After a whole load of hype 4/5 star reviews great IMDB I went and saw this film and what a waste it was. Boring, looked low budget, rubbish story, uneventful and utterly dreadful. I was struggling to keep my eyes open after the first hour.
I have voted this a 2/10 on IMDB and I suggest those who agreed with me to vote low to make the score more accurate.
it is an outrageously bad film. i clicked on the article that mentioned scorsese's comments, and he is correct in all of them, or almost all of them. however, the truth of scorsese's main point - essentially, that gomorra's overall visual style suits its subject matter perfectly - is not even close to enough to make it even a good movie. it is an important element of film, an element that some movies, such as hotel rawanda, lack, and that gomorra has. but that does not mean that gomorra is a good movie, and it is not a good movie. scorsese tends to praise/identify foreign films that have interesting visual styles (another example would be I Am Cuba), and is generally spot on in his praise regarding their visuals, but rarely are the movies he identified good films: they are films with a small number of strong elements, and a large number of weak elements. If they were consummately good films, we would already know about them.
gomorra's many failures have been enumerated, some of them multiple times, by above posters.
it was very boring..only interesting part of the whole film was the very ending, i mean facts about Camorra. I didnt like the movie at all but im sure that book could be very interesting.
shareI gave the movie a 10. I've read a lot of the criticism here, and all I have to say is that if you are bored, it isn't the movie's fault; not every movie is meant to jump out at you and bonk you over the head with "meaning" and "message". Some movies are challenging you and inviting you to make connections on your own. And there are plenty in Gomorra to make. This movie was like a pared down version of "Traffic" and "the Wire", grittier and more doc like because the actors are unfamiliar to us.
There is plenty of meaning in this movie. Look at the three "gopher" characters: the kid who finds the gun and starts working with a local gang, the man who works for the construction dude, and the older gentleman who has the pleasure of having to collect money from folks. Gomorra is about the values of the "street" or the "underworld". It's about an attitude: about making other people your b*tch, lest you become the b*tch.
I loved the sequence that showed the initiation of those minors by being shot at while wearing a bulletproof vest, loved following the older gentleman as he moves sadly but dutifully from one call to the next, and loved the scenes of those two younger guys as they try to buck the entire drug system in order to capitalize on their own without "working" for it.
This movie has a multitude of rewards in it, you just have to prick up your ears and pay attention. Great soundtrack, too. I predict this is going to take home the best foreign film Oscar.
I'll bet that you are an American. That's why you think this is stupid; because you don't have a well developed taste. You have been culturally overfed with garbage streaming out of the Hollywood sewers and now you probably think this movie sucked because it lacked special effects and over the top dialogues. That's because this is European realism: not made for American retards. What you have seen is realistic Maffia, and it has not been made in order to entertain average Yanks who lack any taste for other cultures than their own. So stick to Goodfellas (which is a great film, but belongs to a different genre), Joe.
shareI'm an American, and I didn't particularly enjoy the film. I won't say it's rubbish, and I recognize what the film's goals are, I just didn't think it drew me in.
I read some very convincing arguments from people on this thread saying why they don't like the film, and the next post would be someone telling them they're stupid, when they presented their argument very well, clearly not in a stupid way.
Being in a foreign language and being made outside of Hollywood stereotypes doesn't give a film a free pass. It's a good film, but dramatic movies exist to entertain, whereas documentaries exist to inform. I didn't feel fully entertained (I use that word in the loosest, widest meaning) watching the film because I didn't feel like the film was focused enough. It took on a few too many stories to tell, and I never felt that connection between any of them.
Now go on non-Americans, yell at me for not knowing what I'm talking about.
My rating for the film: 5/10
This post summarizes the problem that Americans like you are having: you see everything black or white and create false dilemma's for yourself to justify your narrow minded opinions. Why do you think that a respected filmfestival like Cannes hailed Gomorra with great appreciation? Intellectuals loved the film, because they don't only look for entertainment in films.
shareI would like to say that I am European, and not all Europeans are as moronic as propatria_1985. What we're witnessing is that pretentious people such as the wholly individual propatria claim to have an opinion under the guise of intellectualism, but merely succumb to the powers of Cannes and 'intellectuals' in the same manner as he claims Americans succumb to the powers of Hollywood.
