REVIEWS Reality Reviewed by Allan Hunter
Matteo Garrone’s first feature since Gomorra (2008) takes an idiosyncratic lurch into quasi- Fellini territory as it offers a whimsical reflection on the corrupting influence of reality television. Mild- mannered and meandering, Reality fails to make the most of a subject that no longer feels as urgent or immediate as it once did. The Truman Show was a long time ago and Real-
ity seems to belong to an even earlier era, when Anna Magnani desperately pushed her daughter towards a movie career in Bellissima (1951) or James Stewart believed in his invisible friend, Harvey (1950). Garrone’s reputation may ensure some ini- tial domestic interest in Reality, but it seems unlikely to travel. The Fellini influence is revealed in an opening
sequence as a golden carriage is pulled through the streets by plumed horses and white doves are released into the skies as part of an elaborate wed- ding ceremony. Later, a gaudy nightclub scene also has the feel
of Fellini. The initial wedding party are thrilled by the arrival of Enzo (Ferrante), a celebrity who sur- vived 116 days in the Big Brother house. Everyone basks in the glow of his renown and seems to have bought into the notion that an appearance on the show provides fame and riches that will last a life- time.
COMPETITION
It-Fr. 2012. 115mins Director Matteo Garrone Production companies Archimede-Fandango, Le Pacte-Garance Capital Producers Domenico Procacci, Matteo Garrone International sales Fandango Portobello, sales@fandango
portobello.com Screenplay Maurizio Braucci, Ugo Chiti, Matteo Garrone, Massimo Gaudioso Cinematography Marco Onorato Editor Marco Spoletini Production designer Paolo Bonfini Music Alexandre Desplat Main cast Aniello Arena, Loredana Simioli, Nando Paone, Graziella Marina, Nell Iorio, Raffaele Ferrante
When Big Brother auditions are held in Naples,
fish seller Luciano (Arena) is persuaded to enter. He is convinced he will be chosen, especially after a fur- ther audition at Cinecitta in Rome. In anticipation of his success, Enzo sells his business, grows increasingly paranoid around family and neigh- bours, alienates his wife and slowly surrenders his grip on the real world. Reality is nicely staged, with Garrone’s regular
cinematographer, Marco Onorato, capturing a tangy flavour of the decaying majesty among the buildings of old Naples, and Alexandre Desplat con- tributing a score that tinkles with Potter-esque charm. The problem lies not with the craftsmanship but with a discursive, verbose screenplay that never seems entirely sure whether to approach Reality as a caustic satire, an amusing Walter Mitty fantasy, a
cutting commentary on a world enslaved by the inanities of reality television or a plaintive window into the mind of a hopelessly deluded innocent. It is a little of all these things but the comedy is
only half-hearted at best, the material is dated and the boisterous, endlessly argumentative extended family that surround Luciano quickly grow tire- some. Arena has the guileless, wide-eyed look of a man who believes he has fallen into a wonderland where all his dreams will come true, but you wonder whether a young Nanni Moretti or Roberto Benigni might have had the comic skill and charm to make the character more appealing and this sweetly pointless film more compelling.
SCREEN SCORE ★★
SCREENING TODAY
May 19, 18.00 - Palais C -
By invitation only. No press.
Svensk Filmindustri Scandinavian Terrace - 55, La Croisette
www.sfinternational.se
Ann-Kristin Westerberg COO - Rights & Int’l Sales +46 705 38 48 48
Anita Simovic Head of Int’l Sales +46 706 48 26 11
n 24 Screen International at Cannes May 19, 2012
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112