gianniz

The trouble with close-ups of two men eating lunch and discussing Sal Mineo's upcoming film is that we don't get much more than two men shoveling food in their mouths. I don't know why director Franco was so locked in to the close-up. Or why we get so much footage of Sal Mineo driving through LA in his Chevy Malibu. Without any dialog or view out the window, this is downright boring. The accompanying torch song (Pink Flamingos?) on the sound track was so loud I had to cover my ears. As for period authenticity, someone should have checked the script: in 1976 people did not use the expression, "You're good to go." —- not even the nurse as the health clinic.

A history of Italy in the past 40 years, as filtered through the ups and downs of a middle-class family. Besides pop corn bring a box of tissues, because it will break your heart, again and again. It will also make you laugh and beam with joy. The wedding scene that ends Part I is magnificent, an ensemble of superb actors and actresses so skillfully followed by the camera you think it's one long spontaneous, improvised performance. Also not to be missed, the cameo role of the medical school professor.