Anyone that justifies their own opinion because it is critically acclaimed has entirely missed the point about cinematic experiences. Films aren't judged by entertainment, but interpretation and subjective experience. The problem is you are hoist by your own petard: "you see everything black or white and create false dilemma's for yourself to justify your narrow minded opinions." Sums up your own contributions perfectly.
Who are you to tell others what to look for in films? I mean, seriously.
You should learn to read.
shareAlthough I didn't read all posts on this thread, I have to agree with tim bidet. My impression and opinion on this movie is very similar to his and I understand and back up what he is saying.
Awards and festivals can be misleading, people usually think highly of the movie that received critical acclaim. And if you haven't been in the festival jury or a film critic, you don't know that there are a lot of politics there. Maybe even more than in real politics.
All these awards can't indicate the quality of the movie and shouldn't shape your own opinion. And if it goes against the general opinion of so called "Film Critics", it doesn't mean something wrong with you.
I don't think this movie deserves 2/10 as OP says, it was still very decent filmmaking, but Gomorra is too overrated.
I've never said that I liked it because 'Cannes' liked it; I only said that 'Cannes' liked it as well.
When a film wins at Cannes, it isn't necessarily a good movie, but it can't be called rubbish. It might not fit into your preferred genre, but that doesn't make it a bad movie. In that case it's just a movie that isn't suited for you.
i agree 100% with propatria. For me personally, this movie is great. For some of you, it wasn't. Doesn't mean it's "overrated". How can it be overrated? It's not like it's been viewed by many people in the first place. Rottentomatoes has a total of 28 reviews for the film. It's barely even rated.
shareUnfortunately propatria, being able to read would merely further expose your opinions.
If you'd originally said, "It might not fit into your preferred genre, but that doesn't make it a bad movie. In that case it's just a movie that isn't suited for you" then fine - excellent viewpoint. But to release a tirade upon a poster, pigeon-holing him (and presumably those that didn't like the film) into Hollywood-loving morons leaves you more than open to criticism. Your response was interesting because you clearly disagree with being pigeon-holed in the same manner, with the implication that you merely like a film because Cannes like it. Well, this is exactly what you implied about those that didn't like this film: that they're used to being spoon-fed Americans with bad taste, which couldn't be further from your suddenly 'on the fence' opinion that if you don't like this movie it "isn't suited for you".
Propatria's actual views:
"I'll bet that you are an American. That's why you think this is stupid; because you don't have a well developed taste. You have been culturally overfed with garbage streaming out of the Hollywood sewers and now you probably think this movie sucked because it lacked special effects and over the top dialogues. That's because this is European realism: not made for American retards. What you have seen is realistic Maffia, and it has not been made in order to entertain average Yanks who lack any taste for other cultures than their own."
"This post summarizes the problem that Americans like you are having: you see everything black or white and create false dilemma's for yourself to justify your narrow minded opinions."
Maybe you should start again. I think the problem your latest post faces is that somebody has read your other posts on this subject. Maybe I should unlearn how to read.
I didn't imply that; its just your interpretation, not mine.. I've never said that I like movies because 'Cannes' likes them.
shareYeah, i heard great things regarding this movie and was keen to see it. I finally got around to watching it and i was let down BIG TIME.
I'm not saying that the movie is crap, i can appreciate the work gone into it however the main reason i watch movies is to get a message from each movie i watch...a sort of life lessons 101.
This movie offered no message to me...at all. It seemed random stories that were not interesting and i didn't give a crap wether the characters died or not.
I'm sure there are people out that will love this movie...most likely from Naples but the vast majority of people will not like or care about this movie.
A shame
So basically you're saying this movie sucks because it accomplished what it set out to do? I don't think you understand what this movie even is. Why the *beep* would you care about any of the characters? That was never the point. This clearly isn't a 'characters movie'.
sharePropatria - maybe you should learn to read.
share[deleted]
I Agree,somebody is trying to trade it as masterpiece...
Anyway it had the right Acknowledgment,nothing.
"life is Chiaroscuro matter" Fabio
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a good nothing of course...
"life is Chiaroscuro matter" Fabio
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simply I didn't like,unnecessary feature...
