone that shows both the incredible beauty and the solid competence of Eva Kant, way more than a mere "femme fatale".

And the technical side, from the cinematography to the production design, serves perfectly to put the audience in that period.

But still, there are some big flaws, like the way certain plot points are solved, and the most important, at least for me: Valerio Mastandrea is just not credible as Ginko, or as a policeman in general, like my friend said. Luckily he appears for the right time, without resulting too invasive in the plot, but still plays a very important role that he can't just give enough justice (quite ironically XD)

But all in all, THIS IS NOT A DISATER, but a pretty decent experiment that deserves a chance, and maybe a bit more of mental opening from audiences. Really, I assure you that it won't be a waste of time.

Long Live Giussani Sisters, and long live Diabolik!