Cinema Paradiso

Another stunning Italian masterpiece. I need to stop watching these Italian films because invariably they make me cry. (Yes, I'll admit it.) Except for Fellini films—I just don't get them at all. (Yes, I'll admit that, too.)

The version I saw was the Director's Cut, meaning it was 174 minutes (that's nearly 3 hours) rather than 123 minutes as stated on the sleeve. Imagine my surprise when the movie didn't seem about to conclude at 118 minutes. I mean, there must be several minutes of credits at the end, right? And there were several minutes of credits at the real end of the movie. Kind of a funny thing: in film where bits have been snipped due to damage or censorship (prominent in this movie), you know how the film just kind of jumps? well, the credits were done this way, too. You'd be reading along and then Bam! (sorry, Emeril)

I really liked the first two hours of the movie. The first hour was about the main character, Toto, and his relationship to the Cinema Paradiso, the local theater. Or, more correctly, his relationship to Alfredo, the theater's projectionist. The kid playing Toto (short for Salvatore—I didn't make it up; I'm just telling you) is absolutely adorable and does a great job. I thought it odd that he looks like he's six but then talks about now being in fifth or sixth grade (which means he's about 11 or 12).

The next hour was about a teenaged Toto and his continued relationship with Alfredo and his budding romance with Elena. Alas, it's not to be. Very Romeo & Juliet with out the death part. Except for Alfredo. But don't worry, you find out Alfredo died in the first few minutes of the movie. The next two hours (the first two) are then a flashback to all that Alfredo meant to Toto growing up. And how important movies were/are to him, too.

The third hour was a little less intriguing. Toto sees a young girl who is the spitting image of Elena and follows her. It sounds creepy but never sinks into creepiness, even when imminent. I'll just say in conclusion for the third act, that once something is over, it should be over without you trying to make it something it's not or can't be (this statement is relative to the story, not the movie). I guess with the greatness of the first two hours, the mediocrity of the third hour is a real letdown.