"life is Chiaroscuro matter" Fabio
Why didn't you like it? Are you happen to be an Italian who is ashamed of the bad side of Italy?
share
Every place has a bad side
unfitted subject to be a good film,ashamed yes expecially for the idea to fictionalize it
"life is Chiaroscuro matter" Fabio
Yes it has; paradise doesn't have a flag.
I myself was very impressed by a lot of scenes. It has been fictionalized, but not entirely. There are, without a doubt, elements that have been adapted from reality.
In my opinion a cultural movie doesn't have to be positive: Italian movies such as Cinema Paradiso, La Dolce Vita and La Meglio Gioventú are great advertisement for the beautiful culture that belongs to Italy; but the fact that there are also Italian movies that show me the dark sides of Italy, doesn't stop me from loving this beautiful country.
The film portrays the true face of crime, but you went to the cinema hoping to see a new Godfather with glorified cartoon gangsters. The film is brilliant.
shareIt's like people complaining because Kung Fu panda is an animated kids movie. Like if someone went to Kung Fu Panda thinking it was a movie about actual pandas who do kung-fu, and then bashing the film because it's an animated kids movie, and then explaining how 'most' people won't be interested in it because it's a kids movie.
shareI gave it a ten, and also would like to encourage others to do so, because in the context of a movie like this, I saw no flaws with it...
Your points were
- "looked low budget"
The absense of luxury items does not make it low budget, granted that, the cinematography and acting are as far as I can see flawless. Anyway, look it up, the movie cost $6.2 million to make, if that's even an argument.
- "rubbish story/uneventful"
I guess "rubbish" would imply you mean it was a cobbled up story and had lots of plot holes. Sadly wrong, there are "a lot of events", and every story line was neatly composed and ended. As far as the story, kids *do* end up like that, there *are* waste problems in whole of Italy, normal people are involved with the mafia doing white-collar jobs and end up in the frontline when power shifts, and revenge killings and friend being made enemies *are* plenty. Ok, the couturier story line seems a bit far fetched, but the purpose of that was to make a connection with the legal practices like haute-couture the Camorra, and other clans have their hands in and the kind of things that go on in that.
- "utterly dreadful"
I agree, the whole situation is dreadful, but not every movie has to be like "La Vita è Bella" (save the endind ;), it's a documentary, real-life approach supposed to kick you in the head and it succeeds brilliantly in that. Just give it a second look when you're not in a depressed mood and want to be all "happied up" or something.
i'm too bored to read all the comments, so sorry if that has been brought up already - i agree with you, that the movie isn't very exciting and lacks of an overall story that could bring all the different parts in a context.
you should read the book first, it helps to understand many backgrounds and you might say "aaaah, thats why" at some scenes you cannot fully understand when watching the movie alone.
But the movie should stand on his own.
I agree. It should. And it doesn't - which is the very essence of its downfall.
share[deleted]
It's just a load of hype.
A movie is a movie. It works or it doesn't.
I kinda agree with the OP.
I'm numb from all this hollywood sequel-homage-remake crap -Clark Wilson
I agree. It should. And it doesn't - which is the very essence of its downfall.
Ah mate, can we assume we're both intelligent people and that when I state my opinion I don't need to say "in my opinion" after every single thing that I say. Let's just take it as given that when I'm posting my opinion, I'm posting my opinion. However, for your sake:
I agree. It should. And it doesn't - which is the very essence of its downfall, in my eyes.
Better?
I prefer to state my opinion in a debate rather than falling back on the standard "critical and box office success" line. We've had a discussion before, we rather sensibly purported our opinions in a mature manner. You've decided to be facetious and pick me up on a meaningless ommission of statement of opinion in an attempt to undermine what it is I think.
If you don't want to be drawn into people looking at the downfall(s) of the film, and believe that only the critics matter (because box office success bears no reflection on public popularity - you have to go and see it to be in a position to dislike it) then I suggest you cover your eyes and avoid boards that say "anyone else think this movie was bollocks?"
My opinion, and it's relationship to the elements of the film I think are poor, is just as relevant as yours, the critics', and the people that liked it. So to suggest that the fact that I didn't like it isn't a downfall (when it's certainly ALL that matters to my experience and subsequent opinion) is as relevant as me saying that your and your critics' liking of this film doesn't assign it any sort of "value" or "praise".
I certainly haven't posted on any boards with the subject "Anyone else think this move was Great?"
