The Sicilian

source: The Sicilian

Trailer—The Sicilian

The Sicilian

This is a fantastic story about rebellion against the odds, Mario Puzo's Novel is a splendid read. However, Christopher Lambert acting is completely wooden. Absolutely awful. He straight out looks and speaks like an American with a terrible attempt at a Sicilians accent. Very annoying to people that have read the book and looked forward to decent story being told. Too much emphasis on the relationship between the duchess and not Giovanna. Gives the viewer the impression of a stronger love connection (when it was just sex for revenge/future plans) between the duchess than when Giovanna (his true love in the book) sat by the sidelines. Crappy casting and a poorly adapted novel seems like Michael Cimino just missed the whole plot. could of been so much more. Oh well read the book instead.

You can't be serious. This movie could have been great. It's got tragedy and struggle at its heart. The score is mournful and sufficiently mody. The direction and photography are at times beautiful and inspired. But the hard-boiled and wooden acting - combined with some of the most ridiculous dialouge - takes all seriousness right out of this over-achieving film. The only true hope within this waste of money is the always brilliant, John Turtorro. Watching him act one gets the idea that he knows the dialogue is ridiculous and acts up the campiness accordingly. Look out for a scene late in the film when he visits the cardinal to retrieve a message for Guliano. AS he walks back, he stumbles over a coffee table, in effect pulling the wind right out of the drama!

Cimino has created an epic, this is a very ambitious film, which unfortunately went exactly nowhere. Christopher Lambert plays Giuliano, a Sicilian bandit/revolutionary in post WW2 Sicily. Cimino effectively balances all of the powers that be --the church, the mafia, the nobility-- and presents a complex picture of the forces that were at work. Giuliano was a peasant hero, a kind of Robin Hood, whose heart was right but whose head lacked the smarts or the wisdom and ended up being destroyed. Watching this film, I thought of Visconti's The Leopard, it has the sweep of that earlier film, starring Burt Lancaster. Cimino has been in disfavor since Heaven's Gate, but with the Sicilian, he proves that he knows how to direct a film, even if no one ever sees it. BTW, this is one of the few films produced by the late David Begelman, who unfortunately blew his brains out, since he was in over his head legally and financially in 1995. Rent the Sicilian, it is on DVD.

Mario Puzo has given the world many novels and scripts becoming the basis for fine movies, e.g. The Godfather trilogy. As for The Sicilian, the screenwriters made it a dubious historical action movie, with an odd choice for the leading role - Christopher "The Highlander" Lambert who obviously lacked the features characteristic to e.g. Robert DeNiro or Al Pacino. The result is a kind of Italian Zorro or Viva Zapata!, with beautiful but difficult-to-remember women; luckily, there are some fine supporting performances, particularly John Turturro as Gaspare "Aspanu" Pisciotta and Joss Ackland as Don Masino Croce, and real Italian atmosphere. But the 2+ hours was too much, there were many scenes not providing additional value, and some lines-links could have been totally avoided. But first of all, one could have a real choice whether to make an adventure movie or mafia movie. Thus, unless you have decided to see everything connected to Puzo or Lambert, or Turturro, skip The Sicilian.

This film is not as bad as many say. It is somewhat melodramatic at times, but not too often. I really enjoy watching it and recommend it. The main problems with the movie are, the music and acting. The opening song in the film is great and it leads you to believe the film will be a near masterpiece. But there is this one song that is used during some romantic moments, and it just plain sucks. It kills any effect the film had. Then there is the acting. Lambert is one of the worst actors i have ever seen. Simple. However, this movie is probably his best work. The violence in the film is intense which keeps your attention and the cinematography is rather beautiful (One of Cimino's greatest abilities) So, if you can find a copy, watch it.

This must be one of the really awful films of all time, which belongs in the bottom 100. Must admit to having ignored the score and comment on the site here and purchased the DVD. Terrible mistake. I figured a Cimino directed Puzo film couldn't be that bad - it was. The acting is generally poor with a few exceptions. Notably, Joss Ackland, John Turturro and Giulia Boschi come out with some credit. Christopher Lambert, however, fails to carry the movie, and is as wooden as it gets. Even the Sicilian swagger fails to impress. Barbara Sukowa also is a let down, despite the odd sight of flesh. Cimino is a mega let down. It is as if there were a few scenes left over on the cutting room floor from the Godfather - marvelous scenery though it is - clipped together with a hastily put together script. To add to it all, the editing leaves a lot to be desired. I gave it 2/10, but only due to the scenery and score (which also may have been a hand-me-down from the Godfather).

Loosely based on real events this is the story of a man who stands up to the mob and the rich, with some success. Christopher Lambert plays the charismatic lead and does an admirable job. The Mafia, in this film, is portrayed effectively and menacingly. The love affair bored me. What I liked about this film was the power struggle and the loss. No battle is fought without casualties. I've not read up on the historical events, so I don't know how much historical accuracy there is in this film, but I don't think it tries to be a documentary, it tries to tell a romantic tale about a man who stood against forces that most people don't dare stand up against. If the Romance of one man against many appeals to you, this film does a respectable job of that. It's been many years since I've watched it, but it was one of my favorite DVD rentals some years back.