I'm just back from beautiful Milano where I finally could put my hands on a DVD copy (no BluRay in shops so far, even in the director's own country!) of Dario Argento's latest effort: Occhiali Neri aka Dark Glasses.
I was a huge fan of his cinema, at least until Stendhal Syndrome (1996). Since, his films were for me at best lazy attempts to perpetuate the Giallo genre (NonHoSonno for instance) and I almost gave up all hopes.
Then came La Terza Madre (disastrous... but somehow entertaining!) and his own version of Dracula; believe it or not, and even if flawed from start to finish with horrendous CGI effects nobody needs, I actually liked it a lot more than his previous misfires. Especially the very dusty Hammer tone of the whole thing (and Rutger too, of course).
I was surprised when I first heard of his new film Dark Glasses which was part of the selection of this year's Berlinale. Even more when first voices raised to praise this movie: Argento made a new film, and a good one too again, was it truly conceivable, even possible??
Then I saw the user's rate and reviews here: WOW! What a contrast.
After having seen Dark Glasses (need some?), I would like to know from you guys: Why soooo much HATE? What is the point of writing here that Dario directed only one good movie in his whole career (Suspiria, hum, really?) and despise his entire career in a row: Frustration or ignorance? Maybe both: Even if you can't see (lol...) the point of the Giallo genre and hate maybe all his previous efforts, WTF is wrong with you? Why do you need to disgust other (younger) potential viewers/cinephiles? Is the actual CGI-overkill cinematographic feast feeding from your eyes and generating some kind of weird ultimate brain cancer? Maybe so... I only can suggest that you stay far away from Italian films, it seems hopeless for you!
OF COURSE Argento's Dark Glasses isn't a new masterpiece. Of course the whole thing is flawed (especially the script's plot holes and the killer in itself), but there are also PLENTY of JOYS here: At first, the actors are GOOD (even Asia Argento which is unrecognisable), the direction is energetic (the chase sequences) and visually compelling (even if HD is a poor support), the atmosphere is great etc... Then it is a kind of twin brother to Aura's Enigma (Trauma) which I'm very fond of: indeed, Dario has NEVER had compassion for his female leading roles, except in both movies. Even if the whole plot isn't full of twists and climaxes, this story is somehow compelling and original for the Maestro.
At least, believe me: This is NOT A GIALLO!
Just imagine one second that the whole story is a metaphor for Diana's (half ways) "transformation" or even redemption... The film make sense, especially when you listen a bit more carefully to the meaning of the "solar eclipse" shown during the introduction.
So even if there are a lot of (minor) flaws here, and even if it isn't Dario's return "at his best" (hey, give the man a break, he is 80 years "young" now!), WHAT DID YOU EXPECT??? Instead of a miracle, just enjoy this good synthesis of his career: It's much MUCH more worth your time than David Cronenberg's WTF Crimes of the Future, believe me!
I was a huge fan of his cinema, at least until Stendhal Syndrome (1996). Since, his films were for me at best lazy attempts to perpetuate the Giallo genre (NonHoSonno for instance) and I almost gave up all hopes.
Then came La Terza Madre (disastrous... but somehow entertaining!) and his own version of Dracula; believe it or not, and even if flawed from start to finish with horrendous CGI effects nobody needs, I actually liked it a lot more than his previous misfires. Especially the very dusty Hammer tone of the whole thing (and Rutger too, of course).
I was surprised when I first heard of his new film Dark Glasses which was part of the selection of this year's Berlinale. Even more when first voices raised to praise this movie: Argento made a new film, and a good one too again, was it truly conceivable, even possible??
Then I saw the user's rate and reviews here: WOW! What a contrast.
After having seen Dark Glasses (need some?), I would like to know from you guys: Why soooo much HATE? What is the point of writing here that Dario directed only one good movie in his whole career (Suspiria, hum, really?) and despise his entire career in a row: Frustration or ignorance? Maybe both: Even if you can't see (lol...) the point of the Giallo genre and hate maybe all his previous efforts, WTF is wrong with you? Why do you need to disgust other (younger) potential viewers/cinephiles? Is the actual CGI-overkill cinematographic feast feeding from your eyes and generating some kind of weird ultimate brain cancer? Maybe so... I only can suggest that you stay far away from Italian films, it seems hopeless for you!
OF COURSE Argento's Dark Glasses isn't a new masterpiece. Of course the whole thing is flawed (especially the script's plot holes and the killer in itself), but there are also PLENTY of JOYS here: At first, the actors are GOOD (even Asia Argento which is unrecognisable), the direction is energetic (the chase sequences) and visually compelling (even if HD is a poor support), the atmosphere is great etc... Then it is a kind of twin brother to Aura's Enigma (Trauma) which I'm very fond of: indeed, Dario has NEVER had compassion for his female leading roles, except in both movies. Even if the whole plot isn't full of twists and climaxes, this story is somehow compelling and original for the Maestro.
At least, believe me: This is NOT A GIALLO!
Just imagine one second that the whole story is a metaphor for Diana's (half ways) "transformation" or even redemption... The film make sense, especially when you listen a bit more carefully to the meaning of the "solar eclipse" shown during the introduction.
So even if there are a lot of (minor) flaws here, and even if it isn't Dario's return "at his best" (hey, give the man a break, he is 80 years "young" now!), WHAT DID YOU EXPECT??? Instead of a miracle, just enjoy this good synthesis of his career: It's much MUCH more worth your time than David Cronenberg's WTF Crimes of the Future, believe me!