Sanguepazzo

(2008) Sanguepazzo/ Wild Blood (In Italian with English subtitles) DRAMA/ WAR

Co-written and directed by Marco Tullio Giordana showcasing the historical reference of two people of the once acclaim actors of Luisa Ferida (Luca Zingaretti) and Osvaldo Valenti (Monica Bellucci) from the time they first met to the time during WWII fascist Italy.

I am not quite sure whether all the details are accurate for what would help for the viewer if the director himself reveal his resources, as it is more of a vague interpretation rather than a factual one. I mean, it is a more than a two hour experience which I haven't learned anything more after the movie was over.

This 148-minute (far too long) film is so confusing that you're not sure at times if you're watching a film in 'real' time or watching flashbacks on flashbacks.

The movie is based on two real characters -- actors Luise Ferada (Monica Bellucci) and bombastic Osvaldo Valenti (Luca Zingaretta) -- who were big movie stars in fascist Italy before and during the Second World War. Despite the film's length, their motivations and personalities are never really explored. We know that they're cocaine users and so consumed with themselves that they are basically indifferent to the fascism that ultimately does them in.

This is a film that should be alive with the frenetic tempo and intrigue of the times, but it's instead oddly static. It is difficult to imagine at times that a war is going on all around the many characters who weave in and out of the frames -- so many in fact that the viewer starts losing track of who is a fascist, who is a resistance fighter (partisan) or who, like the lead characters, is basically a person who doesn't much care one way or the other.

This film should have been far more interesting, engrossing and exciting, but it settles instead for a confusing love affair and a strange, leisurely pacing that undermines the film throughout. The director, Marco Giordana, must take responsibility for this.

Unfortunately the interesting topic chosen by Giordana, and the quite good acting by Zingaretti have been wasted due to the terribly poor acting of Bellucci. That she wasn't really an actress I suspected, as she was always only _shown_ in US films, and they never allowed her to utter more than a few words; now I can see why. She's as expressive as a sofa, as passionate as a brick, as professional as somebody who has never even seen a film. What a pity! With one of the good actresses who work in Italian cinema today (for example Vittoria Mezzogiorno) it could have been a very good film, though, compared to the other Italian movie at Cannes, Gomorra, we are in a different, lower league. Garrone is a real film director; Giordana is a gifted TV director (in fact his best thing so far is a TV series, La meglio gioventù). Once again: what a pity. What a waste.

Orson Welles once said there are 52 million great actors in Italy, none of them work in films. Cards on the table. I am an Italian. I write movies and act in movies and there are some moments in Italian movies that are like no other. New moments. Acts of inspired imagination. Leone had them by the yard. Fellini the same. I could name a dozen. But this film is nothing more or less than two and a half hours of soft porn and cheap emotions. If you like a lot of simulated copulation and have hours of nothing better to do, then this one is for you. But it is sure as hell not one for me. Time to go and check out Bitter Rice to take the taste out of my mouth.

For people who were already moviegoers during WW2, this movie is a gem, because it is impossible to forget the extraordinary performances given by Osvaldo Valenti during his brief career. I well remember one of his deliveries in LA CENA DELLE BEFFE (1), perhaps his best movie. It is understandable that Tullio Giordana nourished his project for more than 25 years, and it is impossible not to be touched by Luigi Zingaretti's interpretation of Richard III.("A kingdom for a horse!") It is a long movie (2 1/2 hours) and at least the first half is excellent, because of the description of the atmosphere during the unfortunate war fought by Mussolini "to please his master". It is a pity that Monica Bellucci doesn't meet the expectations, especially when one remembers the high number of "divas" from Cinecittà who entertained us in the Forties. With American movies gone, and French movies scarce, the "white telephones" from the Italian comedies were a good replacement, and the "whale movies" like CORONA DI FERRO (Blasetti)were very impressive.Unfortunately,after the first half, SANGUE PAZZO doesn't keep its pace. As stressed up by another comment , almost all the climaxes are cut short by flashbacks, to the point of confusion, if not frustration. However, the beginning and the end - a couple of youngsters taking possession of one of the devilish couple's movies -is an excellent idea. Marco Tullio Giordana is better with TV series than historic movies, but I am hardly waiting for his next production.Harry Carasso, Paris, France (1) "In the water, there was a small red fish who was staring, staring, like a tear of blood...").