Joker

Put on a happy face!

Wow! just wow! for a 37 year old man that has read comic books since he was 6 years old, I can definitely tell you we've come a long way since the Joker from the 1940's. Not to mention the on screen versions we've been offered by the film & animation industry throughout the years. I can honestly say, this is the best comic book movie of all time, and I'll tell you why on today's review.

It's no secret that superhero films are making a ton of money, and companies are squeezing the hype as much as they can so that you not only buy the movie ticket, but the home version, apparel, funko Pops!, action figures, soundtracks, underwear, and limited edition dildos. Well, I got some news for ya popcorn girl! Joker is unlike any other comic book movie you've ever seen. In fact, Joker makes every other superhero film look like a Saturday cartoon show from the 80's (a glorified TV ad). 

When they announced the end of the DC Comics Extended Universe, I had already grown tired of the superhero hype, so once the Joker's solo film announcement was out, I didn't give a damn about it. I think I stopped reviewing superhero films by the time Avengers Infinity War came out. Good versus bad, green screen and computer generated graphics where just too much for me. Before I was a fan of superhero films, I was a fan of good film making. Movies that brought human emotions to the table, movies that had you questioning your personal decisions on life, or at least discussing for hours how well depicted was mankind every once in a while in one of a kind films. Joker is that every once in a while kind of movie.

Arthur Fleck.

Family ties.

Todd Phillips didn't have a past directing superhero films. Neither did Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro or the co-writer Scott Silver, and yet their working force gave us a unique film. One that will be discussed, analyzed and dissected for decades to come. One that for sure will be imitated in a short term. 

Is it possible to bring to life the most human depiction of a comic book psychopath? Is it possible even when you didn't based your story or characters in some of the must read comic book stories featuring The Joker?  The answer, as unexpected it may be, is a thunderous yes!. Joaquin Phoenix was born to play this role. Every minute you see him, he owns the character with absolute grace. The intensity of his laughter, his theatrical moves, the suffering, the neverending pain easily make you root for team Joker, despite the fact he is a horrible criminal that is way too far from setting the example as a citizen of the year. In addition, and this is what really sets this film apart from all the other superhero flicks, Arthur Fleck (The Joker's name) is not a chosen one type of character. He isn't going to fulfill a destiny, he doesn't have a mission. In fact, he's got absolutely nothing worth fighting for. His whole existence is subdued to being underpaid, looked over the shoulder, misunderstood and most importantly, he's completely loveless. Add his mental condition to the recipe, and you get not one but, millions of potential Joker characters in real life.  Phillip's Joker is a loner, someone who's nothing but a cipher within hundreds of ciphers, someone who's there, but no one sees. Someone who's speaking, but nobody's listening to. Someone who desperately needs serious help from a society that is probably sicker than he already is. Of course, the "support cast" is there too with great characters and some stunning performances that only add more substance to the already established decadent world where everything takes place. 

Talk show man.

Time to shine!

But where's Batman?

The movie title makes it clear: This film is about the Joker alone. Where he started, how he mutated into the legendary criminal everyone knows, and simply there's no room for other comic book characters. My wife said, she's always been fascinated by the character. Every depiction, from César Romero to Heath Ledger offered a different set of nuances on how this 79 year old villain has evolved along with each decade passing by. I have no doubts, Bob Kane, Bill Finger & Jerry Robinson would be immensely proud of this film. Back in the day they worked with what they had. Resources were limited, and censorship created barriers that granted the kid friendly aspects of the character will be secured for as long as possible. Moreover, Alan Moore & Frank Miller only showed a side of the madness behind the character, but didn't quite explorer it as deep as this film does. Batman wise, and this isn't a spoiler because you see them in the trailers, we do get some scenes with Thomas Wayne and a very young Bruce Wayne but then again, this isn't their movie. 

In the past The Joker was confined to the antagonist boundaries, there was always a Batman to be defeated by. In this film, Arthur Fleck fights against his own life, his dreams, the lies he's been told, and the social and mental abuse. This guy just wants to break free, and in doing so, he will be liberated by violence and murder.

The solution to Gotham's crisis.

The future.

