The Great Beauty is something of a masterpiece, there are
comparisons to be made with the likes of Fellini and previous masters of
Italian Cinema; the film doesn’t really stick too much to an over arching
narrative story of it’s main character Jeb, but we are given a moment in time
into the life of a once highly thought of novelist who’s turned to a
comfortable journalism writing career and while becoming wealthy and having a
close group of friends who are all just as wealthy; Jeb begins to look back on
his life and questions what he has done with his life up until this point.
Essentially as the viewer we are getting a look into the lives of those of the
super rich i.e. the Berlusconi’s of Italy; with their outlandishly vibrant
parties, lavish high rise apartments and expensive cars. The Great Beauty is
not only absolutely stunning visually to look at but it’s complemented with a
soundtrack that uses music perfectly, something that transcends the film into
another level of entertainment and not relying too heavily on dialogue to put
across the inner thoughts and emotions that are running through Jeb’s mind as
he begins to find himself disillusioned with the lifestyle of which he has been
living for the past 40+ years, later when it’s reveals a past true love has
passed away the reflection that the character takes is felt really prominently
throughout the rest of the film and conveyed to use strongly through the
visuals and the soundtrack. There really isn’t a bad word that I could say
about the film; the performances not only from Toni Servillo as Jeb, but also
the supporting cast; especially during the dialogue driven sequence of Jeb’s quiet
friend gatherings is so delightful and exquisitely acted you’re constantly
engaged with the characters and their stories despite the fact that we the
audience wouldn’t necessarily like these super rich people for their actions
and attitudes to society in general. I’ve not seen a film quite like this all
year and the cinematography is so beautiful that the films title really does
describe the film extremely well and for me The Great Beauty gives a more
interesting look at Rome than Fellini’s Roma (1972) and that is why the film is
my number 1 of 2013.
No. 1 Worst - Dark Touch dir Marina de Van
A horror film that shows little children committing hideous
violent acts, at the centre of which a young girl that brutally murders her
parents; yes this is the film that tells the story of how child abuse can
derange the minds of young boys and girls, turning them into violent killing
machines. Dark Touch I saw at last years FrightFest and I have to admit that I
actually had a blast during the screening of the film, as with most of the
worst films that screen at FrightFest, the audience seems to collectively get
together and embrace the shittiest of shit movies and create their own joyful
experience by laughing and cheering as the film plays out. But I couldn’t let
this fun experience stand in the way of making this film my number 1 worst film
of 2013; as it’s just completely absurd and during some of the films more
excessively violent scenes that depict children doing some disturbing things –
you really do question whether this is ethical to employ young children to act
out the scenes on a set. I’m not sure that I can actually remember what the
plot of this film actually was, as it was that poorly executed – we see a young
girl kill off her family and become increasingly deranged and singled out by
other children who are nothing more than a replication of a Satanic Cult of
Children akin to the likes featured in The Children of the Corn (1984) – everything is
played out at face value and is outstandingly misjudged in tone, I assume Dark
Touch was an attempt at a dark psychological thriller looking into the effects
of child abuse and broken families, but instead of being disturbed you can’t
help but laugh as you’re exposed to god awful dialogue and characters that act
in some of the most stupid ways imaginable, this film is so bad that I really
wouldn’t be surprised if it failed to get distributed – I don’t recall it
getting a release on the big screen, though I’m sure that it will no doubt be
destined for the Straight-to-DVD route at a cut down price on release; truly
painfully bad all round and questionable filmmaking on ethical and moral
grounds – you’ll be hard pushed to find a worse film from 2013.
