pacolgan

Many complain that Italian cinema isn't doing well because it lacks the budget, this is an example of a mess of a movie done with a lot of money. Renzo Martinelli has shot decent films in the past, but this is a big letdown, except for a few high points. The beginning, for instance is very powerful and Harvey Keitel is always quite effective.

The movie has been harshly debated for its controversial, conservative point of view on terrorism. But the screenplay is so bad that its stances cannot really be taken seriously. To make a political statement there are more subtle ways than make a character hold a university lesson (in front of very few students. a metaphor?). Also director Renzo Martinelli here shows he hasn't got (yet?) the hand for action scenes. Few and quite bad, here.

One of the best films of the season so far. Bill Murray is simply outstanding in this movie completely cut on him. the film is not a movie that will make you laugh to death but that will amuse you with its surreal humor, its atmosphere, the absurd characters that are on the scene. It's not explicit humor but more under the surface and so not everybody will understand it. It is the typical case you either love or hate a movie. Amazing scenographies, special effects, locations and music (David Bowie classics rearranged in Portuguese Bossa Nova style and sang by the Brazilian sailor, singer Seu Jorge) and excellent cast.

This movie gave me different feelings and I have mixed thoughts about it. The first part gives some scares and keeps the tension up and strong. Sadly the mystery is discovered too early and this really lowers the high tension of the movie. The second part of the film is a bit of a mess and I think that with a little more work the film would have been great. The director also tries to explore the border between love and death. See the really physical scene of Paula making love opposed to the corpses of the initial scene.