Life is Beautiful
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Movie Reviews of Life is Beautiful
Movie Review: Protection of Innocence Amid the Horror
Summary: 5 Stars
Life Is Beautiful is an extraordinarily significant work of art. Screenwriter/Director/Actor Roberto Benigni takes Tragicomedy to new heights, even as he pays tribute to the finest work of Charles Chaplin. Benigni plays Guido, an Italian Jew whose ethnicity is suddenly and shockingly targeted by the Nazis at a time when he is growing a young family- after having, literally, fallen upon the "Princesa," the woman of his dreams- as well as a fine bookstore. A genuinely happy, warm and charming person, Guido, along with millions of other Jewish people, is now beset by woes of almost horrificaly unimaginable proportions as he and his little boy are taken away by the Nazis to a concentration camp. His intent, no matter what may follow and above all else except keeping his child physically alive in Auschwitz, a place and time where Jewish children were systematically gassed and killed, is to protect the innocence of his young son by pretending the whole horror is a game, the end of which, if he plays right, is to win a tank. Guido's wife, who is not Jewish and not sent on the train, insists on accompanying the rest of her family, husband and son, to Auschwitz, much to the surprise of the Nazi soldier at the train station; her life is her loved ones, something he does not understand.The strikingly beautiful cinematography- including exceptionally rich use of color, choice of camera shots and movement, set- and costume design-, editing, stirring musical score and fine surrealistic touch reminiscent of Fellini, make this film enjoyable and poetic in a visual sense, because there is rhyme and reason to each decision made by Benigni as screenwriter and director, as they blend with the dialogue, acting, story and theme to create a finely crafted, richly inspired, tragicomic masterpiece that brings forth tears of abject sadness amid the light of Guido's sense of play and fatherly protection- "You always did want to go on a trip," he softly tells his little boy as they are carted off in the death train amid the foreboding musical passage that accompanies this shot. This seems bizarre but it is only the beginning of this man's overwhelming desire to shield his beloved child from the pain of the reality that confonts their family. In fact this preparation was actually, in a sense, begun before that, when Josue playfully hid from his mother in a little cabinet to avoid taking his bath, with his father in collusion with the game, something that winds up saving him from the fake "bath" at the camp. The use of extreme close-ups is reserved by director-screenwriter Benigni for the most poignant point in the film, where a final wink from Guido to little Josue hiding in the cabinet places the seal on the reality of their game of survival and preservation of the child's innocence. Survival in the physical sense and also in the emotional or psychological sense is Guido's role as father/protector of his child. Other high cinematic/editing feats include those such as the skillful, unobstrusive change of time from the courting of his wife stage to the realization of their family they created, five years later,in one single shot. This makes clear the family/child they created is a direct result of the love they have for each other. Cinematic poetry is unfortunately a rare phenomenon on the big screen, so this one is a true gem. It should be watched in the original Italian, because the true voices of the characters that people this film belong to them and should be heard by all.
Movie Review: La Vita é Bella
Summary: 5 Stars
From the beginning of the film Italian director Robert Benigni's `Life is Beautiful' is easily identified as a masterpiece. A tale of fantasy and humor in the heart of Nazi occupied Italy, this film is centered around the fanciful story of Guido, the films central character. Guido, (Roberto Benigni) is a young Jewish librarian who lives in a world of his own fantasy. He is witty, imaginative, hilarious, a little crazy, and in a state of constant bliss. From his riddles to his endearments to his stories, Guido displays a childlike innocence that captures the heart of any person- and in the movie, captures the heart of Dora (Nicoletta Braschi) his "principessa" (princess) and wife.
The movie changes from a romantic comedy to a sarcastic tragedy as Guido and his son Giosué are taken to a concentration camp by the Nazi officials that occupy Italy at the time. However, despite this depressing turn of events, it is there in the horror of the camps that the magic of Benigni's story takes flight. In order to save his son's sanity, Guido invents a game for Giosué to believe/play while they are in the camp. From a complex point system, to mean candy-hogging guards, to a grand prize of a real tank, Guido lets his imagination soar as he fills Giosué's mind with stories and promises. This absurd paradigm shift is not only hilarious, but also provides a window into the depths of the human heart, which can endure all things when the light of hope is present. This part of the movie was also the most engaging, viewers will find themselves at the edge of their seats feeling as if they were also part of the game, and when Guido fumbles in his explanations you might unexpectedly hear a random helpful suggestion coming from your movie-buddy's lips.
Benigni's amazing ability to involve the audience in the plot of the movie was one of main reasons why La Vita é Bella won four academy awards in 1998. Moreover, Benigni also ties one more element into the story and the characters of Guido and Giosué- the music. Throughout their entire time in the concentration camp, the music of the movie remains happy and uplifting. Despite the hardships and cruel reality of life, the optimistic music represents the story Giosué believes. This is another great example of Benigni's gift to blend all aspects of cinematography- the characters, plot, scenery, music, and the reactions of the audience- in order to make the movie a complete and unique experience for the audience.
