8½

Genre: Drama
Year of release: 1963
Director:Federico Fellini

This movie at my first glance I found quite boring and I was quite confused at what I had seen, I don't really know what I was thinking, the second time I watched I really saw what I had missed I although it stays a little tiny bit confusing I found it to be a much more normal film. This movie includes some of the best cinematography which in my opinion is only beaten by Lawrence of Arabia.

8½ is a movie about a director with a writers block, he is making a new movie which he has no idea what will be about, he is picking a cast without knowing their characters, everyone is pressuring him into making this movie and he often withdraws into his own fantasy dreams.

8½ is very original and defiantly deserves its place in history. I still get the feeling that I do not enjoy this movie quite to its full potential however. The dreams that the director Guido Anselmi has in a way seem quite random how ever so his true feelings if you look closely. The way in which they slide from reality to fantasy and back again is quite amazing. What stands out however is the cinematography many many scenes looks so incredible. The music really sets a great mood. The acting also was not bad Marcello Mastroianni created his character perfectly. The Italian Dubbing is a little bit badly done it really annoyed me the first time as some of the words do not match their mouths in a few scenes the second time I noticed it a lot less.


Wow the cinematography. Many of the scenes looked so beautiful even if they are simple they look good in an art type of way e.g laid out well, great contrast added to by the black and white this movie really is a moving Mona Lisa. Thinking back on some of the scenes increases my enjoyment of this film. The flash backs to his childhood are perfect some of the best scenes in this movie and in movie history. The first flash back to the bath house was extremely well done, I can not exactly explain why however the music really made me feel and remember this scene from the first viewing as well. The use of shadows on the wall when the nun is chasing him looked great I love the caps and hats on the school boys as well it just looks cool. Most of the best cinematography is done with long shots like in Lawrence, Seven Samurai however this movie seems to do it with a use of close and mid shots. The scene at the start when he is standing on the car is amazing, the scene in the bathroom were every thing is dark and then he turn the lights on is wonderful and the final scenes were a perfect ending to this great movie.

The music was one of the best parts to this movie, music is always important in a movie I have seen it done better in things like 2001, the Godfather however the music in this is very good. It uses a lot of very famous music which I kind of like as next time I hear those songs I will always be reminded of 8½. The music always makes me in the mood to watch the movie if it is suited properly and this movie defiantly does that the 8½ song that is played at the menu and when the whore is dancing is quite cool, and sets quite a light feeling that is almost humorous.

As the story increases my feelings for Guido really grew I felt sorry for him, him trying to make this movie and being shot down by the critic, the pressure being put on him to tell everyone their part and to give out a full script, not liking any of the people around him and earning for what he took for granted in his childhood. The Critic I must say I loved his part was acted very well and his character really pushed this movie up for me, I absolutely love the hanging scene I find this scene hilarious and thinking back on it makes me laugh which would seem very cruel if you have not seen this movie, don't worry I don't laugh at any other execution I am not that type of person. I didn't really like the actress and I think it might just be me but I found their characters too dull they were necessary however as they built on the story in the pressure put on Guido. I loved the depth in that Guido was unhappy, how he wanted things from his childhood he yearned for them as back then he enjoyed his company and had access to a girl who he was crazy about, even though he got into a lot of trouble and had lots of bad times as a child he still remain at least in my opinion happy and even that bad times he seemed to cherish once he was older. Through out most of the film he is not a child and is older self does not seem to like many of the people he is around and many of them really do not know what type of person he really is. The final scenes in this movie really leave it on a good note, the spotlight scene at the end is so incredibly perfect it is amazing. It really adds depth to the movie.

In conclusion a great film a great achievement for film history and a true classic.

about 10/10
(re-watched it today, since it had been nearly a year since I saw it I got confused again like in my first watching, just the little things I remembered the main story, I watched it again straight after (I think it is the first time I have ever done that) and extremely loved it, amazing film.)