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Reviews
Ripley: VIII NARCISSUS (2024)
Comparing two cinematic renderings
I did not read Ms. Highsmith's novels. My sole reference was the Jude Law and Matt Damon movie, which I couldn't help comparing throughout this beautiful series.
I noted: Andrew Scott's Tom Ripley looks to be a man in his thirties, not like the young man played by Mr. Damon. Damon seemed more like a recent college student, whereas Scott left school a good decade or more ago.
Jude Law's Dickie Greenleaf impregnated a local Italian girl, who drowned herself to spare her family's honor. That story isn't used in this series, but it cemented Dickie's masculinity, in contrast to the lovelorn Mr. Ripley, who oozes with homosexual desires.
The series' actors are impressive. The Roman detective all but steals the show from Tom Ripley in every scene. But I keep falling back on the movie, where Gwyneth Paltrow as Marge was exceptional in her rage against the social-climber Tom. In contrast, Dakota Fanning's eyes show more anger than her scripted words. Gwyneth also dressed like a rich lady, whereas Dakota is channeling... Minnesota.
The B&W cinematography is sumptuous. The landmarks in Rome, the Amalfi coast, Palermo, and Venice are beautifully shot. There is comedy in the banter, a wise cat, and splendid clothing. Freddie Miles is played by UK singer Sting's gender fluid daughter, which I personally found distracting.
Brush up on your spoken Italian. Pick up words and nuances. All the actors put in a great effort.
The series is excellent, and I recommend it highly.
Law & Order: Mad Dog (1997)
Can a sex offender be reformed, or is he permanently damaged goods?
Veteran actor Burt Young ("Rocky," "The Sopranos," etc.) plays Mr. Darnell, a recently paroled violent sex offender. Now working and reconciled with his adult daughter, Darnell is the prime suspect in the rape and murder of a teenaged girl. D.A. Jack McCoy and company are in a race against time to get a civil commitment under the Mental Hygiene Law while investigators work to gather enough evidence to convict the suspect.
The question is, Is Darnell cured of his violent sexual proclivities? Or does he remain the same mad dog criminal the state put away years before?
Law & Order: Burn Baby Burn (2000)
Can a Black man claim self-defense against a white cop?
I come from a law enforcement background, and this episode is a keen and probing look at the racial divisions that still polarize our nation.
Police appear before grand juries frequently and cite "fear for my own life" as the reason why they shot an unarmed individual. But what happens when this defense is turned around? This episode asks us to consider whether a Black man--even an angry Black man--can cite his own fear as a justification for the use of deadly force. Was the defendant justified and are his claims of self-defense legit?
One line didn't ring true for me: NYPD cops do not come down "from New Paltz," but they do often come from Rockland County (Pearl River) and Long Island. But certainly not Ulster County, or Dutchess for that matter. Neither county's residents are eligible for hire by the NYPD.
Clarence Williams III was spectacular in his role, and it was so good to finally see him again. Merkerson, Orbach, Green and all the others were fine, too.
La stanza del figlio (2001)
La stanza versus Caro Diario
While I applaud Cannes for rewarding such a mature and realistic work, and in spite of the wrenching theme, La Stanza was for me a less triumphant story than Caro Diario. (As a viewer in the U.S., I've only recently discovered Mr. Moretti's works, which are not so widely distributed here as in Europe. In fact, I've only seen these two.)I agree that the casting was pitch-perfect. Everyone emerges as sympathetic, even the patients. I did find the pace to be slow. Rome too is less a character here than I would expect from "Italy's Woody Allen".At any rate, I assume it is Rome, though in one scene I recall seeing palm trees, which seemed very un-Roman.
I feel the characters' grief; the aspect of loss was well-executed. I particularly liked the open ending--can the analyst find a new career? Does he get a chance to start all over? As a middle-aged person, I can attest to the power and lure of starting over. My vote is 8 out of 10, and I am being generous because I am partial to Mr. Moretti.
It was good to see how swiftly the boy Andrea's situation was dealt with. He appeared to have been waked ASAP; there was no need for an intrusive post-mortem. I noted too the apparent lack of religion in the family. (It was the daughter Irene's suggestion to have a mass said, and none of the surviving family members receives communion.) When Paola's mother offers to spend time with the family, she is politely refused. A child is laid to rest and we never see i nonni? Perhaps this family is a little too contemporary for me.
In contrast, I was totally consumed by Caro Diario (which earned Mr. Moretti the best director's prize at Cannes in 1994). It too touched upon themes in the life of a middle-aged, contemporary man. I felt a part of the journey, a backseat rider on the Vespa, if you will. From Isole to the doctors, I found this more personal story to be engaging, perceptive and satisfying. I feel the best director's award was a vote of affection and gladness that Moretti had defeated cancer. I felt exhilarated. La stanza invoked some different emotions. I noted the credits made mention of the American writer Raymond Carver, and indeed there is a parallel to his famous story "A Small, Good Thing".
I enjoyed both movies, but I would give the perfect 10 to Caro Diario.