Because of its light representation, `Life is Beautiful' is a movie that can be seen by all audiences and I strongly recommend watching this film in its native Italian language with English subtitles. The experience, emotions, and representations do not carry the same meaning in American versions, and yes much does get lost in the translation. I also recommend watching this movie with a friend, it's a very moving film and it helps to have somebody's shoulder near you to cry on. I hope you enjoy this masterpiece just as much as I did and are able to pick out the many double-meanings in the dialogue to get the most out of your experience.
Laugh, cry, love, watch, enjoy, and help Guido help you find the beauty of life...
Movie Review: One of my Top Ten of 1998
Summary: 5 Stars
When I read several years ago that one of Italy's favorite comedic actors planned to make a comedy about the holocaust, I was appalled. That's what I get for believing everything I read. Life is Beautiful isn't a comedy. Director and star Roberto Benigni has taken what is, in fact, a grim subject, and, in typically Italian fashion, has infused it with a marvelous lust for life. He shows the remarkable abilities many people have to adopt to any situation and to get through it with dignity and humor. And, above all, he shows the remarkable lengths a parent will go to in order to protect a child - not just from physical harm, but from mental and spiritual harm as well.This is a simple story full of the richest of characters. Guido [Benigni] is a young man who is always aware of the wonder of being alive. He can take the most mundane events and turn them into wondrous fantasies. He comes up with the most remarkable ideas for diffusing any bad situation. He is the hopeless romantic.
When he moves to a small town, he immediately meets the love of his life. She is Dora [Nicoletta Braschi], the school teacher daughter of a rich, snobbish woman. Guido woos her, and she is captivated by him. Her mother has arranged for her to marry an oafish town official, but Guido has a wealth of funny tricks up his sleeve that aid him in winning her. In the beginning, theirs is a storybook romance, but soon, they encounter an obstacle that even the resourceful Guido cannot overcome, though he tries mightily. Their love affair begins in 1939, when Fascist Italy is in an evil alliance with Nazi Germany. Guido is a Jew. Fate is about to play its hand.
By the time Guido and Dora's son, Giosue, is four years old, the Nazi have arrived to send Guido to a concentration camp. Guido and Giosue are arrested suddenly and placed on a train filled with other prisoners. When Dora, who is Catholic, learns of their plight, she rushes to the train station, and, in one of the most poignant scenes in movie history, she demands that the commandant put her aboard it.
How can Guido protect his child's mind from the horror that is to follow? That is the heart and soul of Life is Beautiful. Guido shows incredible ingenuity, and, for the most part, Giosue believes him. At times, he just pretends to, because Guido is so full of life, love and humor. His is an infectious personality.
The best label for Life is Beautiful is tragicomedy. You take the bitter with the sweet. You appreciate the gift of life. You do your best to see that, no matter what tragedy strikes, the young are preserved for a hopefully brighter future. All of these things are so hard to do, yet Guido makes them seem so simple.
Recently, Miramax Films went to great lengths to make a dubbed version of the movie. This is the version I reviewed. While I know subtitles are a nuisance, dubbing often robs a film of the inflections actors try so hard to put into their words. The new language can add an unintended flatness to the dialog. This problem is not so noticeable in Life is Beautiful, and it opens the movie up to the many people who otherwise might avoid it.
The movie won Oscars for Best Foreign Film, Best Actor [Benigni] and Best Dramatic Score.
Movie Review: See it/Buy it; You'll know what all the fuss is about
Summary: 5 Stars
I ended up seeing this amazing gem of a film very late. Like those who saw the Oscar Ceremony in '99 where Director/Star Robert Benigni seemed to be "all over" the ceremony, I wondered 'Who is this guy and why should I care?'. I hadn't seen his "little" film at that time. I was firmly convinced that "Saving Private Ryan" (which I did see) was the most important film of 1999, way more important than the fun but low-cal, fat-free "Shakespeare in Love". I still stand by that conviction -- but make room for TWO important movies from 1999 by adding "Life is Beautiful".
As affecting as "Ryan" was, Benigni's "Life is Beautiful" brings humanity -- even simplicity -- to serious subject matter in a way no film maker has done since Charlie Chaplin. That's a bold claim, but rent "Modern Times" (or Chaplin's lesser "The Great Dictator") and then watch Benigni's film. Surely, he was a "student" of Chaplin films, but he does not merely copy Chaplinesque filmmaking. That would be too easy and not worthy of praise -- he takes it and extends it out. And the differences Benigni shows between Europeans themselves (Italians and Germans in particular) are extremely clever and telling about even modern relationships within Europe.
