Audio Asylum Thread Printer

Get a view of an entire thread on one page

FAQ / News / Events

Films/DVD Asylum

Rocco and his Brothers: the best boxing film, period.

4.254.142.202

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Thread: Display Email Next ] [ Films/DVD Asylum ]

(And of course, much more...)
Notice how the bouts are filmed with no excessive blood spatterings, ridiculously over-delivered-and-reacted-to blows, slow-mo, strange camera angles?, Both Rocco and Simone showed REAL skills, not only in delivering blows but in slipping, dancing, and taking shots (heads pivot the direction of the blow). Scorscese should have paid closer attention.
This is, inarguably, Delon's finest role (I know Vic thought he overplayed it at times but I couldn't find any instance: after all, his brother did some extraordinarily hateful things to him and to the girl; if anything, Delon UNDER played). For someone accustomed to American acting, his minimalist approach is much more difficult to dismiss as "non-real"---like The Bicycle Thief, this is a classic of realist film.
The mother in the film is another acting tour de force: this woman's face, absent the prettiness and paint which American audiences expect even in dowagers, has anguish that comes only from a hard life (or so the great actress convinces you!).
I didn't find the principal actress very physically attractive, but to make a prostitute into such a complex and disturbing character takes intelligence and great skill. Having seen Antonioni's trilogy immediately before this film, I wasn't challenged by its deliberate pacing: in fact, with its many violent and disturbing scenes, I thought it flowed well.
The film, obviously, isn't any more about boxing or, indeed, the individuals. It speaks to the injustice of post-war Italy and shows the social forces at work that one day resulted in modern day Italy's socialism. All Italians, Visconti is saying, are brothers.

Follow Ups:

Not sure it is a "boxing film", but a gem - Victor Khomenko 08:39:56 10/02/05 (8)
You are right, so much more than a boxing film, with palpable characters.
My memory is a few years old, so I can't argue about Delon overplaying some scene (I read my old review...), but certainly a role that will stay in movie history.
A must see film, for sure. Hardly needs any recommendation.
- Of course, you're right and I only was jabbing in Scorscese's direction - tinear 09:13:03 10/02/05 (7)
  with my tongue firmly in cheek. But I am deadly serious about the quality of those boxing sequences. I have NEVER seen boxing well-filmed before. Ever. Delon may have had a boxing history in his boyhood? He reminded me very much of a famous boxer named Alexis Arguello, both facially, body-type, and punch delivery (long straight blows with the elbow snapping).
  - Re: Of course, you're right and I only was jabbing in Scorscese's direction - patrickU 10:14:20 10/02/05 (6)
    Delon has organised a lot of boxing events.
    Lately he was very friend friend with the Nazi Le Pen. Now after his last wife separated he is thinking of suicide, only his kids are in the way.
    He already has a chapel build for him where is body will sooner or later rest.
    - Re: Hang's out with Brigit Bardo who's also into Le Pen (nt) - Jeff Starrs 23:54:21 10/02/05 (1)
      *
      - Re: They both love dogs.....nt - patrickU 07:48:40 10/03/05 (0)
        
        In Reply to: Re: Hang's out with Brigit Bardo who's also into Le Pen (nt) posted by Jeff Starrs on October 2, 2005 at 23:54:21:
        
        nt
    - Delon appears to have a history of dubious associations - grinagog 23:01:52 10/02/05 (3)
      so that doesn't surprise me, (thanks for the interesting post!)
      Grins
      - Doobie us? nt - tinear 10:20:04 10/03/05 (2)
        
        In Reply to: Delon appears to have a history of dubious associations posted by grinagog on October 2, 2005 at 23:01:52:
        
        asdg
        
        Nah, that was Bogart (nt) - grinagog 21:24:32 10/03/05 (1)
        
        In Reply to: Doobie us? nt posted by tinear on October 3, 2005 at 10:20:04:
        
        Grins
        
        Or maybe it was Kermit the Frog... - grinagog 04:21:52 10/05/05 (0)
        
        In Reply to: Nah, that was Bogart (nt) posted by grinagog on October 3, 2005 at 21:24:32:
        
        Grins

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Signature Sound

[ Signature Sound Lounge ]

You can not post to an archived thread.