Phillips (director) conceived Joker in 2016 and wrote the script with Silver throughout 2017. The two were inspired by 1970s character studies and the films of Martin Scorsese, who was initially attached to the project as a producer. The graphic novel Batman: The Killing Joke (1988) was the basis for the premise, but Phillips and Silver otherwise did not look to specific comics for inspiration. Phoenix became attached in February 2018 and was cast that July, while the majority of the cast had signed on by August. Principal photography lasted from September to December 2018 and took place in New York City, Jersey City, and Newark. Joker was the first live-action Batman film to receive an R-rating from the Motion Picture Association of America, due to its violent and disturbing content. 

Disturbing Reality?

Arthur Fleck is the flesh and bone incarnation of a person with a mental disorder. He laughs uncontrollably because it is a condition, not happiness. Besides, he's a special needs person in 1981. Social security isn't doing much to deliver seven different prescriptions that allegedly don't work. Moreover, he's in charge of his ill mother and he barely makes ends meet. If we set aside the fact this is a movie, and that The Joker is a fictional character, we could easily be in front of a universal mental health system critique. Shrinks don't listen, medicine doesn't work, job opportunities are highly limited, and people don't want "freaks" around them. In addition, and this only applies to the country where this film was made, guns are incredibly accessible, even for people that shouldn't have them for security reasons. In a nutshell, I feel the movie is telling its audience societies in general have a shared responsibility with murderers. The lack of prompt action may feed some mentally unstable people, and drive them into killing themselves or those around them. 

Make that change!

Reveal your true self.

The Beauty behind the beast.

Before Arthur Fleck becomes the beast, he's nothing but a hopeful citizen. He dreams to pursue a career in stand up comedy. He tells everyone her mother told him if there was a reason for him to exist, it's because he's here to bring joy and laughter to the world. He sees no evil, he wants his job, he cares about his colleagues, he always takes good care of his mother, and is a huge fan of Murray Franklin's talk show. One day, he'll be a guest there, and make the whole world laugh with his carefully crafted jokes which he keeps in a notebook. What could go wrong?  

For years I thought Sin City (2005) was the best live action movie based upon a comic book. Today, that changes forever. In fact, I'd even say Christopher Nolan's holy Batman trilogy pales next to the Joker in terms of realism. I urge everyone to go see this movie. I would even recommend it to MCU fans, so that they get a chance of seeing a caffeinated good movie. Remember it's R-Rated for a reason, so make sure your kids stay home. 

Todd Phillips directing DeNiro.

Neighbors.

Production wise, the movie costed around $50 million dollars, a modest budget considering how much is spent in the superhero film industry these days. The soundtrack is plain beautiful! classic songs from Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and an brand new score by Emmy Award-winning composer Hildur Guðnadóttir (Chernobyl, Sicario: Day of the Soldado), whose composition features the cello as the centerpiece of the score, leading string-based melodies played by a symphony orchestra of 90 musicians. WaterTower Music will release the picture disc and colored vinyl editions of the soundtrack on December 13th. The album is already available on digital format in your streaming platform of choice. 

Now, moving on to more interesting stuff, here's a selection of some of the behind the scenes situations that led Joker to be the fantastic movie it is:

Laughter.

Joaquin Phoenix called perfecting the Joker's laugh the toughest part of playing the character.  He based his laugh on "videos of people suffering from pathological laughter." He also sought to portray a character with which audiences could not identify. 


Who's laughing now.

The joke "When I was a little boy and told people I was going to be comedian, everyone laughed at me. Well no one's laughing now" is inspired by the late British comedian Bob Monkhouse's "People used to laugh at me when I said I wanted to be a comedian. Well they're not laughing now." 

Villain or victim?

Joaquin Phoenix was cagey during interviews at the Venice Film Festival when asked about siding with Arthur. Phoenix told press that any questions they might have about "Joker" will be left up to the audience to decide. "The great joy of the film for the audience is that they get to decide for themselves [what to think about Arthur's transformation]," Phoenix said. "That's what I was attracted to. In most movies, certainly in genre movies where there is a hero and the villain, the motivations of the character are clear. What I like about this is that I was never certain what was motivating him. I have my own opinion. I think I know what it is for me. But I wouldn't want to impose on anyone who hasn't seen the movie."  

No DCEU .

