|
Mamma Roma - Criterion CollectionRating:
Release Date: 22 June, 2004 Retail Price: $39.95 OUR Price: $35.99 You SAVE: $3.96! Cast: |
Mamma Roma - Criterion Collection Reviews
Mamma Roma (1962) - Pier Paolo Pasolini
Mamma Roma was Pasolini's second feature and was made before he became the much revered and much hated director of more controversial works. There is much subtly to this film which shows much of post war Italy's less exotic locations. Unlike his Italian contempories such as Antonioni and Fellini, Pasolini decided to show the lives of the bottom of the social class, and in doing so carved a unique niche for himself. The film has good performances, and the actions in it resonate to a much higher importance than one might first perceive. A good little film from a director who's career was much too short.
Grade: B
One of Pasolini's Best
"Mamma Roma" was Pier Paolo Pasolini's second feature film and if you've seen his other works, you'd probably be able to tell. None of Pasolini's visually splendor is here. So far I've seen "The Gospel According to St.Matthew", "Arabian Nights", and "Medea". All three movies had some of the most memorable images I can remember. Pasolini is what cinema is all about. He was a visual master. It's odd to think that he was a poet. As a poet I would think the words would be his most important tool. He would place great importance on what his characters said, but no, he created startling images. Take a film like "Medea". I saw that movie about a month ago, but I couldn't begin to tell you the plot. I pretty much forgot it. But ask me about the visual? I still remember the impression it left on me as I watched it. The same goes with "Arabian Nights". But "Mamma Roma" is completely different. Now this doesn't mean it's a bad movie. On the contrary. I think it's a masterpiece.
What "Mamma Roma" remind me of are the post WW2 Italian films such as "Germany Year Zero", "Rocco and his Brothers", and "The Bicyle Thief". It follows in the tradition of Visconti and De Sica.
Anna Magnani stars as Mamma Roma, a woman who has big plans for her son. She has ambition. She wants to give her son a better life and will do almost anything to make sure he has one. Her son is Ettore (Ettore Garofolo), he has different plans for his life. He wants to hang out with his friends, steal, and never work or go to school. Only one is going to get what they want.
As the film goes on we feel a connection with Mamma Roma. Did our mothers make such sacrifices for us? Did we not appreciate all they did for us? Pasolini, like the best films, makes these characters seem real. The movie hits all the right notes and carries us with it. "Mamma Roma" takes few wrong steps, in fact they are not even worth mentioning. Despite being something different from Pasolini this is one of his best films. I loved it.
Bottom-line: One of Pasolini's best films. Doesn't resemble his later works but displays his genius. Pasolini is what cinema is all about.
More Customer Reviews (10 total)
You like Mamma Roma - Criterion Collection?
|
© 2004, 2005, 2006 DVD Booty | Don't Plunder Our Cache of Booty, Matey!
Hosting made possible by donations from low home mortgage rates, Flex Your Paychecks, and Credit Card Debt Detective
