Lord of the Flies (1963)

Genre

Adventure | Drama | Thriller

Director

Peter Brook

Country

UK

Cast

James Aubrey, Tom Chapin, Hugh Edwards, Roger Elwin, Tom Gaman, David Surtees, Nicholas Hammond, Roger Allan

Storyline

Survivors of a plane crash, a group of British young boys are marooned on an island. Left to fend for themselves, they must take on the responsibilities of adults, even if they are not ready to do so.

Opinion

Having read the Classic novel by William Golding, I couldn't help but be disappointed by the film that many people have flattered.

Dull in some parts, Lord of the Flies follows the book pretty well but lacks enthusiasm, and a deep psychological study.

With adaptations of novels often happens that some of detail from the story are removed in the film. This is no exception, and if you're read the book, you may be disappointing to see that some of the parts you found interesting are not included. However, this is not the film's problem. In fact, the film tells the original story in a pretty good way, but the problem is that it simply tells the story.

Director Peter Brook did not manage to convey that sense of restlessness that accompanies the reader through the novel.  The terrible, disturbing presence of the Lord of the Flies, reincarnation of evil and death, is practically absent. There is no presence of that imaginary yet very real monster that creeps in the minds of the hunters, symbolized by the rotting pig's head.

Among the parts left out in the adaptation there is one that should have been in the film: the conch shell smashed into a million pieces when Piggy was killed. This is one of the most important parts of the story, as it symbolizes the ending of civilization. But apparently it was not that important to the screenwriter. 

The cinematography isn't great, the acting is mediocre and the casting is mostly wrong.

The Birds (1963)

Genre

Horror | Romance

Director

Alfred Hitchcock

Country

USA

Cast

Tippi Hedren, Rod Taylor, Jessica Tandy, Suzanne Pleshette, Veronica Cartwright, Ethel Griffies, Charles McGraw, Lonny Chapman, Doreen Lang, Karl Swenson, Joe Mantell, Ruth McDevitt, Malcolm Atterbury, John McGovern, Richard Deacon, Elizabeth Wilson, Doodles Weaver, William Quinn, Alfred Hitchcock

Plot

A wealthy San Francisco socialite (Tippi Hedren) pursues a potential boyfriend (Rod Taylor) to a small Northern California town that slowly takes a turn for the bizarre when birds of all kinds suddenly begin to attack people there in increasing numbers and with increasing viciousness.

Opinion

I'm sorry to say it, but this film disappointed me. The Birds is not a film, but the overlap of two completely different films. While the first part is flat and not tense at all, the second part recovers with the raid of birds, which is technically perfect.

However, the film still has several problems. The stubbornness of Melanie to bring to Mitch the lovebirds raised hopes for a thriller turn due to love obsession, but she just turns into a girlfriend. The possessiveness of Mitch's mother is mentioned, but doesn't go further.

No explanation to the sudden uprising of the birds is given, and there is no conclusion, and that's somewhat uncomfortable.

The absence of background music is justified: the story doesn't need it since ambient sounds alone enhance suspense.

Great performances are delivered by the whole cast. 

Quotes

Mother in Diner: Why are they doing this? Why are they doing this? They said when you got here the whole thing started. Who are you? What are you? Where did you come from? I think you're the cause of all of this. I think you're evil. EVIL!

Rating

7.0/10

8½ (1963)

Original Title

Otto e mezzo

Genre

Comedy | Drama

Director

Federico Fellini

Country

Italy | France

Cast

Marcello Mastroianni, Claudia Cardinale, Anouk Aimée, Sandra Milo, Rossella Falk, Barbara Steele, Nadine Sanders, Mino Doro, Madeleine LeBeau, Jean Rougeul, Caterina Boratto, Annibale Ninchi, Giuditta Rissone, Eddra Gale, Mario Conocchia, Cesare Miceli Picardi, Maria Antonietta Beluzzi, Tito Masini, Mario Pisu, Simonetta Simeni, Guido Alberti, Bruno Agostini, Eugene Walter, Ian Dallas, Edy Vessel

Plot

Guido Anselmi (Marcello Mastroianni), a famous Italian film director, is suffering from "director's block". Stalled on his new science fiction film that includes veiled autobiographical references, he has lost interest amid artistic and marital difficulties. 

Opinion

8½ is an extraordinary and visionary masterpiece, that digs into a man's consciousness. It is, at the same time, man and woman, religious and profane, everything and nothing.

The film, which does not simply tell the crisis of Guido (Mastroianni) as a director, but also as a man, breaks down physical barriers and brings us into the head of a man, hovering between reality and dream-like quality.

Every single component of the film is nothing but perfect. The writing is divine; each scene is perfectly balanced, providing both meaning and sense of lostness; the photography is outstanding; the costumes are perfect.

Marcello Mastroianni is superb, and offers maybe his greatest performance, and he is well supported by the incredible cast that includes Claudia Cardinale and Anouk Aimée, and among which stands out Sandra Milo.

Quotes

Guido: My darlings, happiness consists in being able to speak the truth without ever making anybody suffer.

Carini: If we can't have everything, true perfection is nothingness. 

Guido: What is this flash of joy that's giving me new life? Please forgive me sweet creatures; I didn't realize, I didn't know. How right it is to accept you, to love, you... and how simple! Luisa, I feel I've been set free. Everything looks good to me, it has a sense, it's true. How I wish I could explain, but I can't... everything's going back to what it was. Everything's confused again, but that confusion is me; how I am, not how I'd like to be. And I'm not afraid to tell the truth now, what I don't know, what I'm seeking. Only like that do I feel alive and I can look into your loyal eyes without shame. Life is a party, let's live it together. I can't say anything else, to you or others. Take me as I am, if you can... it's the only way we can try to find each other.

Rating

10/10