Tiny-13

The 10 Star Reviews Are Likely from People Connected to the Film

Roma first came to my attention from an onslaught of PR from Netflix. However, I've been watching the movie for the past 32 minutes and 26 seconds and I'm bored to tears. Where's the story? Where's a modicum of anything worthwhile to keep me viewing?

Simply put, don't believe the hype.

Sorry Netflix, bombarding voting members like myself doesn't buy you awards. Good films do. Stop throwing everything and the kitchen sink at us hoping that something sticks. You're asking for a negative reaction with such a misguided strategy.

AN UPDATE AS OF OSCAR NIGHT: It turns out Netflix engaged in a behind-the-scenes campaign to smear "Green Book", Roma's closest competitor in the race for the Academy's Best Picture award. I can only hope that this untoward and unprofessional behavior comes back to bite Netflix and the film's producers in the behind when the statuettes are handed out tonight.

(And as an aside, from here on out, all Netflix screeners that I'm sent during Awards Season will he placed at the bottom of the pile)

The story of Modigliani is well-known. However, this film gives it life with a wonderful script, amazing cinematography, and mind-blowing performances by Andy Garcia and Elsa Zylberstein, a little-known French actress. I was glued to the screen from start to finish and have recommended it to everyone. If this film, Garcia, and Zylberstein don't receive Academy Award nominations, there's something wrong with Hollywood... at least more than is already wrong with it.

Run don't walk to the nearest theatre showing "Modigiliani". Forget the mega-publicized studio films being released now (Winter 2004-2005). See it while you can. It's a true find, and one that will stay with you long after you left the theatre.

This is your basic cheapie TV Movie-of-the-week that takes a great film from the 1940's and absolutely ruins it. The writing is horrible, the acting is worse. Barbara Hershey looks as though she's moving through the film with one thought on her mind, "I'm going to fire my agent for getting me this gig." Peter Strauss who is a fine actor, turns in what is arguably his worst performance ever. Strauss assumes the silly accent of a New York Mafioso from the 1940's. It's as thin as his acting. There is nothing about this particular remake that gives reason for its being made. No original ideas here; bland, bland, bland. At least they could have put some interesting spin on the material. It pales in comparison to the original 1946 classic.