This version of Joker exists separately from DCEU movies like Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and Justice League--a fact Phillips has been clear about. But at the Toronto International Film Festival recently, the director also insisted that Phoenix's Joker and the upcoming new iteration of Batman played by Robert Pattinson will not collide. "I don't see [Joker] connecting to anything in the future," Phillips said. "This is just a movie." 

Pogo's makeup.

The Joker's make-up is very similar to John Wayne Gacy's, a serial killer who would often entertain children while dressed as Pogo the Clown. This make-up style was shunned by working clowns at the time, as they strictly prohibit "sharp" ends in their make-up, as it scares children. 

Golden Lion Award.

Todd Phillips won the Venice film festival's prize, the Golden Lion, for Best Film. During his acceptance speech, Phillips thanked "Warner Bros. and DC for stepping out of their comfort zone and taking such a bold swing on me and this movie," according to The Hollywood Reporter. Phillips also thanked Phoenix, who joined him on stage. "There is no movie without Joaquin Phoenix. Joaquin is the fiercest and brightest and most open-minded lion I know. Thank you for trusting me with your insane talent," said Phillips. 

-Joaquin Phoenix was good friends with the late Heath Ledger who won an Oscar for his portrayal as The Joker in 2008's The Dark Knight.  

Monster, or...

...helpless victim?

Overall, Joker is the most intense comic book character study film ever made. No other movie will ever come close to what the team behind it delivered here.

Joker, a cautionary tale based upon fictional characters. That's life!

Here's the teaser trailer:

Here's the first trailer:



Here's the second trailer:



here's the third and final trailer:



Here's Joker official Q&A:

Rogue One, a Star Wars Story

a Star Wars excellent story!

When people talk about movies, they seem to have lots of different reasons to define what makes a film either entertaining & well crafted or boring and terribly executed. Star Wars has been around since 1977, that is 39 years! and no other franchise has lasted this long, hence the necessity to treat Star Wars movies as a unique event in the filming arts. 

Last night we were the lucky bastards, as a friend called us when he found out we got tickets for an advanced screening of Rogue One: a Star Wars Story, so, I checked my lightsaber collection for battery replacement and found myself deciding which lightsabers were worthy enough as to accompany my wife & I to an experience we've been sharing since we were dating in the early 2000's. The decision was evident: Darth Vader's lightsaber & Luke (or Anakin's, or Rey's) Skywalker's blue Kyber crystal lightsaber. As usual there was a fairly decent line of fans waiting anxiously for the movie. Complete families in costumes, many people with Star Wars apparel (I was wearing my 2013 "What Would Vader Do?" T-Shirt) and of course, lightsabers. A lot of them. 

The Empire.

The rebels.

Once the Lucasfilm logo showed up the theater was silent and that is where director Gareth Edwards told us from the very beginning this wasn't Episode VIII or Episode III and half, no title crawl, just instant giant space ships featuring a flashback story on Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) and then the Rogue One title with music written by Michael Giacchino but somehow based upon John Williams' legendary work. The story by John Knoll & Gary Whitta, plotwise, is nothing longtime fans wouldn't expect, I guess fans spent years of their lives imagining how those Death Star plans got in the hands of the rebellion, namely Princess Leia Organa. 

Rogue One is supposed to play as a "side story", a "companion book" to a larger story and yet, what media and the trailers have shown us is, way too little to decide whether this film is a prequel to Episode IV: A New Hope or an actual spin-off film cashing out on the massive popularity George Lucas creation has. The burden of making a movie that wouldn't feel like a parody of itself was clearly an obstacle Edwards & Co. knew how to deal with to the very last drop. Surprisingly enough, Darth Vader, whose voice is once again played by the great James Earl Jones, is not the only "classic character" you'll see playing an important role during the development of the film. In addition, a big yet clever selection of nods to other Star Wars films are everywhere! don't blink because you'll miss a few! Obviously, watching this film solves the above mentioned "side story" or "sequel" conundrum, specially when it reaches its climax. 

Fuck everybody! Long live the Empire!

Black troopers.

The new characters are all victims of the brutal clone wars that destroyed the Jedi knights & galactic democracy. However, not much time is spent explaining why they are here and why they do what they do which is a valiant move considering the episodic Star Wars films feature quite a selection of characters that have a lot to do with plots and subplots, hence the need for explaining and/or developing a bit further than "I'm a good guy/bad guy" BUT, we all know what these characters did even without watching the movie. They're not going to be a part of future sequels, what matters most in this film is the mission, and the mission is clear: Obtain the Death Star's plan from the Empire's archive and send them to the Rebel Alliance in order to give peace a chance.

