Os Monstros

The Italy is the birthplace of the Latinity that means spirituous people, that's the truth, then starting this point stays clear how they faces their lives, in this tragicomic twenty segments, both leading actors Ugo Tognazzi and Vittorio Gazzman scattered the Italian way black humor with surrealism, masterfully directed by Dino Risi, always anchored by cultural cynicism on Italian society, draw my attention one specific episode when a poor man (Gassman) arrives at slum's house surround by eight sons with medical problems and his pregnant wife asking for him buying some medicines, suddenly he appears at a crowd Roma's stadium almost insane when his team score a goal, priceless moments, reminds me in same place with Corinthians here in Brazil, let's forget aches and pains and have fun, other episode that worth to remember is about the young blind man and the alms's collector (Vittorio Gassman) at church's staircase, when a doctor offers to them a possible cure of blindness of the poor blind man, the blackmailer collector decides moves on to another Church, even mocking of the holiness of clerge, corrosive, bawdy, insane and unique!!!

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First watch: 2020 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 8.5

For me it's difficult to speak about this great comedy. it's very funny with sometimes black humour. There is also a good psychological analysis of italian society. Dino Risi with "I Mostri" & "I Nuovi Monstri" do an excelent job. Gassman and Tognazi are exceptional.

My advice: - If you have seen the movie, see it again and if you haven't you must try to find it.

Sketch movies are usually not my favourites, but this one is really good! It is a incredible festival of comic roles, brilliantly interpreted by a legendary duo : Vittorio Gassman and Ugo Tognazzi! Two "monsters" of italian cinema... These 20 mini-stories illustrate all the faults and defaults of Italian people of that time through an incredible kaleidoscope of characters and situations. Gassman and Tognazzi give it their best and the result is brilliant. Dino Risi casts a tender and ruthless eye on his compatriots, and very often our prejudices are comforted. An excellent moment of cinema!

I MOSTRI is a masterly comment on the rot, dignity, suffering, forbidden pleasures, good and evil at the heart of society. It happens to be Italian society under the microscope, but it would easily apply to most societies. Some of its sketches are very thought-provoking, presenting different characters in different stations in life, but always with a cynical incisiveness and a sense of humor that keep the film firmly anchored to ground reality.

From a cinematic standpoint, I MOSTRI is blessed in various ways. Director Dino Risi, actors Gassman and Tognazzi, and writers Incrocci and Scarpelli are all in top form.

Black and white photography serves the film's biting commentary on society well, and Alfio Contini does a great job of filming, regardless of whether he is closing up on the actors' faces, shooting boxing bouts, or doing interiors or exteriors.

I MOSTRI goes on for two hours, which, in my long film lover's life, tends to be excessive, but in this case it held my attention throughout, even conceding that it could have done without a couple of the sketches, which are immediately forgettable.

"I due orfanelli", "Il Sacrificato," "La Nobile Arte," "Il Povere Soldato," "Vernissage" are all outstanding segments, with Gassman and Tognazzi unafraid to play despicable characters, and switch to noble ones. It is a pity that acting of this quality should go unrewarded, when one sees so much rubbish from much more famous and far better paid actors in other parts of the world.

Director Risi, just off his masterpiece, IL SORPASSO, the previous year (1962) is in the greatest form of his career. A well deserved 9/10.

Directed by Dino Risi, I mostri is a collection of 20 satirized episodes connected by questionable characters. A social satire that postulates the idea of people as possible monsters in their own way, because we are all a little flawed. It leans on irony and dark comedy to explore the strengths and weaknesses of human beings. This dichotomy, which usually translates into hypocrisy, corruption, infidelity, etc., is presented in a tragicomic fashion throughout the 20 episodes. This kind of humor is not very distant from the one of today, and 61 years after its release, it's still funny as ever. The pacing can be uneven sometimes due to the difference in quality of the episodes, and with 121 minutes, it can also feel overlong, but nonetheless, most of the shorts are fun and entertaining.

I mostri offers Vittorio Gassman and Ugo Tognazzi the opportunity to showcase their talent and versatility. For instance, Gassman goes from playing a retired boxer, an attorney, a casanova, a woman, etc., while Tognazzi a father, a congressman, a husband, etc. They achieve humor from beginning to end and make it seem effortless.

The best episodes, in my opinion, are: "L'educazione sentimentale" in which a father tries to teach his son life lessons, "Come un padre" where a man tells a friend he suspects his wife cheats on him, "Testimone volontario" follows Tognazzi giving testimony in a trial, "Il sacrificato" Gassman is having a conversation with a lover in his car, "Scenda l'oblio" a couple is seeing a movie in the theater, "La strada e' di tutti" a pedestrian and his exchange with drivers, "L'oppio dei popoli" a married woman invites her lover to her house, "Il testamento di Francesco" a priest prepares for his TV show, "La nobile arte" follows a retired boxer.