Watching movies is fun. Two hours to watch others partake in their version of reality, so we may escape from our own. We can watch anything we want. Usually we watch movies for fun, but sometimes we watch for an interesting story. For me, subtitles tend to take away the fun. Even if you're a speed reader, you will never catch everything the characters are doing on screen because you are wasting so much time with your eyes glued to the bottom. Constantly scanning from the bottom dialogue, to the middle and top for the picture, can be draining. It can really take away from the fun. Unless of course, the movie and story are just so good that reading subtitles feels like a small hurdle you’re willing to jump just for the two hours of fun. Il Divo is not like this at all. Perhaps if I spoke Italian, I would’ve gotten much more from this film. This way, I could’ve escaped into the world of the Mafioso, and enjoyed the slow story coupled with the intensity of the hard camera movement…but because of the subtitles, I couldn’t get into it at all and therefore couldn’t escape from my reality into Il Divo.
The camera jerked about from character to character dancing at parties, raced down hallways and careened around the streets, circling before settling on the character of choice. It was very hard because I constantly felt like I was missing something. So much thought and planning went into each individual camera movement, including the lighting. It was incredible in that sense. The cinematography really attempted to spice up the lack of story.
I knew from the beginning the story would drag on. It began with a little background, told by blocks of text on the screen. The information kept coming, until finally I said out loud “How much more will there be?” And then during the final scenes of the film, I again asked, “When will this be over?” The movie just dragged from beginning to end, and the only real shred of credibility the film has is the way it was made—not to mention the acting was pretty good too, but these things can’t save a film that is shrouded by a boring story. I’m sorry to say this because this was actually a true story, but it just didn’t hold up well in film. Or perhaps, it just missed a bit of the action.
Il Divo unveils the untold story of Guilio Andreotti, an Italian politician who was a member of the Christian Democratic party, and served Italy as Prime Minister for various years throughout his decades in politics. He is both loved and hated by his fellow party members and the people of Italy. The reason he is both revered and persecuted, was because he had ties to the Italian Mafia. He answered to them and not to the people, or so some thought. The quiet, strong standing Andreotti, spent his time in politics staring our from behind his large rimmed glasses, thinking and professing words of wisdom to those who were lucky enough to speak with him. One of the most compelling stories in the film (I won’t say his life, because I’m sure his life was much more interesting and the filmmakers just made it seem awfully boring) was his relationship with his wife. She withstood years of his life in the spot light and with time, couldn’t take it any longer…we watch their relationship flex and bend (while reading the subtitles, of course).
Honestly, I’d love to say that the film is worth it…because who doesn’t love a good foreign film? But reading subtitles while trying to keep up with the swaying camera, just to try to wring something good from the ordeal, isn’t worth it. If you’re into the Mafia, you’re better off renting The Sopranos, because at least it will make you laugh.
DVD Bonus Features
As far as the extras go, Il Divo has a few, but they tend to be somewhat boring just as the film was. There was a “making of” featurette and deleted scenes, but also an interview with Director Paolo Sorrentino, which was interesting. Even though directors tend to be extremely arrogant, it’s still pretty cool to hear what they have to say about the film they spent months mapping out and shooting. Aside from that, the extras don’t make this movie with the purchase.
"Il Divo" is on sale October 27, 2009 and is rated NR. Drama, Foreign. Written and directed by Paolo Sorrentino. Starring Toni Servillo, Anna Bonaiuto.
