The movie would have been bearable if not for Ninetto Davoli's performance. As usual, Pasolini cast him in a lead role for no apparent reason other than that he was sharing his bed. All of Pasolini's films are ruined by this kid who couldn't act his way out of a paper bag. He's the type who is either so distracted by who is behind the camera or so clueless about acting that if he's supposed to cry in a scene, he will rub his eyes like a child and feign a sob like someone who is imitating a baby crying. If he's happy in a scene, he will laugh uncontrollably and dance around. All his choices as an actor are hammy and over the top which makes him very distracting.
As for Toto, he does better as the funny man. In this film, he played more of the straight man to Ninetto's buffoon. His wig was distracting because it made his head too square and too comical. He tried really hard though, but it was a tough sell when his scene partner was so terrible and gave him nothing.
This film is listed as a comedy, but I'm wondering if that's just hindsight. I'm not sure Pasolini meant it to be funny. There's a lot of heavy ideas about class consciousness and Marxist and Christian doctrine. The best thing the film has to offer are Morricone's score and the cinematography... in that order.
It's a damn shame that this director couldn't separate his home life from work. Or he just didn't trust his virile young stud to be at home alone. Or he had it so good with him that he couldn't bear to be away for long. Either way, Ninetto is neither good at acting nor nice to look at. His actor makeup cannot hide his very obvious acne which stands out in black and white on an HD screen. His skin appears very greasy and his teeth seem covered in plaque. These seem like unimportant details, but when you see how little his acting does for the film, you will also start searching for anything to recommend this guy who Pasolini cast in so many of his films. Nothing there.
As for Toto, he does better as the funny man. In this film, he played more of the straight man to Ninetto's buffoon. His wig was distracting because it made his head too square and too comical. He tried really hard though, but it was a tough sell when his scene partner was so terrible and gave him nothing.
This film is listed as a comedy, but I'm wondering if that's just hindsight. I'm not sure Pasolini meant it to be funny. There's a lot of heavy ideas about class consciousness and Marxist and Christian doctrine. The best thing the film has to offer are Morricone's score and the cinematography... in that order.
It's a damn shame that this director couldn't separate his home life from work. Or he just didn't trust his virile young stud to be at home alone. Or he had it so good with him that he couldn't bear to be away for long. Either way, Ninetto is neither good at acting nor nice to look at. His actor makeup cannot hide his very obvious acne which stands out in black and white on an HD screen. His skin appears very greasy and his teeth seem covered in plaque. These seem like unimportant details, but when you see how little his acting does for the film, you will also start searching for anything to recommend this guy who Pasolini cast in so many of his films. Nothing there.