So, the "new story" has it, the Rebel Alliance is against an extremist group of rebels led by Saw Gerrera (Forest Whitaker), a man who fought the empire long enough as to being turned into a half-machine half-man. it just so happens this man raised Jyn Erso while her father Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen)  a genius engineer who was taken by the empire and forced to aid them in the development of their most brutal state of the art technology to date: the Death Star. So, Gerrera is not willing to work with the Alliance because he prefers a more direct approach. Unfortunately for the Alliance, Galen Erso chose a rogue pilot (Bhody Rook, played by Riz Ahmed) to carry an important message to Gerrera himself, a man Galen trusted him with her daughter. So there you have it! They need Jyn Erso in order to interact with Gerrera and gain the secret message that will allow them to find out more about this new imperial weapon. While all of this happens, Jyn meets other characters that are willing to help her find her father. Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) a rebel alliance agent, Chirrut Imwe (Donnie Yen) a blind martial artists fond of the force (he throws the best joke of the entire movie, and perhaps one of the best Star Wars jokes of all time), Baze Malbus (Wen Jiang) a brave laser machine gun man & K2SO (Alan Tudyk) an re programed imperial droid. 

So, who's in?

I'm contacting my old friend.

In a nutshell, they obtain the message Galen Erso sent Gerrera realizing their weapon is far too powerful to actually do something about it. Leading the resistance, another returning character, Mon Mothma (Genevieve O'Reilly) already seen in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith & Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, calls for a decision among all the alliance members and they all decide to cease the fighting in order to avoid a war that will put an end to rebel alliance. 

Now, for those thinking  the bad guy in the film is Darth Vader, and Vader only, they're extra wrong. Orson Krennic (Ben Mendehlson) is the director of operations from project Death Star, and he is actually the number one guy behind Galen Erso being forced to work for the Empire. Of course, a large collection of classic stormtroopers along with new troopers and lots of X-Wings, Tie Fighters, Imperial Destroyers & AT-AT Walkers are also there to add fun to a movie that feels like a warzone where there are no Jedi knights to bring balance to the force. 

Yes Director?

You don't know the power of...

Now for those fans craving for the dark lord of the Sith, Rogue One offers us a couple of interventions that are extra satisfying. The first even offers a glimpse on how... Well, you just watch it and see for yourself. The Second intervention is perhaps the most "Classic Star Wars" moment in the entire film. I mean, it's so fucking massive that you're like "Holy shit! Darth Vader! Go! Go! Go! " and it's this precise scene the one that reveals how this film is connected to Episode IV, so thank the producers of the trailers for not revealing any of the gorgeous surprises this film is packed with. Bail Organa (Jimmy Smits) also appears briefly in the movie, and whether you like it or not he's the connection with the prequel trilogy. Darth Sidious, AKA The Emperor, the ultimate son of a bitch is only mentioned a few times. Another very important returning character has a lot to do with the Death Star and Episode IV but I won't reveal that here. 

So, yay or nay? Rogue One is clearly an excellent movie, the start of something bigger, the "Star Wars Anthology Films" premise has a long way to go yet but, if they follow the fine example set here, I'm sure all those spin-offs they're planning will not only satisfy fans but also film connoisseurs. With a story that is all too familiar, a selection of nods to the original trilogy and a few fantastic surprises, this clearly is the film of the year 2016. And speaking of spin-offs, Rogue One actually works, so we will finally forget about those two Ewok films and the Star Wars Holiday Special (the actual first, spin-off in the SW universe)

The Rogue One crew.

In disguise.

I have to admit I had my doubts whether the film would live up to the expectations and fortunately, after we left the theater those doubts were completely wiped out. Despite the fact, the story is about "how some rebels got the Death Star plans to reach the alliance hands" all that happens in between makes it a very good action movie, it feels like you're in the middle of a war where you know many good guys will die to deliver such important information. I mean, from Episode IV we all know that those plans were delivered but not how, so it's a pretty interesting approach that fortunately, for the viewer, was achieved to the summa cum laude degree. The only thing I didn't quite like was Michael Giacchino's score which was below my expectations. Whenever there was a SW moment, his music was about to sound like something classic and then nothing happened, not even the SW theme!!! that is something I cannot forgive. Music plays a major role in the SW movies.

