Massimo Venturiello Movies
- 2006
When the efforts of a Philosophy teacher from the Italian Region of Puglia and his two brothers to sell an old family farm are stalled by their boorish and aggressive step-brother, the family's dark past is soon dragged into the harsh light of the presence in director Sergio Rubini's simmering family drama. Luigi moved to Milan years ago to escape the tyranny of his brutish father. Though Luigi and his two brothers are currently attempting to negotiate the sale of an old farm that has fallen to disrepair, their loutish, womanizing, half-brother Aldo seems to be doing everything in his power to sink the potentially lucrative deal. Eventually deciding to take the matter into his own hands, former childhood hellion Luigi returns to Puglia only to find that little has changed in his explosively dysfunctional family. When the brothers are acquitted of a homicide and heated accusations begin to fly among family members, Luigi launches a furtive investigation into the case that finds him putting his relationships with his family, and his wife, under the microscope for closer inspection. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Fabrizio Bentivoglio, Paolo Briguglia, (more)
- 1991
Valeria is having a difficult time finding her center of gravity and is currently really angry at her boyfriend. She is living in Rome, studying art restoration, but her real home is in Spain. She's something of a loose cannon these days. After moving out of her old quarters, she takes up with a gay male couple and cheerfully seduces the more susceptible of the two. After that, she travels in the countryside with one of her instructors and a famous friend of his and has a brief liaison with a man she meets there. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Christina Marsillach, Massimo Venturiello, (more)
- 1989
When Teresa (Cristina Marsillach), an old school chum from ten years before, shows up at his house, Marco (Fabrizio Bentivoglio) lets her in. She wants him to help her get hold of $20,000 to pay off a Moroccan judge to get her boyfriend Rudy (another old school chum) out of jail. Somehow, this story plays on his heartstrings, and instead of kicking her out, he contacts other old chums from the period. The whole gang reunites with Teresa and Marco, at first revealing, then shedding their grown-up identities. After raising the money, they all travel to Morocco to spring their comrade. Along the way, they smoke a lot of dope and relive old times. When Teresa apparently runs off with the money (and Rudy), they get hold of some bicycles and try and track them down. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Diego Abatantuono, Fabrizio Bentivoglio, (more)
- 1987
- R
Carol Ault and Elliott Gould co-star with Jean Rochefort and Pierre Cosso in this softcore erotic drama. Marina (Ault) is a young woman from a wealthy family who graduates from affairs with her maid and a young count to favoring the brutish attention of domineering men. Although she is portrayed as an amoral heroine with liberal attitudes, Marina inexplicably does not seek an end to her degrading humiliation and abuse. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Carol Alt, Elliott Gould, (more)
- 1987
- PG
A family history is recalled by the venerable patriarch Carlo (Vittorio Gassman) as he prepares to celebrate his 80th birthday. Young Carlo (Andrea Massimo) marries Beatrice (Stefania Sandrelli) in 1926 but later has an illicit affair with her bohemian artist sister Adriana (Fanny Ardant). Fascism, World War II, and the raising of children and grandchildren mark the passing of a lifetime. Old Carlo lives with his grandson where his recollections are interrupted by the gentle nagging of his beloved Beatrice. This feature received an Oscar nomination in 1987 for "Best Foreign Film." ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Vittorio Gassman, Fanny Ardant, (more)
- 1987
The Italian Rorret was directed by Fulvio Wetzl, a man who (to lapse into the vernacular) "knows from movies." Lou Castel plays the owner of a revival theatre, specializing in Hollywood thrillers of the 1940s. Castel is also mad as a hatter: he spends his off-hours murdering people he doesn't like. In the manner of the American film Fade to Black, Castel commits his crimes in imitation of famous movie death scenes. Unfortunately, once the basic "joke" of Rorret is established, it is stretched rather than developed. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lou Castel, Anna Galiena, (more)
- 1987
- PG13
The always innovative Taviani Brothers pay homage to another unique filmmaker, D. W. Griffith, in Good Morning, Babylon. Vincent Spano and Joaquim de Almeida star as Nicola and Andrea Bonnano, the latest in a long line of Tuscany-born cathedral builders. Emigrating to America, the brothers settle in Los Angeles in 1915, even as director Griffith (Charles Dance) is preparing his epic production Intolerance. The boys are hired to help construct the massive sets for the film's Babylonian sequence (hence the title), for no other reason than the fact that Griffith is impressed by Italian craftsmanship. As the film progresses, Nicola and Andrea assimilate to their new surroundings, even launching a romance with a pair of pretty movie extras. On the verge of continuing the family tradition, the boys' ambitions are cut short by events well beyond their control. Still, their past artistic accomplishments, like those of their forebears, survive the ages -- but only on the ethereal silver screen. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Vincent Spano, Joaquim de Almeida, (more)
