520. Zabriskie Point

Zabriskie Point
1970
Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni

It has been quite awhile since we have heard from Antonioni and I don't remember leaving him on the best terms (ahem...Blowup).  However, this was a pretty great film and really felt like it captured a beautiful moment in time.

Mark is a young protestor who claims that he is willing "to die for the cause, but not of boredom".  Here's a recommendation, Mark: don't watch some of the films on this list.  After fleeing a violent protest, he steals a plane and seduces Daria, a stereotypical 60s teenager.  A lot of what happens next doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but the cinematography is so beautiful that you don't really care either way.

I really expected to hate this movie.  Don't get me wrong; I certainly thought it dragged on a bit longer that it should have.  Still, there were such beautiful moments that the entire film was worth it.  The explosion at the end?  The way the police officer enters the name "Karl Marx" as "Carl Marx" when Mark gives it as his alias?  The orgy scene?  Okay, wait.  The orgy scene was pretty weird.  Still worth it.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Harrison Ford can be seen in the background of the jail scene.

James Caan's least favorite film of all time.

The main actor in the movie, Mark Frechette, died in prison after robbing a bank.  He dropped a barbell on his neck.  See, this is why I don't work out.

448. Blow-Up

Blow-Up
1966
Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni

We have reached what is probably the most pretentious film on The List.  Now that I have a better understanding of Antonioni's work, I should probably appreciate this movie more than when I first saw it a couple years ago.  Unfortunately, I still think it is a piece of pompous garbage.

A womanizing photographer believes that he accidentally took photos of a murder.  It seems like a really good premise and I would have loved to see how someone like Hitchcock might of handled it.  But instead of a really interesting mystery, we get mimes playing tennis.  If that doesn't warrant an eye roll, I don't know what does.

Now, there are certain films on this list that aren't meant to be entertaining (which is something that has always been hard for me to get used to).  However, I failed to find any truths in this movie in the midst of my boredom.

Just a dull film masquerading as something deep.  I know I am going to get some heat for this review.  I await my sentence.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

First British film to show full frontal female nudity.

Performance by the Yardbirds.  Love those guys.

423. Il Deserto Rosso

Il Deserto Rosso
The Red Desert
1964
Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni

This is a film that I really thought I would be able to connect to since I have suffered from depression and I understand what it feels like.  However, this film was dull, absolutely nothing happens, and the dialogue seemed forced and bordered on corny.

Monica Vitti (who bears a remarkable resemblance to Jennifer Lawrence) plays Giulania, a woman who has not been quite right since she was in a car accident. Dumbledore Richard Harris' character, Corrado, falls in love with her, even though (or maybe because) she buys half eaten sandwiches from strangers.  When a beautiful woman is depressed, she is mysterious and intriguing.  When an average looking woman is depressed, she is crazy and frightening.  But whatever, in this case she is hot so it doesn't matter.

This is my fourth Antonioni experience and I have to say that it is getting kind of exhausting.  I feel like he is very indulgent and self absorbed.  It's like he doesn't care if the viewer understands or connects to his film, because he connects to it.  Well, that is just rude and incredibly boring, Michelangelo.

Like I said, the dialogue feels unnatural and the characters' actions (particularly Giulania's son's) are completely baffling.  Thumbs down.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Allegedly, Harris was kicked off the set after punching Antonioni in the face.  The rest of his scenes were done with a different actor.

Antonioni's first color film.

386. L'eclisse

L'eclisse
The Eclipse
1962
Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni

When I sat down with this movie last night alone with a bowl of Easy Mac and Pringles, I thought it was going to be a great evening.  Hm, maybe I will cut out that first sentence since it is beyond pathetic.  So, big shocker, Antonioni produces another major snore and once again, I am wishing that I had never seen any of his movies.

The story starts with Vittoria breaking up with Riccardo, saying that she doesn't love him anymore.
I could have done this scene in maybe like three minutes but with all the awkward pauses, it lasted a lot longer than that.  Also, none of these actors have any chemistry.  At one point, one of the guys says "I am going to kiss you now" in the same tone you would say "I have to go get a root canal".  But I digress.  Anyway, she falls in love (I think) with Piero.  Oh yeah and there is a really racist scene which I think is a tiny bit self aware, but I am not sure.

I really wish we would just be finished with this director because I am getting sick of the feeble "I was really bored"  defense.  However, in this film I can point to the acting as well.  I felt like they were zombies moving on the screen.  Now, I understand Vittoria's depression and as that is something I have struggled with, I realized that the actress isn't exactly going to be dancing around during the film.  However, her portrayal was not at all interesting and just because you make no facial expressions doesn't mean you are a good actress.

I would have to say the most fascinating part of this movie is when Vittoria picks up a pen with a woman on it.  Depending on how you hold it, the girl changes outfits.  I would have rather watched that pen for two hours.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

According to Martin Scorsese, this is the boldest movie in the trilogy.  Oh come on.

Trailer:

374. La Notte

La Notte
The Night
1961
Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni

Well, that was kind of dull.  Everyone seems to agree that the middle is pretty boring but I wasn't exactly blown away by the beginning and by the end of the movie, I was counting down the seconds.

This is the story of Giovanni and Lidia, a married couple who are slowly drifting apart. Throughout the film, they see other people and slowly realize that they are not right for each other any more.  Of course, this is a depressing Italian film, nothing can be resolved and life will forever be dull and gray.

There is an interesting scene in the film when a mental patient at the hospital the couple is visiting attempts to seduce Giovanni.  The woman who plays Crazy McSlutbag was quite beautiful and a great actress.

There, that is really the only good thing I can say about this.  Usually I like films that explore the boring and unfulfilling side of a rich person's life.  However, this movie just did not do it for me.  I mean, just because you are bored doesn't mean we all have to be.

People that stand in the way of their own happiness are one of my pet peeves so I am giving this film a thumbs down.  However, I can see why this might be some people's cup of tea; maybe I am just not artsy enough.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Referenced in Life of Brian.

Second part of Antonioni's unofficial trilogy.

359. L'Avventura

L'Avventura
The Adventure
1960
Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni

Moving right along with the 1960s, we come to another weird film that is pretty much about two terrible people with no resolution.  However, it is a very pretty movie so I will not bitch too long about it.

Anna and her boyfriend, Sandro, decide to go yachting cruise in the Mediterranean.  They bring along a few wealthy couples and their friend, Claudia.  Anna goes missing on one of the islands they visit.  Claudia and Sandro spend about five minutes looking for her before they start sleeping together. Ah, romance.

So the story line may teeter on the edge of absurdity, but there are a few interesting things about this film that I think made it worth my while.  First, like I said, the movie is absolutely gorgeous.  Of course, it is hard to make the Mediterranean Islands look unappealing, so I suppose this mention might be a bit of a give away.  Still, it was a beautiful movie to watch.

Secondly, the ambiguity of the ending was quite thought provoking; in other hands, it might have been extremely frustrating.  Since we are a spoiler free zone, I will not say anything else about it.

So worth a watch but certainly not a stand out film.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Rated as the second greatest film of all time in Sight and Sound Magazine.

Booed at the Cannes Film Festival.