#3 - 8 1/2
Based on my long experience, the great old movies fall into two categories. First, there are the many great films that are still lots of fun to watch. Casablanca comes to mind immediately as a great example of this. And then there are the great old movies that are mostly great because they did something first, not because they are still lots of fun to watch. For me at least Citizen Kane falls into this category. So which category does Fellini's 8 1/2 fall into on the occasion of its fiftieth anniversary?
For me, alas, 8 1/12 fell into a new category: great old movies that are not entertaining and with nothing particular historic about them to provide counterpoint. For the most part, I was just bored. I can understand why it gets rave reviews; the technique is flawless and it's all about the process of making movies, which understandably is endlessly appealing to the other movie directors who routinely vote this one of the best films ever. For me though, it was slow moving and not particularly interesting. A few of the dream sequences were fun. I liked the one where our main character imagines himself in a house with every woman he has ever loved or lusted after, and the opening sequence where a traffic jam in a tunnel ultimately leads to him floating high above a beach like a kite.
The movie does have one redeeming quality: Claudia Cardinale. Damn. Here is a picture (not from 8 1/2, alas).
It should be noted that many critics and directors think this is one of the greatest films of all time, and many of Fellini's other works are lauded. 8 1/12 won the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar, a feat Fellini accomplished four other times, which is easily the record. I have not seen any of his other works, but I'm sure I'll get to some of them in the future.
How Much Fun I Had in the Theater, 2013
Rank. Order - Name. Date; Theater.
For me, alas, 8 1/12 fell into a new category: great old movies that are not entertaining and with nothing particular historic about them to provide counterpoint. For the most part, I was just bored. I can understand why it gets rave reviews; the technique is flawless and it's all about the process of making movies, which understandably is endlessly appealing to the other movie directors who routinely vote this one of the best films ever. For me though, it was slow moving and not particularly interesting. A few of the dream sequences were fun. I liked the one where our main character imagines himself in a house with every woman he has ever loved or lusted after, and the opening sequence where a traffic jam in a tunnel ultimately leads to him floating high above a beach like a kite.
The movie does have one redeeming quality: Claudia Cardinale. Damn. Here is a picture (not from 8 1/2, alas).
It should be noted that many critics and directors think this is one of the greatest films of all time, and many of Fellini's other works are lauded. 8 1/12 won the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar, a feat Fellini accomplished four other times, which is easily the record. I have not seen any of his other works, but I'm sure I'll get to some of them in the future.
How Much Fun I Had in the Theater, 2013
Rank. Order - Name. Date; Theater.
- #2 - Lincoln. Tuesday, January 8; Westlake Regal
- #1 - The Well-Digger's Daughter. Sunday, January 6; Cleveland Cinematheque.
--- Below This Line, I Was Bored --- - #3 - 8 1/2. Sunday, January 13; Cleveland Cinematheque.