Review of The Star Maker

"Cinema Paradiso" director Tornatore cranked out this Oscar nominated film, "The Star Maker", which tells of a traveling talent scout who buoys the hopes and dreams of the simple people of rural post-WWII Sicily with screen tests and promises of making it in the movies. Although there's little arc to the story of the vicissitudes of wandering con man Sergio (Morelli), there's is much beauty in the picturesque Sicilian countryside and the olive visages of the many would-be stars who tell their stories to Sergio's empty camera. Diffuse in plot and unhappily ended, the film will captivate those into earthy Italian style films while evoking little more than yawns for less refined audiences. (B+)

Note - There are strong parallels between this film's protagonist Sergio and Prof. Harold Hill from "The Music Man" though they are probably coincidental.