Overall, a fantastic addition to the SW universe and the best last 10 minutes celluloid can deliver! I guarantee that! Also, everything is settled in a single movie! no need for sequels or prequels or anything like that, just sit back, munch your popcorn while sipping your favorite drink and wait for the multiple nerdgasms the last 10 minutes will deliver, oh by the way, did I tell you about the last 10 minutes?

Here's the movie trailer:

Reazione a Catena: a Bay of Blood

Even for slashers there's a first time.

2016 is proving to be a very sad year for fans of pop culture as they're seeing their precious childhood memories butchered by heartless Hollywood producers. Before I decided to review Rezione a Catena I watched Batman: The Killing Joke hoping to find a fantastic animated adaptation of Alan Moore & Bryan Azarello's groundbreaking graphic novel, I found nothing but a kitsch parody, just like our previous entry. 

You know who else butchers? Every character from today's review! Mario Bava's masterpiece, Reazione a Catena (Chain Reaction) AKA a Bay of Blood AKA Twitch of the Death Nerve is one of those films that deserve to wear the "unique" ribbon label from our humble blog. How many movies have you watched where every single character in it gets killed in the most brutal possible way? How many movies have you watched that hold the title of first slasher film ever? fasten your seat belts for  today's review!

A death rich lady.

an all-seeing eye.

The definition of a horror film hasn't been the same since Reazione a Catena premiered in 1971, and chances of its influence ever completely receding are next to nil. The first film to exploit its body-count as the main reason for viewing, the flick even hits the ground running (or wheeling rather), with the first two of its thirteen ghastly murders occurring in the first scene alone. Besides the high mortality rate of the characters, and Bava's diabolical tunnel vision of the carnage, another not so easily noticeable (yet perhaps most lasting) influence of this film reliance on set pieces to reach its sadistic goal. Every murder is methodically, systematically designed for optimum shock, and the film's cameraman (Bava himself), art director, actors, writers, editors, FX men, etc., all play their crucial and individual parts to perfection each time, thereby making each piece stand alone like masochistic movements in a sadistic symphony.

Said actors run the gamut from fallen icons of World Cinema (like Isa Miranda), and ex-Bond Girls (Thunderball's Claudine Auger), to Laura Betti, and a Brechtian spaghetti western star (Luigi Pistilli). The writers include none other than Dardano Sacchetti, who had just recently penned Argento's Cat O' Nine Tails, and would go on to give Lucio Fulci one of the finest scripts of his career – The Beyond. Carlo Rambaldi, who would go on to win two Oscars for Alien and E.T., created the then-state-of-the-art special effects. I suppose I should mention the story line, which is often attacked for being inconsequential, illogical, irrational, impossible to sort out, or simply the odious ex machina to simply get from one murder to another. I find it all pretty simple to explain myself – I don't see what's so difficult to understand. Bava's penchant for cynicism and his fascination with humanity's dark side has never been more apparent than on this film, whose plot concerns greed, real estate, the raping of the environment, and revenge.

I wanna buy that bay no matter the cost honey.

The smell of death is upon us, dear.

All the action transpires around a beautiful, undeveloped bay and its surrounding picturesque landscape/acreage, whose owner (Isa Miranda) has been murdered. Those who wish to convert the entire area into a fashionable resort now threaten the forests and natural life. But just who is the real heir to this potential fortune now? And who won't stop at nothing to own it all, or to preserve the land's natural state. Throw in some sex-crazed teenagers who stumble and wander where they shouldn't belong, and you've got the makings for wholesale slaughter. Beheadings, faces cleaved in two, necks gouged apart, bodies run through with spears & tridents, flying pots of boiling water, hangings, strangulations, bodies being blown to shotgun bits – Reazione a Catena's got it all! Video Watchdog's Tim Lucas said it best, "…the horror genre had seen nothing quite like it before – and it's seen very little unlike it ever since." Touché. As with his work on I Vampiri and Black Sunday, Bava likely had no idea that what he was making would change the course of horror film history. Reazione a Catena was a film for which Bava was especially proud – the body count, the blatantly offensive amorality, the over-indulgent carnality, and the ludicrous lump of unlikable characters.

