Reviews

I don't know what some of you are smoking, but i suspect it's potent.

To call Swept Away awful would be an insult to the very concept of terribleness. The acting is hideous and i'm not picking on Madonna here, we all know she's useless, but someone should have warned everyone else that her ailment is contagious. My back literally hurts from cringing so much at poorly delivered lines. The editing is so sloppy, it beggars description. The photography and composition (which in this era, competence should be a GIVEN for any film with a budget) are astonishingly inept, even the lighting is horrid and unnatural looking. These are BASIC elements of filmmaking, if you can't get them right, you should seek another line of work. It's as contrived as a grade 3 production of Snow White, except nowhere near as well made or interesting.

The original film by Lina Wertmueller is a wonderful satire and metaphor, superbly acted and written, featuring breathtaking visuals - you can practically taste the sea salt and feel the windswept sand in your hair. The sexual tension feels real and immediate...those of you who found Guy Ritchie's version deplorable, should see it, it really is one of the landmarks of world cinema.

Those of you who thought the remake is some kind of masterpiece should have your heads examined.

"... for a new film language and the beauty of it's images."

I feel bad for anyone who has never seen this in a theatre or on the Criterion DVD. It's unspeakably beautiful, every frame of this film should be printed and hung in the Louvre. It's a viscerally moving experience of the mind and soul.

Monica Vitti delivers one of the most natural, spontaneous and uncontrived performances you'll ever see (the fact she might be the most beautiful creature god ever created is a bonus). She exudes a sadness and depth of character you'll only find in novels. This is film as novel, and requires your undivided attention. There's a lot going, sublte characterization, frame composition thats integral to the story. Antonioni is always in complete control, nothing happens and noone speaks without a reason. An epic film about communication and the vain pursuit of happiness.

There are so many scenes worth talking about, but i'll mention just one: atop the church, Vitti and Ferzetti ringing the churchbells like children playing, other church bells responding...simply the most gorgeous sequence ever filmed and a very sophisticated metaphor.

Everything you think you know about film, you can toss out the window. Antonioni redefines the artform as only Bergman, Kubrick, Tarkovsky, and Kurosawa have done.