Before the Revolution (Bernardo Bertolucci, 1964) - 9.5/10
This is by far, the best thing Bernardo Bertolucci has ever done. I've always been impressed by the man's style but there has also always been something keeping me from becoming even remotely attached to his films. Whether it be the sterility in Partner or the overacting in Last Tango, I've never been able to appreciate his obvious talent. The fantastic cinematography from Aldo Scavarda (most famous for his work on L'Avventura) definitely gives it a very Antonioni feel but at the same time the film has a very playful edge, something neither Bertolucci or Antonioni could ever grasp. (which isn't an insult on Antonioni's part, his films never called for) I suppose Bertolucci sort of tried to do this in Last Tango in Paris with the JPL subplot but I always found that part of the film to be really awkward and ill-fitting. Here, though, it meshes perfectly and creates one of the most poignant portraits of a doomed romance that I've ever seen. I could complain that the characters talk in a far too poetic way but the film also has that "spontaneous" energy thing going for it so much so that the dialogue isn't particularly obnoxious. It may sound a bit too "film-nerdy" but this just seems like a perfect stylistic combination of Antonioni and Godard.
This is by far, the best thing Bernardo Bertolucci has ever done. I've always been impressed by the man's style but there has also always been something keeping me from becoming even remotely attached to his films. Whether it be the sterility in Partner or the overacting in Last Tango, I've never been able to appreciate his obvious talent. The fantastic cinematography from Aldo Scavarda (most famous for his work on L'Avventura) definitely gives it a very Antonioni feel but at the same time the film has a very playful edge, something neither Bertolucci or Antonioni could ever grasp. (which isn't an insult on Antonioni's part, his films never called for) I suppose Bertolucci sort of tried to do this in Last Tango in Paris with the JPL subplot but I always found that part of the film to be really awkward and ill-fitting. Here, though, it meshes perfectly and creates one of the most poignant portraits of a doomed romance that I've ever seen. I could complain that the characters talk in a far too poetic way but the film also has that "spontaneous" energy thing going for it so much so that the dialogue isn't particularly obnoxious. It may sound a bit too "film-nerdy" but this just seems like a perfect stylistic combination of Antonioni and Godard.