All these things were purposeful commentary on Bava's part – to take a stab at the industry, the genre; to see what he could do with a little bit of money; to push the envelope; to push the buttons and watch people's reactions. Such are valid and fun reasons for doing what he did. Little did Bava know that this film's genius would be singularly responsible for a whole bevy of '80s crap, including Friday the 13th,Part II's blatant theft of two of Twitch's death scenes. Argento's Bird and Bava's Reazione a Catena were the nails in the coffin for the first half of Italian Horror's heyday. The dark, alluring fantasies were now gone. No longer would the plots be semi-innocent, or quasi-Victorian. No more wandering through fogged graveyards and abandoned castles. Though Bava continued to make some work of merit in the '70s (Baron Blood, Lisa and the Devil), never again would he find himself at the forefront of the genre he almost single-handedly created. The future belonged to perversion, degeneracy, gore, hysteria, cannibalism, Teutonic witches, zombies and Goblins…lots and lots of Goblins.

Death is here to stay.

The very first teens to be slashed on the big screen.

The story has it, legendary film maker Dario Argento loved the film so much, he had a friend (who was a projectionist) steal him a print of the film during its first run in Italy. The theater ended up showing Blood Brides (1970) to replace the stolen print for the remainder of the film's run there (about a week and a half according to Argento. He possesses the print to this day).  

The film not only had numerous release titles, but also several working titles throughout the production. Among them "The Stench of Flesh", "Thus Do We Live To Be Evil" and "That Will Teach Them To Be Bad". "Reazione a catena" was the final choice for the local release. 

One of the re-release titles for this film was "The Last House on the Left Part II", even though this film has nothing to do with Wes Craven's The Last House on the Left (1972). In fact it was made a year earlier than "Last House".

Splitting headache.

Together forever.

The origin of the film was Mario Bava's desire to work with Laura Betti again. Betti had previously appeared in Bava's Blood Brides (1970) and the two had gotten along so well they concocted the premise of this film for another project together.  

The film's low budget resulted in Mario Bava being his own cinematographer. He had to utilize a simple child's wagon for the film's many tracking shots. Due to the film's low budget, most of the locations in the film belonged to director Mario Bava or members of the crew. The interiors of Countess Federica's home was shot at a favorite villa of Bava's and the interiors of Frank Ventura's country house were shot at a summer home owned by the producer. 

The 1971 Avoriaz Film Festival jurors awarded the film the Best Makeup and Special Effects Award. Carlo Rambaldi's effects work also earned the film a "Special Mention" Award at the prestigious Sitges Festival in 1971.  

That's the biggest cock I've ever seen!

I better hurry to get some Vaseline to stick it in with ease.

Although nudity is one of the key elements in a slasher film, Reazione a Catena only features a single scene where we are able to see gorgeous men magazine model Brigitte Skay sporting nothing but her curves and blonde pubes. Coincidentally, her character is the first to witness something terribly wrong is going on near the abandon mansion  but just before she's able to tell her friends about it, she's bloodily terminated, and so will her friends. Brigitte passed away in 2012 at the age of 72. During the 70's she would star several Italian exploitation films such as Man of the Year (1971), San Babila 8 P.M.(1976) & La Bestia in Calore (1977)  among others.

According to IMDB, Reazione a Catena is probable the number one film of all time to have a lot of different international titles. Some of the titles are: A bay of Blood, Blood Bath, Bloodbath Bay of Death, The Antecedent, Blood Bay, Twitch of the Death Nerve, Carnage, The Last House on the Left II & Ecology of a Crime, not to mention titles in other languages!

Brigitte Skay, the blonde bombshell.

You got something on your sweater, let me get it for you.

Overall, Reazione a Catena is a film that goes straight to the point. With a very simple plot involving every character in one way or another, this film is a total murder feast that I'm sure slasher fans and connoisseurs in general have already watched many, many times. If you've never heard about this movie but enjoy watching Giallo movies and horror movies from the late 70's and early 80's this film is definitely for you. If you've never watched a slasher before (I doubt it in 2016 but...) This film would be a great appetizer to a very interesting genre. 

In case you're concerned about the murder scenes and how graphic they are, well, there are far worse than Reazion a Catena if you're faint of the heart.

