Harbert1
Joined Jul 1999
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Reviews7
Harbert1's rating
Knew nothing of this film when I put it in the player, except that Goldie Hawn was central to it. I see the original film ran over 120 minutes, my disc says 96. It should have been even less. The plot is predictable - Italian male professional, married with family has to leave town because of a family crisis. When he can't persuade a woman with whom he had an affair a year previously to come with him on his trip, he takes in her place an American woman (played by Hawn) who happens to be staying with the first woman. The story is an attempt to develop the relationship between Hawn and Giannini.
Some of the element of unbelievability comes from the unbelievable boorishness of the latter. Some of it is contributed by the jumps in continuity. And the poor color control of my disc did not help. Oh, and did I mention the dubbing? There were some interesting insights into Italian family life, and there were some revelations in the last quarter of the movie that in a better director's hands would have portrayed some aspects of Italian family life to much greater effect. The funeral becomes a very interesting occasion.
There is brief nudity near the start and near the end of the film.
Some of the element of unbelievability comes from the unbelievable boorishness of the latter. Some of it is contributed by the jumps in continuity. And the poor color control of my disc did not help. Oh, and did I mention the dubbing? There were some interesting insights into Italian family life, and there were some revelations in the last quarter of the movie that in a better director's hands would have portrayed some aspects of Italian family life to much greater effect. The funeral becomes a very interesting occasion.
There is brief nudity near the start and near the end of the film.
Some films require that viewers suspend their attachment to reality, to be drawn into a place of intrigue or enchantment. Or both - which is what this film signals to the potential viewer; a comedy, mystery thriller no less.
For me this film asked too much. Johnsson behaves as if she is a naive 17-year old. Jackman behaves as if he is smitten by this young woman who he has just rescued, but I never got the sense that his heart was in it. Allen is a curmudgeon, but age has slowed him, and his behavior slows the film. Perhaps the script would have stolen the show. There are unexpected twists in the story and some interesting interweaving editing in several sections but a script needs actors to bring it to life, and there is little life here - except where death is supposed to be real. The figure of Death was the most real figure of all in this film - and Death wasn't talking, wouldn't even take a bribe.
I place this film near the bottom of Allen's creations.
For me this film asked too much. Johnsson behaves as if she is a naive 17-year old. Jackman behaves as if he is smitten by this young woman who he has just rescued, but I never got the sense that his heart was in it. Allen is a curmudgeon, but age has slowed him, and his behavior slows the film. Perhaps the script would have stolen the show. There are unexpected twists in the story and some interesting interweaving editing in several sections but a script needs actors to bring it to life, and there is little life here - except where death is supposed to be real. The figure of Death was the most real figure of all in this film - and Death wasn't talking, wouldn't even take a bribe.
I place this film near the bottom of Allen's creations.