The scene where he "translates" the German guard's orders to the men/prisoners at the concentration camp -- in a way so that his son still "believes" in the game -- is one of the greatest comedy moments I frankly have ever seen on film. It's not only effective, it's extremely bold, given the tightrope-walking nature of the subject matter. Even with the subtitles, NOTHING gets lost in the translation.
In conclusion, I can see where people would criticize this "little" film for its simplistic and fairly unrealistic handling of the holocaust. But I don't think that's the point of this film. Benigni does not pretend to have a "Schindler's List" here. The human spirit is the star and the hero, the Holocaust is the villain that tests it.
See it view it, let it affect you for the way it deals with a simple, single human being's ability to preserve the human spirit in himself and also protect that spirit in his own son and wife, despite all odds against them.
I don't think anybody who has a sense of history and is a father or mother of a child, or even just can relate to it as a son or daughter themselves, can see this movie, be open to it, and not designate seeing it as a possible changing point in your own life. Like other famous "events" in your life, you'll remember the day/night you first saw "Life is Beautiful", where you were and who you saw it with.
NOW I know what all the fuss was about over that funny little man at the Oscars in March 1999. (By the way, the clips/trailers they show for this film do not in any way do it justice.)
I don't often plonk down $30 for a DVD. With this film, it was a no brainer.
Movie Review: 5 Stars for the FILM, 1 Star for the DVD
Summary: 5 Stars
Of course the movie deserves 4 stars, however I wish I could say the same for the DVD. What does it take for DVD company to release each DVD enhanced for 16x9 TVs? Nothing!
Recently I bought a SONY BRAVIA 32 INCH display and I have a collection of over 600 Dvds. I learned now about "Enhanced for 16x9 TVs" and how important it is, I did not care about it or even know about it since I own a standard TV, however all my Dvds are Region 1 and in widescreen, I never buy fullscreen Dvds. So I did an inventory on my collection and realized the following:
Out of 600+ Dvds, 42 are NOT enhanced for 16x9 TVs and they really look horrible when I played them on my PC. Anyway, according to my inventory.
THE FOLLOWING MOVIES / COMPANY HAVE FAILED TO PRODUCE ANAMORPHIC OR 16X9 WIDESCREEN and I hope that these company will release them in the near future so that we can enjoy them on our TVs.
MGM:
Runaway Train
Graduate
No Way Out
Prizzi's Honor
FX
Shallow Grave
Thief
House Of Games
Dead Man Walking
Misery
The Eye Of The Needle
Overboard
PARAMOUNT:
Private Parts
48 Hrs
Coming To America
Primal Fear
The Ghost And The Darkness
Breakdown
UNIVERSAL:
Day Of The Jackal
Psycho (AVAILABLE IN THE RECENT HITCHCOCK'S BOXSET AS ANAMORPHIC)
Vertigo (AVAILABLE IN THE RECENT HITCHCOCK'S BOXSET AS ANAMORPHIC)
The Game
FOX:
Abyss (I WAS SHOCKED TO LEARN THAT MY 2-DISC IS NOT ANAMORPHIC, NOR IS THE LATEST DIGIPACK EDITION)
Raising Arizona
The Edge
Great Expectations
Rising Sun
The Ref
Romancing The Stone
The Jewel Of The Nile
ARTISAN:
House Of The Spirits
The Last Seduction
The Last Emperor
The Eagle Has Landed
Bound
PS: PLEASE ARTISAN, INSTEAD OF RELEASING 'BASIC INSTINCT' FOR THE 4TH TIME, WHICH MOST HAVE ALMOST THE SAME SPECIFICATIONS, CONSIDER RELEASING SOME MORE INTERESTING MOVIES WITH PROPER ATTENTION SUCH AS THOSE MENTIONED ABOVE.
TOUCHSTONE / WALT DISNEY:
Ransom
What About Bob?
PS: IT IS A GREAT NEWS THAT TOUCHSTONE ARE RELEASING 'ENEMY OF THE STATE', CRIMSON TIDE' AND 'CON AIR' IN EXTENDED UNRATED EDITIONS ON MAY 16. I WISH THOUGH THEY DID THE SAME WITH 'RANSOM'
WARNER:
91/2 Weeks
Presumed Innocent
NOTE THAT WARNER STUDIO IS RELEASING ONE OF THE BEST 2-DISC SPECIAL EDITION SUCH AS 'SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION', 'HEAT', 'MALCOLM X', 'DOG DAY AFTERNOON', 'ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN' AND MANY MANY MORE.
The reason why they don't release every DVD in widescreen enhanced for 16x9 is beyond me since soon Widescreen Tvs will replace standard ones.
IT IS A RELIEF THAT AMAZON IS NOW STATING WHETHER THE DVD IS ANAMORPHIC OR LETTERBOXED.