Anyways, here's the movie trailer, and please make sure you watch it in Italian because the English dub isn't the best.

The Seven Year Itch

 

A clever comedy that is not dated at all.

Legendary comedy masterpiece from filmmaker Billy Wilder and screenwriter George Axelrod that won various Golden Globe nominations . It packs a top-drawer duo protagonist , Marilyn Monroe and Tom Ewell , and a splendid secondary cast formed by a variety of notorious actors who make sympathetic interpretations . When his family , wife (Evelyn Keyes) and son , goes away for the summer, a so far faithful husband (Tom Ewell) is tempted by a beautiful neighbor (Marilyn Monroe) , a blonde model who moves upstairs . Understandably he gets itchy . Soon , the known but abortive relationship with his blond neighbor and his wolfish dreams coming to nothing in the face of her ingeniousness and his own ineptitude .

Rightly enjoyable and fun-filled , milestone comedy which neatly combines humor , mirth , entertaining situations and amusement . This noisy comedy is intelligently and pleasingly written to gives us lots of fun , laughter and smiles . This is the funniest comedy since laughter began , it is mordantly funny and today's considered a real classic movie . Billy Wilder kept the studio Twentieth Century Fox happy , the picture consistently made money and was hit at box office . Flawless comedy with a duo of sensational protagonists , including an unforgettable Marilyn who parades sexily at her best and more relaxed and enticing than ever , she tickles and tantalizes . Adding , of course , the funniest sequences of all being those in which Monroe's blown skirt and those in which Tom Ewell dreams as the great lover .Despite being one of the most iconic images in pop culture history, as well as one of the most recognizable photographs of Marilyn Monroe, the famous full-length image of Monroe standing with her dress being blown up never actually appears in the film ; the shot used in the film is only of her legs, cut with reaction shots, and never shown full-length. The hit of the show is undoubtedly for the fetching Marilyn Monroe who gives one of the best screen acting . Magnificent performance from Tom Ewell as an angst-ridden forty-years-old husband left alone while his spouse go off on holiday . Tom Ewell won the 1953 Tony Award for Actor in a Drama for "The Seven Year Itch" in the role of Richard Sherman, which he reprises in this film . Furthermore , an attractive support cast giving appealing interpretations such as Robert Strauss , Oscar Homolka , Carolyn Jones , Sonny Tuffs and Evelyn Keyes . 

As wives go on vacation, hunting season begins.

I'm just a friendly neighbor, that's all.

This sexy motion picture was very well directed by Billy Wilder who includes several punchlines . Billy was one of the best directors of history . In 1939 started the partnership with Charles Bracket on such movies as ¨Ninotchka¨ , ¨Ball of fire¨ , making their film debut as such with ¨Major and the minor¨ . ¨Sunset Boulevard¨ was their last picture together before they split up . Later on , Billy collaborated with another excellent screenwriter Ian Diamond . Both of them won an Academy Award for ¨Stalag 17¨ dealing with a POW camp starred by William Holden . After that , they wrote/produced/directed such classics as ¨Ace in the hole¨ , the touching romantic comedy ¨Sabrina¨ , the Hickcoktian courtroom puzzle game ¨Witness for the prosecution¨ and two movies with the great star Marilyn Monroe , the warmth ¨Seven year itch¨ and this ¨Some like hot¨. All of them include screenplays that sizzle with wit . But their biggest success and highpoint resulted to be the sour and fun ¨The apartment¨. Subsequently in the 60s and 70s , the duo fell headlong into the pit , they realized nice though unsuccessful movies as ¨Buddy buddy¨ ,¨Fedora¨ , ¨Front page¨ and ¨Secret life of Sherlock Holmes¨, though the agreeable ¨Avanti¨ slowed the decline . The team had almost disappeared beneath a wave of bad reviews and failures .

The seven year itch is an unforgettable legendary masterpiece. It's humorous, witty and extremely sophisticated, also very much delightful. Monroe gives a great Aurora of sex appeal. The amazing and powerful Director 'Billy Wilder' did a great job creating a film so full of life and realness. The innocence, and flirting are very casual and the film is just magical, it's beautiful and has to be seen. It's also a film that has never been copied in that same way, this is because it couldn't be, there's only one seven year itch, and there always will be to me.

