OnnoMvanSanten Reviews

La piovra (1984–2001)

Magnificent Italian mini series, with depth, action, sensitivity and emotionality

[10/10 · 1 January 2007]

I first saw some of La Piovra when I lived in Holland. Then I bought the full series. You need a all region player. La Piovra consists of 4 series, each individually containing between 4 and around 12 parts. The subtitling is a good thing, you hear the language and the emotion played well by all the characters rather then have it distorted by voice over actors. The first two series are very much linked to each other and you must see both. Because the tragedies that play in the main character's life, you will get drawn in, and will want to see all the series.

The serious start in Sicily. Corrado Cattani (played by Michaele Placido) accepts a position as chief of police, after his predecessor is found murdered in his car. He starts an investigation after the murder, and while doing so, gets involved in the local scene. As part of his investigations, he gets involved with a local girl, the daughter of a countess who was found dead in her home. Put into the mix a local Mafia criminal who is crazy for the daughter of the countess, a lawyer who as part of the Mafia is never up to anything good and a police chief who works both unconventional and with a tenacity that is unmatched and you are in for a wonderful ride. A classic ride that is not matched by anything made in the last twenty years or so (hill street blues was good, but does not have the elegance and style that comes naturally to the Italians). All parts link up well, but you need to keep focused as there are many things going on at the same time.

If you like the Italian language, the way of life (not necessarily that of the Mafia influence, the country side and the culture, this is a treat.

Hysterical Blindness (2002 TV Movie)

Good acting in what is "Just a story"

[9 January 2004]

The story would have been a little all over the place, if it was not for the stability of the characters that play in it and the actors that act them out. The main character, Debb played by Uma Thurman, is a bit of a drama queen, that imagines a boyfriend that was only a one night stand (she could not have called it anything else since she almost begged him to take her for the night). She has a tendency to criticize all around her - allthough I could not understand why with her own emotional instability that would have validated some self investigation. Her friend, Beth, is a single mother who handles her situation well and is a real friend. Her mother, and really she is a mother to her daughter as cheese is to chalk, appears to be a really nice lady who enters into a warm relationship with an older gentleman. All in all the acting was superb and with a few obstacles to conquer in the story, as viewer a pleasant movie.