Onoff (Gerard Depardieu) is prestigious and unsettling writer who hasn't published any new books for quite some time and has become a recluse . When he is picked up by the police one stormy , thunderous night , without any identification , out of breath and running madly, without clear memory of recent events, he only claims that he has a meeting with the Ministry of Culture on the next morning , but there's a murder and the chief Inspector (Roman Polanski) considers him as prime suspect , while a subordinate policeman (Sergio Rubini) writes on his typewriter the declaration of the accused . Through interrogatory dialectic , the head of this oddly sinister , seemingly timeless police station attempts to establish what has occured , by delving into the mind of his writer-hero, and clearing up a mysterious murder.
Essentially a stagey two-hander in which, in a lonely , isolated, broken-down police station , inspector Polanski interrogates the partly amnesiac Depardieu , who claims he's a famous author but who may in fact be responsible for a murder committed near the novelist's house . This is an emphatically methaphorical flick and full of thumpingly obvious symbolism . A deliciously sardonic and witty movie , being excellently starred by a magnificent protagonist duo ; both are the peak of their game in this dazzling yarn . This interesting flick is plenty of twists and turns and stunning surprises , made in similar style to classic ¨Sleuth¨(1972) by Joseph L Mankiewicz , including ordinary battle of wits . Splendid and fascinating performances , a real Tour De force for two stars . Tornatore's movie depends heavily on the two leads for effect , Depardieu's broader turn outshines Polanski's shrewd, sly acting , but even they can't distract from the twisted contrivance of the movie's threadbare central conceit .
This intriguing and suspenseful picture was very well directed by Giuseppe Tornatore . He even composed the song "Ricordare" for this film. In the years before his death, composer Ennio Morricone stated on several occasions that the only director he would consider coming out of retirement for would be Tornatore . He is a writer and director, known for making similar nostalgic films including good actors , such as ¨Malena¨ with Monica Belucci , ¨ The star maker¨ with Sergio Castellito , ¨Baaria¨ with Raoul Bova ; and ¨La Leggenda del Pianista Sull'Oceano" (original title) or "The Legend of 1900" or "The Legend of the Pianist on the Ocean with Tim Roth . Being his English-language debut feature titled ¨The professor¨ with Ben Gazzara . Cinema Paradise . Rating : 7/10 . Better than average, well worth watching for exceptional cinematography , first-rate acting and Morricone's marvelous score .
Essentially a stagey two-hander in which, in a lonely , isolated, broken-down police station , inspector Polanski interrogates the partly amnesiac Depardieu , who claims he's a famous author but who may in fact be responsible for a murder committed near the novelist's house . This is an emphatically methaphorical flick and full of thumpingly obvious symbolism . A deliciously sardonic and witty movie , being excellently starred by a magnificent protagonist duo ; both are the peak of their game in this dazzling yarn . This interesting flick is plenty of twists and turns and stunning surprises , made in similar style to classic ¨Sleuth¨(1972) by Joseph L Mankiewicz , including ordinary battle of wits . Splendid and fascinating performances , a real Tour De force for two stars . Tornatore's movie depends heavily on the two leads for effect , Depardieu's broader turn outshines Polanski's shrewd, sly acting , but even they can't distract from the twisted contrivance of the movie's threadbare central conceit .
This intriguing and suspenseful picture was very well directed by Giuseppe Tornatore . He even composed the song "Ricordare" for this film. In the years before his death, composer Ennio Morricone stated on several occasions that the only director he would consider coming out of retirement for would be Tornatore . He is a writer and director, known for making similar nostalgic films including good actors , such as ¨Malena¨ with Monica Belucci , ¨ The star maker¨ with Sergio Castellito , ¨Baaria¨ with Raoul Bova ; and ¨La Leggenda del Pianista Sull'Oceano" (original title) or "The Legend of 1900" or "The Legend of the Pianist on the Ocean with Tim Roth . Being his English-language debut feature titled ¨The professor¨ with Ben Gazzara . Cinema Paradise . Rating : 7/10 . Better than average, well worth watching for exceptional cinematography , first-rate acting and Morricone's marvelous score .