2023 Blind Spot Series: 8 1/2
What I knew going in: The basic plot
Guido Anselmi (Marcello Mastroianni) is a famed Italian director fresh off his last hit, but struggling to find purpose in this next film. He has "director's block." He attempts to go to a spa to think things out, but is met with pressure from studio execs and personal drama.
I never did see all of the Daniel Day Lewis starring remake of this, 9. What little I did see made me not want to bother with it and check out 8 1/2 instead. And here I am many years later. Why do we never talk about this film when it comes to editing? (Or maybe "we" do and I'm just not included) I thought it seamlessly transitioned from Guido's reality into his day dreams. It's gorgeous to look at. What DP Gianni di Venanzo pulled off was striking.
Mastroianni was good as the lead, but for me the women made this film. His wife, Luisa (Anouk Aimee) his mistress, Carla (Sanda Marlo) and even his dream girl Claudia (Claudia Cardinale) I thought they were great.
I kept laughing to myself at how beautiful all the women were in this film when the men were incredibly mid. But 8 1/2 was a lovely film to watch, especially in a technical aspect. Check it out on HBO Max if you haven't seen it.
Grade: B
While I prefer La Dolce Vita and Nights of Cabiria, this is still one of Fellini's great films as I just love the ambition and surreal elements of the film. Notably as it also play into Guido's struggle to find inspiration as he is even forced to go into his past but also the mess he's put himself in. I need this film on Blu-Ray yet I think I need that whole Fellini box set from Criterion including the ones that are available on Blu-Ray from Arrow.
ReplyDeleteAs for Nine, it's boring with the exception of Judi Dench and Marion Cotillard. I just didn't think it was that interesting as Rob Marshall obviously has no understanding of cinema at its most surreal as he should just go back to doing musical plays.
La Dolce Vita is one I have been meaning to watch for a long time. I will add Nights of Cabiria to the list as well!
DeleteThis one did little for me, I didn't hate it but I wasn't moved by it either. Perhaps it was a victim of raised expectations.
ReplyDeleteBy the time I finally did see it the film's reputation as an iconic piece of cinema had been built up so hugely that a letdown was nearly inevitable. I'm also not the biggest fan of Fellini. I've seen most of what are considered his most important pictures and haven't been swept away by any of them. He's accomplished and has a definite and distinct point of view but he never reaches me on an emotional level.
I'm a fan of both Anouk Aimee and especially Claudia Cardinale so their presence was most welcome and I agree they were standouts. I see what you're saying about them vs. the men, however Marcello Mastroianni (a very fine actor) while not devastatingly handsome is wildly charismatic, apparently even more so in person than on film.
I'm glad I saw it but like all Fellini films that one time view was enough.
That's how I felt about Citizen Kane when I first saw it. It was built up so highly and I felt nothing when watching it. That really taught me to lower my expectations when it comes to seeking out classic films. Sometimes it works in the opposite way though, like The Godfather which immediately shot up to one of my favorite films of all time.
DeleteI too was underwhelmed by Citizen Kane. I thought it was a well made film, if overlong but it didn't knock my socks off.
DeleteI think it's better to ignore the hype most times and try to go in as fresh as possible. Greatest of all time is a phrase I've come to hate since those things are so subjective. One of the greatest is a better qualifier but even then you'll watch something that has been praised to the skies and hate it, the first example that comes to mind for me is Lawrence of Arabia, and think what was all the shoutin' about?
Better to watch something that has a good, but not overinflated reputation or stars a performer or performers you like and discover an absolute gem. For instance one of Kurosawa's less heralded titles-"High and Low" which was compelling from beginning to end, or the Deanna Durbin/Charles Laughton comedy "It Started with Eve" which I'd heard was cute and found completely enchanting.
Best of all I think is when you watch something more or less completely unknown and it becomes a new favorite. That happened for me several times but the first one that comes to mind is the 1938 MGM comedy "Paradise for Three". It was surely meant to be just another assembly line B from them but through some alchemy of the right performers in the right roles paired with the proper director for the material who set it to a lively pace it turned out to be a little jewel of a film (no masterpiece but a jaunty, sprightly watch).
I enjoyed all those films much more than 8 1/2...or Citizen Kane for that matter.
I'm with Joel on this one. I'm glad I watched it but I was underwhelmed by it all. I do like Marcello but, I agree, the women shine. If I don't see it again it's ok
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit surprised everyone was lukewarm on this, but that does make me feel better for not thinking it's 5 star material.
DeleteI have to work really hard to like Fellini in general. I liked this more than most of his films, but I've also never felt the need to watch it a second time.
ReplyDeleteI get that. I could probably watch this again, but not any time soon.
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