You also need good writing and direction. Unfortunately, this movie had no direction. I'm not saying that the director didn't work hard to ensure that the movie had a lot of style. It definitely had a lot of style. Totò having a conversation with a talking crow can't help but have style. I'm saying that the movie didn't go anywhere. It literally had no direction. The actors, particularly Totò, were strong enough to know their craft without needing direction. Ninetto Davoli had style as well, but at times his acting was not very polished. There was a scene where he went from smiling to covering his eyes and going "boo-hoo". It's probably the worst acted crying that I've ever seen in a movie. Not that I mean to trash him. I thought his style was what was most important to the movie, and in that he succeeded well.
The movie didn't seem to know what it wanted to be or what it wanted to say. It had a number of sort of vignettes that, if they were trying to make a statement, they were lost on me. If your film is trying to make a statement and additional explanation is necessary, have you really succeeded? I have sought out additional explanation and have decided that at times Pasolini completely missed the mark from what he appeared to be shooting for. I have no desire to seek out any of his other films after seeing this one. There's a scene where a bunch of dancing boys miss the bus. That's quite a good allegory for the whole movie.
Ennio Morricone's music is, as always, sensational.
Watch this movie only if you like films with style but no substance, or if you're trying to watch all of Totò's films, like I am. Otherwise, don't waste your time.
The movie didn't seem to know what it wanted to be or what it wanted to say. It had a number of sort of vignettes that, if they were trying to make a statement, they were lost on me. If your film is trying to make a statement and additional explanation is necessary, have you really succeeded? I have sought out additional explanation and have decided that at times Pasolini completely missed the mark from what he appeared to be shooting for. I have no desire to seek out any of his other films after seeing this one. There's a scene where a bunch of dancing boys miss the bus. That's quite a good allegory for the whole movie.
Ennio Morricone's music is, as always, sensational.
Watch this movie only if you like films with style but no substance, or if you're trying to watch all of Totò's films, like I am. Otherwise, don't waste your time.