Bernardo Bertolucci: S/D

I did see Tragedy of a Ridiculous Man as noted above and really liked it. It'll show again in NYC at MoMA's upcoming Ugo Tognazzi series.

On my FB wall is a fascinating discussion of Bertolucci's self-admitted bisexuality and how it barely manifests itself in his films.

does it? in terms of going up to the precipice, The Conformist and The Dreamers seem to have a bi eye. (also Keanu sitting under the tree of life)

The Dreamers scurries away after one footsie scene.

I never developed any attachment to him: The Last Emperor is a fine entry in a genre I just don’t care much for, but The Dreamers was pretty bad (despite the Louis Garrel nudity). I need to catch up with Last Tango in Paris and The Conformist; nothing else in his filmography looks at all interesting to me.

I like The Spider's Strategem and Little Buddha (yes) best.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, August 6, 2004 1

(adding Tragedy of a Ridic Man)

you like Keanu best

I Sidd-hart-ha him

Tragedy of a Horny Man.

This repartee is sparkling!

Last three posts have been the gayest three posts in a row

since when? the last All About Eve hommage?

I detest cheap sentiment.

^beating a dead martini

You're obviously not a woman.

Classic 'Some Italian guy's just died, anyone know anything about him? No?' stuff from the Telegraph.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2018/11/26/last-tango-paris-director-bernardo-bertoluccidies-aged-77/

I say Bertolucci's career remains a case study in how age withers engagement if an artist lets it.

He benefited enormously from his relationship with cinematographer Vittorio Storaro, who is arguably the more outstanding talent of the duo.

Current links:

https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/6071-the-knotty-legacy-of-bernardo-bertolucci

This, by @szacharek, is the best piece I have read on Bernardo Bertolucci's legacy, and a searching, truly thoughtful piece of criticism. https://t.co/07NuKrY1D5

— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) November 29, 2018

I was about to link to it.

I wish she'd mentioned the later films besides TLE and The Dreamers but a fine piece.

Terrific piece.

I watched his first feature, La commare secca, last night and it's pretty good (murder of a prostitute, quasi-Rashomon style). The producer had a Pasolini scenario that PPP didn't have time to make, so he and his co-writer were told "Write it like Pasolini," who had made only Accatone at that point. (BB had been an assistant on that one)

also it's not really a "rip" of Rashomon in that, unless I missed something, the different segments don't show contradictory events.

Something I would definitely watch:

https://variety.com/2021/tv/global/last-tango-in-paris-making-of-series-1235120987/

I was thinking someone might play Kael, but she figures in after-the-fact.

In a Twitter thread about this, someone says "This seems immoral..."

Depicting unpleasant history is now inherently immoral?

I Love Film...Think I'll move this to another thread.

Last Tango in Paris was kind of boring in the end

Robert de Niro and Gerard Depardieu were very hot in 1900

The Last Emperor is tedious, I want to go back to Last Tango in Paris or 1900. Still have to see The Conformist

The Spider's Strategem and The Conformist are his two best; he never made a terrible film, but even as early as 1900 he was beginning to slide. I'm a fan of many cerebral artists but I think Bertolucci second-guessed himself into a creative impasse.