I agree. It should. And it doesn't - which is the very essence of its downfall, in my eyes.
Better?
fuzon_uk -:
Downfall is exactly the word that sums up everything about this film. You are using a very one-dimensional and literal 'meaning' of the term 'downfall'. You're implying, rather bizarrely, that I am implying this film fell down the stairs, or fell off a building. I'll quote dictionary.com in order to justify a more impartial 'meaning' to the term downfall:
Main Entry: downfall
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: disgrace, ruin
Synonyms: atrophy, bane, breakdown, cloudburst, collapse, comedown, comeuppance, debacle, decadence, declension, degeneracy, degeneration, deluge, descent, destruction, deterioration, devolution, discomfiture, down, drop, failure, fall, flood, on the rocks, overthrow, rack and ruin, road to ruin, ruination, storm, the skids, undoing
Antonyms: accomplishment, ascent, rise, success
These are the synonyms of interest to me: breakdown (and I'm not suggesting this film is a car that has broken down and needs to call the AA at the roadside); collapse; failure; undoing. These terms are metaphorical and not literal.
Feel free to analyse the meaning of what it is I am trying to say, because it merely your interpretation of my linguistic tendencies that are meaningless.
In other words, accomplishment and success are terms I wouldn't associate with this film, and DOWNFALL, BREAKDOWN, COLLAPSE, FAILURE, UNDOING most definitively are. You could say, that the term downfall is actually directly saying *negative success* or *negative accomplishment*; this film is void of accomplishment or success, or fails to accomplish or succeed; it has a lack of accomplishment and a lack of success. It is the opposite of an accomplishment and is the opposite of success. It is unsuccessful. It has accomplished nothing. I hope that's clear enough for you - hopefully you won't feel shortchanged on the adequate levels of meaning in my diatribe of words and meanings and countermeanings, and that my inital and extremely short point has finally become clear to you.
Just because you don't agree with what I say does not make what I am saying meaningless. I am genuinely perplexed at your truly misguided notion of meaning; take this as a compliment - I think highly of your opinion. It's something I expect of others to attack linguistic patterns as a last resort in the absence of argument; but to miss my point so drastically and to imply that there is a rigid, solid, literal meaning of a very simple term such as 'downfall', to actually suggest that I write 'failing(s)' instead when the two terms are fairly interchangeable is a shock (and I don't mean I've been charged with electricity - I mean I'm taken aback or surprised).
Put it this way; I'm not trying to change your mind when I critique this film. I don't think I've ever suggested that what you're saying is weak lingustically. I appreciate you have an opinion, I thought you appreciated that I have one as well. Not everyone can agree. I have an extremely strong grasp of the English Language, and have clearly reacted disfavourably to your personal jibe. I can safely say we share an opinion at opposite ends of the spectrum, and it's been so long since I saw this film and the experience has worn off so considerably that I'm not sure I have anything more to offer in terms of relevant debate; just leave my language alone.
You are ill informed. the person who wrote the book is actually from this area in naples. It is this imoverished and all these stupid tourists think italy is just made up of rome, florence and milan, well it isnt and it has a lot of problems. People are so quick to dismiss this because they dont have to see it everyday like some people.
shareThe movie is brilliant at times in how it portrays the mafia as the sick and inhumane organisation that it is. How can we collectively glamourize something that actually destroys a whole province in Italy? It's important that somebody finally stands up and shows us, as the outsiders, the cancer instead of the romantic view we normally get.
The problem with the movie is that it wants to tell too much stories into the short amount of time it has. We never get to feel anything for any of its characters and some of the scenes are just redundant with its excruciating slow pace.
But I still would recommend this to those who haven't seen it, some of the fragments are absolutely brilliant, like when the two wannabe gangsters try their stolen guns or the whole initiation process for the young kids.
Ryu Darkwood, this is sort of my take. Well said, I think you've pinned it for me. It's not a complete success or failure the way people are addressing it. It has redeeming qualities but the movie sort of loses itself into the structure and flies characters at a whim. It can be inter-connected in a sense without us feeling too underwhelmed by the characters within the sub-sets of the stories. Even if these stories are purposeless random. I don't think that's too much to ask for.
Don't push it. Don't push it or I'll give you a war you won't believe. Let it go.