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- "Malena"
(Reviewed December 10, 2000)
- This Italian-language movie starts out kind of sappy and creepy (an odd combination), focusing on a pubescent boy who is carnally obsessed with a beautiful Sicilian woman
whose husband is off fighting in World War II. Incidents that presumably are supposed to come across as amusing and charming (the boy's late-night peeping-tom exploits, his theft of the woman's panties
from a clothesline so he can wear them on his head while he masturbates, his late-night jerk-off sessions listening to a record he once overheard at her house) looked more like stalking for beginners than like
"Summer of '42," though.
Two things that help redeem the movie are the Woman In Question, played by the stunningly beautiful Monica Bellucci (seen earlier this year as Gene Hackman's trophy wife in "Under
Suspicion"); and the fact that the plot definitely does NOT resolve itself the way viewers will expect. Unfortunately, even that "plus" is turned into a "minus" when the filmmakers tack on one more plot
twist than they should have, making for a wholly unbelievable final scene. It must be Bellucci's curse to get stuck in movies that should have ended five minutes before they do ("Under Suspicion" was
similarly marred by a last scene that should have been left on the cutting-room floor).
This was not the worst "coming-of-age" movie this year ("Just Looking" for boys, and "Coming Soon" for girls, were far, far worse.) And at least Bellucci graces us with a few topless moments. Plus the
photography is nice, with kind of a lush sepia-gold predominating. But it's all kind of....enhhh.
Back Row Grade: D
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