The Hurt Locker is a good film, very well-made and directed. The beginning scene in particular is excellent.
Caligula has some good ideas and there are a few remains of what might have been, but to be honest Bob Guiccone’s involvment was never going to allow what Tinto Brass wanted.
Watched Revolver last night as part of my broadening out into spaghetti-flick-land from the western corner of spaghetti-land that I more usually inhabit.
Thoroughly enjoyable pairing of Testi as the crook and Oliver Reed as the volatile cop who’s out to find his kidnapped wife.
Sollima brings a touch of Face to Face shades of grey to these characters and it all bodes well for a taut thriller.
Excellent stuff.
[quote=“Reverend Danite, post:8842, topic:1923”]Watched Revolver last night as part of my broadening out into spaghetti-flick-land from the western corner of spaghetti-land that I more usually inhabit.
Thoroughly enjoyable pairing of Testi as the crook and Oliver Reed as the volatile cop who’s out to find his kidnapped wife.
Sollima brings a touch of Face to Face shades of grey to these characters and it all bodes well for a taut thriller.
Excellent stuff.[/quote]Glad you liked it Rod. Have you seen Violent City?
I’m not sure - I’ve seen a couple of cop ones thanks to Phil, and one of them was a 'Violent…’ something. I’ll find 'em and find out.
More of the Poliziotteschi type films will be gotten I reckon. I really liked the What Have They Done To Your Daughters giallo-ey one as well.
I’ve read your recommendations in another thread Yod - and will be acting upon it soon. Cheers 
BREAKOUT - Charles Bronson, with the help of Jill Ireland, tries to get Robert Duvall out of a mexican prison. Rather average actioner without any big surprises or really exciting scenes. Quite flimsy plotwise. Bronson talks a lot more than he should. Nothing special overall, only for Bronson completists.
One Bronson flick that I did not get to see till the late 90’s, and was a bit dissapointed with it on the whole.
I’ve come to the conclusion that 80s Bronson films are more enjoyable on the whole despite their higher trash factor. TWINKY, FROM NOON TILL THREE, YOU CAN’T WIN THEM ALL, BREAKOUT, THE VALLACHI PAPERS, CHINO from the 70s are all average films for me, some of them even worse than that.
maybe he play a small role
Absolutely agree. I didn’t like Violent City which was unfortunately disappointing, directed in an uninspiring way (well, except maybe for the very last scene - this was great).
As regards Revolver, it’s a tremendous poliziotteschi and even though it might appear to be slightly too slow for a cop movie, it’s well made, well shot (Aldo Scavarda - the guy who contributed with Antonioni - The Adventure (1960)), fabulously acted and even the script which on the first glance seems to be something average, on account of the apt direction by Sollima almost a sort of political thriller. Not to mention wonderful score by Morricone which was even used by Tarantino in Inglorious Basterds (2009).
The soundtrack is my favorite from Morricone.
[quote=“Mickey13, post:8850, topic:1923”]Absolutely agree. I didn’t like Violent City which was unfortunately disappointing, directed in an uninspiring way (well, except maybe for the very last scene - this was great).[/quote]I really like Violent City.
…but I like Revolver a hell of a lot more
[quote=“Yodlaf Peterson, post:8852, topic:1923”]I really like Violent City.
…but I like Revolver a hell of a lot more ;)[/quote]
I’d seen Revolver earlier and I had a very high expectations as for Violent City. It turned out to have also rather straight-forward story, but it’s not politically-tinged and that’s why also it doesn’t get that good. Bronson and even Morricone (one of my favorites soundtracks - superb, not as good as to Revolver though) can’t save the day for me as well.
I’d rate both flicks like this:
Revolver - 8/10
Violent City - 5/10 (an enjoyable average flick - it was entertaining, but from Sollima we should get something better, right?)
Damn it, Revolver is really a great flick, one of the very best Italian thrillers from that period of time. The better ones might be only Street Law and Rabid Dogs I think.
I almost cried when I heard the song “Un Ami”. A pure beauty.
[quote=“Mickey13, post:8854, topic:1923”]I almost cried when I heard the song “Un Ami”. A pure beauty.[/quote]I love that track. Got a Japanese LP of the soundtrack.
Italian Crime and Spaghetti Westerns are my two favourite Italian genres. I do like all sorts though.
[quote=“Mickey13, post:8850, topic:1923”]Absolutely agree. I didn’t like Violent City which was unfortunately disappointing, directed in an uninspiring way (well, except maybe for the very last scene - this was great).
As regards Revolver, it’s a tremendous poliziotteschi and even though it might appear to be slightly too slow for a cop movie, it’s well made, well shot (Aldo Scavarda - the guy who contributed with Antonioni - The Adventure (1960)), fabulously acted and even the script which on the first glance seems to be something average, on account of the apt direction by Sollima almost a sort of political thriller. Not to mention wonderful score by Morricone which was even used by Tarantino in Inglorious Basterds (2009).[/quote]
I’ll have to watch Revolver then, so it seems
Watched Violent City twice, the first time in cinema, when it was first released, the second time a year or so ago. Didn’t like it when I first saw it, but I was still rather young then, so I thought I might like it better now, but it still was a dissapointment. Not bad, but just not what you expect from this director.
I can only say amen to that.
”Revolver” by Sergio Sollima are my favorite Italian crime film together with ”High Crime” from Enzo Castellari.
I agree “Violent City” is not the greatest, but it is great Bronson…and that last scene does indeed make it all worth it to me.
Violent City and Revolver match the quality of the directors westerns for me.
I still have to watch High Crime. Planning to order it from cinema de bizarre along with Violent Rome.
