elio petri

the assasin [l'assassino] (1961)
marcello mastroianni is without doubt the coolest actor to have ever graced cinema, italian or otherwise. the man defines charm as he carries his roles with ease.

mastroianni is nello poletti, accused of murdering his mistress (micheline presle), and involved in a compelling situation with the police. petri called the character "guilty of inhumanity", and i couldn't agree more.

the 10th victim [la decima vittima] (1965)
we went to this one entirely for the camp. marcello mastroianni and ursula andress give us b-grade action about a future world's tv game show called "man hunt." the film follows this literal man hunt as mastroianni runs from andress. it's fun, it's silly, and, sadly, it's dubbed (which i guess helps give it the b-film flavour). this is the type of film you watch while sitting around drinking with friends.

we still kill the old way [a ciascuno il suo] aka to each his own (1967)
more gian maria volonté! my memory is fuzzy here. does volonté play a woodcutter who becomes a suspect of various crimes, including arson, that are in fact being perpetrated by the female lead? if so, this movie followed a peculiar plot that left me feeling satisfied. if this isn't the same movie, where the hell was i?

a quiet place in the country [un tranquillo posto di campagna] (1969)
described as an "erotic, intellectual horror film". franco nero and vanessa redgrave star as an abstract painter and his mistress/manager. while some of the film is over the top, it has style and intensity, with great acting all around. features some of jim dine's canvases. worth watching for the strangeness factor.

the working class go to heaven [la classe operaia va in paradiso] (1972)
elio petri had a knack for casting some of the best male actors of all time. two incredible examples are gian maria volonté and the irrepressible marcello mastroianni.

in the working class go to heaven volonté stars as lulu, the extraordinary factory worker who is the subject of much hatred from his (slower working) coworkers. soon the plot introduces organized labour. an accident at the factory brings lulu's sympathies into line with the labour movement. soon he is provoking the masses and losing his mind.

the catchy score is by enio morricone, who works his magic over this high-energy film.

elio petri reminds me why i love italian cinema.

property is no longer theft [la proprietà non è più un furto] (1973)
flavio bucci plays a bank clerk that is allergic to money. he slowly steals items from a butcher (ugo tognazzi) in what becomes a class commentary. there's some serious laughs in this one.

good news [buone notizie] (1979)
an attack on the media. a peculiar film about a tv executive (giancarlo giannini) who has problems with his wife and with a crazed old friend. a healthy dose of black humour, topped off with another ennio morricone score. i recall enjoying this one a great deal. unfortunately, it's also petri's last movie.

[09/25/02]

{January 20, 2004 09:05 PM}