Almost Blue

This could had been a pretty good genre movie but instead it's a pretty average and forgettable one now. Just when you think the movie is starting to get more interesting it doesn't go through with it and the movie doesn't go anywhere really with its story.

Watching a movie like this always makes you think why did they even make a movie out of this. The story could had just as well been one for an average detective-series, for TV. There isn't really anything that makes this movie stand out.

No, it's not bad all to watch but it's also easily a movie you can do without.

The movie tried to give the movie some more style and class by making the movie it's visual look quite artistic at times, like lots of 'modern' Italian movies often do. It could had worked out if the shots had actually served a purpose for the movie but instead these sort of scenes would just irritate me because the movie was trying too hard at times. I just don't like it when a movie is trying to be constantly different but it doesn't actually enhance the movie its style or story.

It's also pretty much a movie by the numbers. The movie is perhaps lacking in some good surprises or plot twists and now instead also ends pretty disappointingly. The way the way story progresses also doesn't exactly help to make this movie a credible one or even not a compelling one.

Nothing too bad but the movie isn't really heading anywhere with its formulaic story and is not good enough with any of its other aspects to really stand out within its genre.

6/10

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The 99% of thriller/horror movies are based on this assumption: people are stupid. Only in this way we can explain the ridiculous plot and naive subject that the majority of this kind of movies have. A few examples are: The Bone collector, The Crimson Rivers, The Cell and, obviously, Almost Blue. Common 'features' of these movies are: - They want to be psychological thrillers. It's a pity that the psychological aspect of the killer seems written by a five years old children. - They want to be 'belivable' but I think that an episode of The Simpsons is much more realistic. There's always a super-policeman/fbi agent that seems to have the control of all the police department. He/she knows every single move of the killer...but always 2 minutes later. There's ALWAYS someone that can help the 'hero' to get the killer but doing this he/she risks his/her own life... They are all the same! - They want to scare the audience. The problem here is that after the first 5 minutes you are able to predict EXACTLY how the story will end.

Almost Blue has all the above features and much more :) The only good thing about this movie are the last 2 minutes...the final scene is somewhat poetic but, unfortunately, it can't save Almost Blue from being a really mediocre movie...

Worst acting ever, i mean, even worse than the couple Dionisi/Caselli in Argento's NonHoSonno. Even Santamaria who is a good actor is totally unfit with his role. But if you look at it again, even if he is not directing actors at all, Infascelli took his chance on making a movie with a very strong visual impact, and there it is!! The cinematography is neat and hard. Alex should work on his big skills by making a more solid thriller/horror movie, this was just a decent first try. 6 out of ten

It was a pleasure to watch to Marco Giallini. He is a great actor with the face of a big Italian man. Hope to see him more. Yes, I really liked the cast. The film goes straight ahead. It is just a classic thriller story. And it is a fantastic film. You see lots of interesting camera angles, like I just said, a nice cast and a powerful atmosphere. Why didn't I hear about this director, Alex Infascelli, before? For sure, you gotta like thriller, this is not kind of big philosophy, this is creating a thriller atmosphere and enjoying every minute. Many young directors loose themselves in trying to be something different, but this director has done a good job and that's it. I wished there were more movies with that kind of clear genre dedication.

As a fan of giallo, and after reading one reviewer liken this to Manhunter (1986), I decided to give it a go. I was curious: was early millennium Italian crime genre as cutting edge and provocative as it was in the 60s, 70s and even early 80s? The answer from this film for me is unfortunately mostly no. There are a few problems. First, this not a murder mystery, but more of a police procedural and light character study. We get glimpses of the killer, and the police ID him quickly. That removes any element of suspense of classic giallo and Italian crime movies which keeps the viewer guessing. Second, there is not much horror. There are one or two jumps, and there is some blood (including the memorable image of hands typing on a computer keyboard covered in blood), but again there is no building of dread and deep sense of the horrific. Lastly, the characters are lightly studied but only the surface is touched. Apparently this was based on a well regarded book, so it's unfortunate the film wasn't as successful. The acting is fine, though not spectacular. The direction is definitely above average, with modern lighting, thoughtful angles and shots. The story is also good - there is so much potential with the elements of a female lead detective, a blind witness, a killer obsessed with internet chat rooms and techno music - but the parts don't connect fully and never add up to much. Keep your expectations very low and see it just to cross off your list, but definitely not essential and I wouldn't waste money on owning a copy.