Ataraxia

  General Della Rovere, written by Sergio Amidei, Diego Fabbri, Indro Montanelli, based on a story by the latter 10 out of 10 This sublime motion picture has been included on The New York Times’ Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made list -  https://www.listchallenges.com/new-york-times-best-1000-movies-ever-made/list/9  - and it is an absolute magnum opus, benefiting from the direction of Roberto Rossellini, with glorious Vittorio De Sica in the leading role – he is also acclaimed as one of the greatest directors ever, being at the helm of such films as Marriage Italian Style -  http://realini.blogspot.com/2020/03/marriage-italian-style-based-on-play-by.html  - included on the same prestigious New York Times list… Vittorio De Sica aka Bardone aka Grimaldi has as difficult and complex a role as one can imagine for he might have to rise from the depth of moral depravity, the nadir of human ethics to the level of the role models, angles and superheroes, in the time it takes ...

  Note on La Vita e Bella, starring, written and directed by Roberto Benigni | realini

  The Dance of the Papers by Roberto Mazzucco   Kafkaesque but in reverse, if that is feasible.   This is a comedy for all the dark accents that can even make one cry. Thinking of the bureaucracy that I have been living through, I could not laugh at all the humor. Instead, passages in this adapted play made live again some of least pleasant moments of my life. We all know from Kafka what a class of individuals can do when they control the access, the benefits or the papers. These state employees can turn your life into hell and that is what happens to the hero of the story – Piccini-who, like Joseph K. becomes a victim. He had an accident and then he is trying to get the money that is due, but has an uphill journey ahead of him. He is sent from this desk to another down the hall only to find that from there his files have been sent away. It takes five days for the documents to travel a few meters or feet, from one bureaucrat to another, stationed in the same building. The...

  The Prestige, based on the book by Christopher Priest and directed, adapted by Christopher Nolan Nine out of 10 This is a note about the film, inspired by the book… The Prestige has had a…prestigious relationship with the audiences as evidenced by the 1,099, 489 viewers that have given it an average of 8.5 out of 10, placing it with that appreciation at 48 among the Top Rated Movies, although the critics have not been equally ebullient and have given it a Metascore of 66, which means that on average, they have enjoyed the film, but not with exaggerated enthusiasm for a twice nominated for the Oscars production. The astounding Christian Bale as Alfred Borden – and perhaps another, mysterious character – Scarlett Johansson as Olivia Wenscombe, Hugh Jackman as Robert Angier, legendary Michael Caine as Cutter, Rebecca Hall in the role of Sarah and all the other artists, including Andy Serkis and David Bowie, as Tesla, work resplendently under the direction of Christopher Nolan. Rober...

  Welcome Home, by David Levinson Seven out of 10 It is regrettable to see that such a talented actor as Aaron Paul has had very little chance to prove his abilities once the superb Breaking Bad series ended. Welcome Home is not that opportunity, even if it is not altogether a meritless motion picture. Aaron Paul plays Bryan, the boyfriend of Cassie aka attractive, gifted – never seen before by the under signed – Emily Ratajkowski. They rent a splendid villa, more like a mansion in fact, in Italy, where the American couple arrives in a Fiat. On the way to this resplendent small palazzo, they stop at another beautiful house, next door. The mansion has a fabulous swimming pool, a well-supplied cellar, from which a bottle of wine is placed on the table by the owner with a card, compliments and the invitation to call if they need anything. There is something wrong though, for when Cassie and Bryan engage in erotic games, embraces, kisses, the man is moving away for a reason that we are...

  I Vitelloni, written and directed by Federico Fellini                  I Vitelloni is a superb film.                 However,It is not in the same league with: La Dolce Vita, 8 ½, Amarcord, The Nights of Cabiria, La Strada, Juliet of the Spirits  but it is outstanding nevertheless. I Vitelloni was nominated for one of the Twelve Oscars (!) for which Federico Fellini was listed. Moraldo Rubini, Alberto, Fausto, Leopoldo and Riccardo are all friends. Moraldo Rubini is the positive, almost the role model type. Signature strengths abound in the description of this character: Integrity, Fairness, Wisdom and Knowledge, Justice, Temperance, Transcendence, Humanity and Humility/modesty, Forgiveness and Mercy, Prudence, Self-regulation, hope, Gratitude, Love, Kindness and more. Moraldo has a beautiful, candid and charming sister- S...

  The Viceroy’s Carriage by Prosper Mérimée   The author is famous for Carmen, which is one of the best operas, thanks in large part to the contribution of Bizet. I for one never heard of this Carriage of the Viceroy before this morning. It is not a bad play, but I could not say that this is a masterpiece. This is a light comedy, where the main character is the viceroy. He is the representative of the Spanish crown in one of its territories in Latin America. As the highest ranking official in Lima, Peru the man enjoys a privileged position, something like a governor of a province. He receives a carriage from Spain, which is his pride and joy, much like a Rolls Royce or a Bentley would be today.  The viceroy is supposed to show this splendid vehicle as he goes to church. But the problem is that the weather is beastly and the man is suffering, even if he loathes admitting that his condition is serious. He listens to some complaints, some of which are rather funny: -  ...