Y'know these snacks aren't healthy.

Nothing beats a fresh night wind after a warm day.

The film has a message 'not to be unfaithful' and to resist temptation, and to mainly be yourself. What a great, memorable and powerful name for a film too, it describes it if you think about the film after watching it, it's your own personal perspective which i like. It's not the type of film that everyone can necessarily have the same types of views.

It was adapted from a Broadway play of the same name by George Axelrod, with Tom Ewell. I think it did a lot of good that Tom was educated and aware of the story as he was in the play and that's what made him so brilliant in the film, he was perfect as well and the wonderful and unforgettable Marilyn. The film is remembered for the radiant performance of Monroe, with the two personalities, the little girl and heart and the beautiful and secretly intelligent woman. I didn't like how she was portrayed as again a blonde bombshell, but you know she was fabulous at it and she know what she was doing, she also knew that that wasn't the real her and she wanted others to know too, accept some didn't take any notice and wanted to know her as that. I also hated that she was know as 'the girl' this is very important and sexist, but it worked.

Alcohol!

My oh my!

A voice-over narration introduces the film: "this is where we see Richard Sherman (Ewell) send of his wife and young son 'Ricky' for the summer at a crowded train station. In the next scene a number of businessmen follow a shapely female. This is where the story begins. Mr Sherman has a very creative imagination". When he first see's Monroe walking up the stairs to her friends apartment (Ewells) face tells all.

Of course everyone all knows the famous legendary scene even if they haven't seen the film. Monroe in her white dress, which blows up from the vents in the street, and Mr Sherman's line 'Cools the ankles doesn't it', while looking.

 
The classic shot of Marilyn Monroe's dress blowing up around her legs as she stands over a subway grating was originally shot on Manhattan's Lexington Avenue at 52nd Street on September 15, 1954 at 1:00 a.m. with 5,000 onlookers, who whistled and cheered through take after take as she repeatedly missed her lines. Bill Kobrin, then-20th Century Fox's East Coast correspondent, told the Palm Springs Desert Sun in 2006 that it was Billy Wilder's idea to turn the shoot into a media circus, and even had bleachers set up. This occurred in the presence of an embarrassed and angry Joe DiMaggio, Monroe's husband at the time. The original footage never made it to the screen; the noise of the crowd had made it unusable. Wilder re-staged the scene on a Fox set replicating Lexington Avenue, and got a more satisfactory result. However, it took another 40 takes for Marilyn to achieve the famous scene. 

a photo from the legendary scene.

Despite being one of the most iconic images in pop culture history, as well as one of the most recognizable photographs of Marilyn Monroe, the famous full-length image of Monroe standing with her dress being blown up never actually appears in the film. The shot used in the film is only of her legs, cut with reaction shots, and never shown full-length. 

Marilyn Monroe's lifelong bouts with depression and self-destruction took their toll during filming; she frequently muffed scenes and forgot her lines, leading to sometimes as many as 40 takes of a scene before a satisfactory result was produced.  

The seven year itch is very important in Cinema history and any Monroe or Ewell fan must see it, or someone who loves a great film.  Forget today's sex symbols...Marilyn is IT. If Kate Moss moved into the flat above mine while my wife as out of town with the kids, I'd have no trouble resisting temptation; but, Marilyn Monroe is a force of nature. She's a fertility goddess. She is pure hourglass with a dynamite smile. In short, she is pure concentrated femininity. 

The definitive bombshell.

The final photo session...

This movie is a comedy, and a good one at that. The timing of Monroe and Ewell is flawless. The scene where he jumps Marilyn on the piano bench in a brief moment of passion causing them both to fall to the floor gives this brief exchange...

"I'm sorry", Ewell says, "This has never happened to me before"

Marilyn answers, while standing up and adjust her clothes, "That's funny. It happens to me all the time"...
The exchange between Ewell and a psychiatrist is equally well-done. The movie is a classic. It is Jack Lemmon's The Apartment, done with an attractive woman and a man who, although not in full possession of his marbles, certainly is better adjusted than Lemmon's character. 

Overall, a must see for every film connoisseur out there. Stay tuned 'cause more Marilyn Monroe film reviews are just around the bend (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Niagara & Bus Stop just to name a few) 

 

Here's the movie trailer: