the aviator

Un po' un esercizio di stile, The Aviator.
Martin Scorsese confeziona un film impeccabile sotto ogni aspetto e si avvale di un cast da paura; eppure il risultato, nel complesso, mi risulta difficilmente digeribile.

La biografia di Howard Hughes meritava forse un trattamento più "dinamico" e meno dilatato: alcuni episodi della sua vita vengono invece rappresentati come a compartimenti stagni, in un insieme poco coerente; grave poi glissare sulle circostanze della sua morte, preferendo una chiusura più soft.

Bravi, bravissimi, tutti gli interpreti, incluso Leonardo DiCaprio che di norma non mi fa impazzire (eccezionale Cate Blanchett, ma non è una novità).

Voto: 6.5.
Tags: biografico, drammatico, Howard Hughes, storico, aviazione, aviatore, Hollywood, twa, aerei, produzione cinematografica, denaro, fallimento, tragedia, celebrità, playboy, attrici, Los Angeles, politica, pazzia, reclusione, scandalo, sesso, amore.

Blanchett, Cate

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Nome di battesimo: Blanchett, Catherine Elise
Data di nascita: 14 May 1969
Altezza: 5' 8½" (1.74 m)
Coniuge: Andrew Upton::(29 December 1997 - present) 2 children

Ultimi lavori:

• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) .... Daisy [attrice]
• The Fantastic Mr. Fox (2008) .... Mrs. Fox (voice) [attrice]
• Fourth Installment of the Indiana Jones Adventures (2008) .... [attrice]
• The Golden Age (2007) .... Queen Elizabeth I [attrice]
• Hot Fuzz (2007) .... Jeanine (uncredited) [attrice]
• I'm Not There (2007) .... Bob Dylan/Jude [attrice]
• Babel (2006) .... Susan [attrice]
• The Good German (2006) .... Lena Brandt [attrice]
• Notes on a Scandal (2006) .... Sheba Hart [attrice]
• Little Fish (2005) .... Tracy [attrice]

Biografia:
Cate Blanchett graduated from Australia's National Institute of Dramatic Art in 1992 and, in a little over a year, had won both critical and popular acclaim. On graduating from NIDA, she joined the Sydney Theatre Company's production of Caryl Churchill's "Top Girls", then played Felice Bauer, the bride, in Timothy Daly's "Kafka Dances", winning the 1993 Newcomer Award from the Sydney Theatre Critics Circle for her performance. From there, Blanchett moved to the role of Carol in David Mamet's searing polemic "Oleanna", also for the Sydney Theatre Company, and won the Rosemont Best Actress Award, her second award that year. She then co-starred in the ABC Television's prime time drama "Heartland" (1994) (mini), again winning critical acclaim. In 1995, she was nominated for Best Female Performance for her role as Ophelia in the Belvoir Street Theatre Company's production of "Hamlet". Other theatre credits include Helen in the Sydney Theatre Company's "Sweet Phoebe", Miranda in "The Tempest" and Rose in "The Blind Giant is Dancing", both for the Belvoir Street Theatre Company. In other television roles, Blanchett starred as Bianca in ABC's "Bordertown" (1995) (mini), as Janie Morris in "G.P." (1989) and in ABC's popular series Police Rescue (1994). She made her feature film debut in Paradise Road (1997), and, in 1998, she played the title character in _Elizabeth (1998)_ , winning numerous awards for her performance, including the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama. Cate was also nominated for an Academy Award for the role but lost out to Gwyneth Paltrow. 2001 was a particularly busy year, with starring roles in Bandits (2001), The Shipping News (2001), Charlotte Gray (2001) and playing Elf Queen Galadriel in the "Lord Of The Rings" trilogy.

Trivia random: Was originally going to play the role of Anna in Mike Nichols's latest film Closer (2004/I), but due to her second pregnancy she had to drop out, so it was recast with Julia Roberts instead.
Citazione random: When asked what colour her hair is: "Look, it's one of the great mysteries of the world, I cannot answer that question. I think I'm vaguely blonde. To be perfectly frank, I don't know."

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

Hughes, Howard (I)

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Nome di battesimo: Jr., Howard Robard Hughes
Data di nascita: 24 September 1905
Data di morte: 5 April 1976
Altezza: 6' 4" (1.93 m)
Coniuge: Jean Peters::(12 January 1957 - June 1971) (divorced), Terry Moore::(1949 - 5 April 1976) (his death), Ella Rice::(1 June 1925 - December 1929) (divorced)

Ultimi lavori:

• Jet Pilot (1957) .... (producer) [produttore]
• The Conqueror (1956) .... (producer) (uncredited) [produttore]
• Son of Sinbad (1955) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
• Underwater! (1955) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
• The French Line (1954) .... (executive producer) (uncredited) [produttore]
• She Couldn't Say No (1954) .... (presenter) [misc]
• Affair with a Stranger (1953) .... (presenter) [misc]
• Devil's Canyon (1953) .... (presenter) [misc]
• Louisiana Territory (1953) .... (producer) [produttore]
• Second Chance (1953) .... (producer) (uncredited) [produttore]

Biografia:
Multi-millionaire businessman, film producer, film director, and aviator, born in Houston, Texas. He studied at prestigious Rice University and the even more prestigious California Institute of Technology. Inherited his father's machine tool company in 1923. In 1926 he ventured into films, producing Hell's Angels (1930), Scarface (1932) and The Outlaw (1943). He also founded his own aircraft company, designed, built and flew his own aircraft, and broke several world air speed records (1935-1938). His most famous aircraft, the Hercules (nicknamed "The Spruce Goose"), was an oversized wooden seaplane designed to carry 750 passengers, which was completed in 1947 but flew only once over a distance of one mile. Throughout his life he shunned publicity, eventually becoming a recluse but still controlling his vast business interests from sealed-off hotel suites, and giving rise to endless rumors and speculation. In 1971 an "authorized" biography was announced, but the authors wound up in prison for fraud, and the mystery surrounding him continued until his death.

Trivia random: The place in Texas he was born in, Humble, is pronounced "UM-bull". The 'h' is silent.
Citazione random: "Every man has his price, or a guy like me couldn't exist."

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

Aviator, The (2004)

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Regista: Martin Scorsese
Scrittore: John Logan
Genere: Biography, Drama
Valutazione: 7.6/10 (41695 voti)
Durata: 170 min
Paese: USA, Germany
Lingua: English

Cast:

• Leonardo DiCaprio .... Howard Hughes
• Cate Blanchett .... Katharine Hepburn
• Kate Beckinsale .... Ava Gardner
• John C. Reilly .... Noah Dietrich
• Alec Baldwin .... Juan Trippe
• Alan Alda .... Senator Ralph Owen Brewster
• Ian Holm .... Professor Fitz
• Danny Huston .... Jack Frye
• Gwen Stefani .... Jean Harlow
• Jude Law .... Errol Flynn

Trama:
The script begins as a young Hughes directs one of Scorsese's favorite films, Hell's Angels. Hughes was so obsessed with perfection in the aerial sequences that he waits forever for perfect conditions, right down to cloud formations. The Aviator ends in 1946, when Hughes was still a dashing young man and romancing actresses like Ava Gardner and Katharine Hepburn.

Trivia random: 2. John Malkovich and partner Russell Smith attempt in 1993.
Citazione random: Professor Fitz: Well, the cumulonimbus formations about which you speak that look like...::Howard Hughes: Giant breasts full of milk. I want clouds, damn it.::Professor Fitz: Yes, clouds that look like giant breasts full of milk, cannot exactly be guaranteed for any particular occasion. So you might have to... to wait.::Howard Hughes: Then we'll wait. Look, whatever they pay you at UCLA I'm doubling it, all right? You work for me now. Find some clouds. Find some clouds! Find me some clouds!::Hell's Angels Pilot: Welcome to Hell's Angels.

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

DiCaprio, Leonardo

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Nome di battesimo: DiCaprio, Leonardo Wilhelm
Data di nascita: 11 November 1974
Altezza: 5' 11" (1.80 m)

Ultimi lavori:

• Body of Lies (2008) .... [attore]
• The Chancellor Manuscript (2008) .... (producer) [produttore]
• Conspiracy of Fools (2008) .... (producer) [produttore]
• In Dark Woods (2008) .... (producer) [produttore]
• Revolutionary Road (2008) .... Frank Wheeler [attore]
• The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt (2008) .... (producer) [produttore]
• 11th Hour (2007) .... (producer) [produttore]
• Blink (2007) .... (producer) [produttore]
• Gardener of Eden (2007) .... (producer) [produttore]
• Blood Diamond (2006) .... Danny Archer [attore]

Biografia:
His name allegedly derives from his German mother Irmalin's having experienced a sudden kick from her unborn boy while enjoying a DaVinci painting at the Uffizi. In the year following his birth, she and his Italian father, George, were divorced. He grew up in Echo Park, then a particularly seedy, drug-dominated area of Los Angeles. At five he appeared on his favorite TV show "Romper Room" (1953) and was nearly thrown off for misbehaving. After a string of commercials, educational films ("Mickey's Safety Club"), occasional parts in TV series, a debut film role as Josh in Critters 3 (1991), a continuing role as the homeless boy Luke in the TV series "Growing Pains" (1985), he got his break-through part as Toby in This Boy's Life (1993), co-starring with Robert De Niro and Ellen Barkin.The part led the New York Film Critics and the National Society of Film Critics to name him runner-up for Best Supporting Actor. His first Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations came for the difficult role of Arnie in What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993). Equally challenging parts were a drug-troubled Jim Carroll in The Basketball Diaries (1995), the tormented homosexual poet Rimbaud in Total Eclipse (1995), and the angry teenage son of a harried mother in Marvin's Room (1996). He made a major impact with his starring role in a very updated Romeo + Juliet (1996). Superstardom came to DiCaprio playing Jack Dawson in Titanic (1997), highest grossing film ever, tied with Ben-Hur (1959) for most Academy Awards, though Leo himself was not nominated. His performance in the remake of The Man in the Iron Mask (1998/I) was poorly received, but the film still turned a profit. His next major film, The Beach (2000/I), was not a success, but he made another comeback in Catch Me If You Can (2002) and remains an A-list star.

Trivia random: Of 3/4 German and 1/4 Italian descent. His paternal grandfather was an Italian immigrant
Citazione random: I have the same problem as Edward Furlong. I'm so thin!
Salario massimo: $20,000,000, per The Beach (2000/I)

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

Scorsese, Martin

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Data di nascita: 17 November 1942
Altezza: 5' 4" (1.63 m)
Coniuge: Helen Morris::(22 July 1999 - present) 1 child, Barbara De Fina::(8 February 1985 - 1991) (divorced), Isabella Rossellini::(29 September 1979 - 1983) (divorced), Julia Cameron::(30 December 1975 - ?) (divorced) 1 child, Laraine Brennan::(15 May 1965 - ?) (divorced) 1 child

Ultimi lavori:

• The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt (2008) .... (producer) [produttore]
• Silence (2008) .... (screenplay) [scrittore]
• Lymelife (2007) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
• Shine a Light (2007) .... [regista]
• The Departed (2006) .... [regista]
• Brooklyn Lobster (2005) .... (presenter) [misc]
• No Direction Home: Bob Dylan (2005) .... (producer) [produttore]
• The Aviator (2004) .... (executive producer) (uncredited) [produttore]
• Frankenstein (2004) (TV) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
• Lady by the Sea: The Statue of Liberty (2004) (TV) .... (producer) [produttore]

Biografia:
After serious deliberations about entering the priesthood - he entered a seminary in 1956 - Martin Scorsese opted to channel his passions into film. He graduated from NYU as a film major in 1964. Catching the eye of producer Roger Corman with his 1960s student films (including co-editing Woodstock (1970)), Scorsese directed the gritty exploiter Boxcar Bertha (1972). Mean Streets (1973) followed in 1973 and provided the benchmarks for the Scorsese style: New York settings, loners struggling with inner demons, pointed-shoes rock-meets-opera soundtracks and unrelenting cathartic violence. "Mean Streets" also featured Robert De Niro and Harvey Keitel, two actors who would help shape that style. After Scorsese directed Ellen Burstyn to a Best Actress Oscar in Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974), the trio was reunited for the dark journey of Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver (1976). The film achieved additional notoriety five years after its release when Bickle's (De Niro) concern for a teenaged hooker played by Jodie Foster inspired John Hinckley's assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan in 1981. After New York, New York (1977) (which one critic described as a wife-abuse musical) and The Last Waltz (1978), Scorsese released Raging Bull (1980). The biography of middleweight fighter Jake LaMotta earned two Oscars (Actor - DeNiro, Editing - Thelma Schoonmaker) and was later selected as the best film of the decade by U.S. critic gods Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert. Scorsese then explored fans as pariah ( The King of Comedy (1983)), dark-comic dreams ( After Hours (1985)), and revisited pool shark Eddie Felson from The Hustler (1961) ( The Color of Money (1986) with Paul Newman). Scorsese outraged some religious groups by attempting to portray a human son of God in The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) before returning to more familiar territory with the Mafia in Goodfellas (1990). He followed with two films which were remakes, Cape Fear (1991) and The Age of Innocence (1993). Besides directing and co-writing, Scorsese has also acted. It's interesting to note he played the gunman at the finale of Mean Streets (1973) and the cab passenger planning to kill his wife in Taxi Driver (1976). He also had a role in Yume (1990).

Trivia random: His favorite films include: Citizen Kane (1941), The Red Shoes (1948) and Gattopardo, Il (1963).
Citazione random: "What does it take to be a filmmaker in Hollywood? Even today I still wonder what it takes to be a professional or even an artist in Hollywood. How do you survive the constant tug of war between personal expression and commercial imperatives? What is the price you pay to work in Hollywood? Do you end up with a split personality? Do you make one movie for them, one for yourself?"
Salario massimo: $6,000,000 (had to pay $3 million back due to budget overruns), per Gangs of New York (2002)

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

the ghost writer

Niente da fare, continuo a trovare Roman Polanski - che pur è sempre cooosì intellettuaaale - uno dei registi più sopravvalutati di sempre (salvo giusto Rosemary's Baby).

La pseudo-trama di The Ghost Writer (sciocco titolo italiano: L'uomo nell'ombra): un povero regista radical-chic non può neppure drogare e stuprare una bambina che subito EvilAmerika^® si accanisce contro di lui costringendolo ad una dignitosa fuga...

Oh no - quella deve essere la trama di un altro film. Riprovo: sembra che scrivere le (auto)biografie degli ex primi ministri d'Inghilterra sia un affare serio (come se qualcuno volesse leggerle...) e la cosa viene gestita con una sicurezza degna del proverbiale Fort Knox. Ahilui, il nuovo ghost writer ha l'ingrato compito di finire in fretta il lavoro lasciato a metà dal predecessore, che ha avuto il cattivo gusto di farsi uccidere (pardon: "farsi suicidare").
Ci metterà cinque minuti a scoprire che dietro c'è molto di più e che l'ex primo ministro ha tanto da nascondere, proprio mentre monta un caso polito internazionale, con il tribunale internazionale dell'Aia che vuole metterlo sotto accusa per crimini di guerra (suppongo il concetto qui sia: i tribunali sono buoni fintanto non incriminano te).

Trama inverosimile al di là di qualsivoglia sospensione dell'incredulità, nelle due ore e dieci del film non succede quasi nulla, e quando succede lo fa male.
Oltre ad esser quasi priva di logica, si segnalano un paio di deus ex machina davvero imbarazzanti (con tanto di bifolco che sa tutto, ma non viene ascoltato! Mai più senza! )
Scadenti gli attori: Pierce Brosnan ci delizia con un paio di facce spalmate sulla telecamera davvero notevoli, mente Ewan McGregor è espressivo quanto una spada laser.
Inutile la regia: niente di tragico, magari, ma mai un guizzo od un briciolo di personalità.

No, non salvo davvero niente in un film che puzza lontano un miglio di ripicchina contro il mandato di cattura internazionale del 2005, che al momento lo costringe a degli umilianti arresti domiciliari in una mega-villa. Povero caro, quanto ingiusto accanimento...
Detto ciò, di mio sono dispostissimo a valutare l'opera separatamente dalla merda d'uomo; il problema è che qui anche il film è pessimo.

Voto: 4-. Roman, va ai lavori forzati!
Tags: thriller, drammatico, politica, politico, Inghilterra, USA, CIA, intrigo, agente, primo ministro, scandalo, guerra, terrorismo, Roman 'mi piace lo stupro' Polanski, Pierce Brosnan, copertura, omicidio, sicurezza, tribunale internazionale, estradizione, patetica farsa.

^{McGregor, Ewan (I)}

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<sup>Nome di battesimo: McGregor, Ewan Gordon
Data di nascita: 31 March 1971
Altezza: 5' 10½" (1.79 m)
Coniuge: Eve Mavrakis::(22 July 1995 - present) 3 children

Ultimi lavori:</sup>

• ^{Beginners (2011) .... [attore]}
• ^{Electric Slide (2011) .... Eddie Dodson [attore]}
• ^{Knockout (2011) .... [attore]}
• ^{The Raven (2011) .... [attore]}
• ^{W.E. (2011) .... King Edward VIII [attore]}
• ^{Jackboots on Whitehall (2010) .... Chris (voice) [attore]}
• ^{Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang (2010) .... Mr. Green [attore]}
• ^{The Ghost Writer (2010) .... The Ghost [attore]}
• ^{The Last Word (2010) .... [attore]}
• ^{Amelia (2009) .... Gene Vidal [attore]}

<sup>Biografia:
Ewan Gordon McGregor was born 31 March 1971 in Crieff, Scotland. At 16, he left Crieff and Morrison Academy to join the Perth Repertory Theatre. His parents encouraged him to leave school and pursue his acting goals rather than be unhappy. McGregor studied drama for a year at Kirkcaldly in Fife, then enrolled at London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama for a three-year course. He studied alongside Daniel Craig and Alistair McGowan among others, and left right before graduating after snagging the role of Private Mick Hopper in Dennis Potter's 1993 six-part Channel 4 series "Lipstick on Your Collar" (1993). His first notable role was that of Alex Law in Shallow Grave (1994), directed by Danny Boyle, written by John Hodge and produced by Andrew MacDonald. This was followed by The Pillow Book (1996) and Trainspotting (1996), the latter of which brought him to the public's attention. He is now one of the most critically acclaimed actors of his generation, and portrays Obi-wan Kenobi in the first three Star Wars episodes. McGregor is married to French production designer Eve Mavrakis, whom he met while working on the TV show "Kavanagh QC" (1995). They married in France in the summer of 1995 and have two daughters, Clara Mathilde and Esther Rose. McGregor has formed a production company with friends Jonny Lee Miller, Sean Pertwee, Jude Law and Sadie Frost. Called Natural Nylon, they hope it will make innovative films that do not conform to Hollywood standards.

Trivia random: According to Stunt Coordinator Nick Gillard, he picked up the light saber sword fighting style very quickly. In an interview on the DVD to The Phantom Menace, Gillard commented that Ewan was probably faster than anyone else who was working on the film, including the stunt department.
Citazione random: I fight cynicism. It's too easy. It's really boring. It's much harder to be positive and see the wonder of everything. Cynicism is a bunch of people who aren't as talented as other people, knocking them because they make them feel even more untalented.</sup>

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^{Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.}

^{Brosnan, Pierce}

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<sup>Nome di battesimo: Brosnan, Pierce Brendan
Data di nascita: 16 May 1953
Altezza: 6' 1½" (1.87 m)
Coniuge: Keely Shaye Smith::(4 August 2001 - present) 2 children, Cassandra Harris::(27 December 1980 - 28 December 1991) (her death) 3 children

Ultimi lavori:</sup>

• ^{Salvation Boulevard (2011) .... [attore]}
• ^{Vanilla Gorilla (2011) .... [attore]}
• ^{Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010) .... Mr. Brunner / Chiron [attore]}
• ^{Remember Me (2010) .... Charles Hawkins [attore]}
• ^{The Ghost Writer (2010) .... Adam Lang [attore]}
• ^{The Greatest (2009) .... (executive producer) [produttore]}
• ^{Mamma Mia! (2008) .... Sam [attore]}
• ^{Butterfly on a Wheel (2007) .... (producer) [produttore]}
• ^{Married Life (2007) .... Richard Langley [attore]}
• ^{Seraphim Falls (2006) .... Gideon [attore]}

<sup>Biografia:
Pierce Brosnan was born in Navan, County Meath, Ireland on May 16, 1953 and lived in Navan, County Meath until he moved to England, UK at an early age (thus explaining his ability to play men from both backgrounds convincingly). His father left the household when Pierce was a child and although reunited later in life, the two have never had a close relationship. His most popular role is that of British secret agent James Bond. The death, in 1991, of Cassandra Harris, his wife of eleven years, left him with three children - Christopher and Charlotte from Cassandra's first marriage and Sean from their marriage. Since her death, he has had two children with his second wife, Keely Shaye Smith.

Trivia random: Met his Bond predecessor Sir Sean Connery for the first time at The 76th Annual Academy Awards (2004) (TV), but only for a few minutes.
Citazione random: [about his deceased wife, Cassandra Harris] Cassie has made me the man I am, the actor I am, the father I am. She's forever embedded in every fiber of my being.
Salario massimo: $16,500,000, per Die Another Day (2002)</sup>

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^{Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.}

^{Polanski, Roman}

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<sup>Nome di battesimo: Liebling, Rajmund Roman
Data di nascita: 18 August 1933
Altezza: 5' 5" (1.65 m)
Coniuge: Emmanuelle Seigner::(30 August 1989 - present) 2 children, Sharon Tate::(20 January 1968 - 9 August 1969) (her death), Barbara Lass::(19 September 1959 - 1962) (divorced)

Ultimi lavori:</sup>

• ^{The Ghost Writer (2010) .... (producer) [produttore]}
• ^{Caos calmo (2008) .... Steiner [attore]}
• ^{Chacun son cinéma ou Ce petit coup au coeur quand la lumière s'éteint et que le film commence (2007) .... (producer) (segment "Cinéma Érotique") [produttore]}
• ^{Rush Hour 3 (2007) .... Detective Revi (uncredited) [attore]}
• ^{Oliver Twist (2005) .... (producer) [produttore]}
• ^{The Pianist (2002) .... (producer) [produttore]}
• ^{Zemsta (2002) .... Józef Papkin [attore]}
• ^{Hommage à Alfred Lepetit (2000) .... [attore]}
• ^{Castelnuovo (1999) .... (producer) [produttore]}
• ^{The Ninth Gate (1999) .... (producer) [produttore]}

<sup>Biografia:
Roman Polanski's parents returned to Poland from France just two years before the World War II began: both were taken later to concentration camps where his mother eventually died. Young Roman managed to escape the ghetto and learned to survive wandering through the Polish countryside and living with the different Catholic families. Though local people usually ignored cinemas where mostly German films were shown, Polanski seemed not very much concerned about patriotism and frequently went to the movies. In 1945, he reunited with his father who sent him to technical school, but young Polanski seemed to have already made his choice. In the 1950s, he took up acting, appearing in Andrzej Wajda's Pokolenie (1955) before studying at the Lodz Film School. His early shorts such as Dwaj ludzie z szafa (1958), Le gros et le maigre (1961), and Ssaki (1962) showed his taste for black humor and interest in bizarre human relationships. His feature debut, Nóz w wodzie (1962), was the first Polish post-war film not associated with the war theme. Though being already a major Polish filmmaker, Polanski yet chose to leave the country and headed to France. Being down-and-out in Paris, he befriended young scriptwriter, Gérard Brach, who eventually became his long-time collaborator. The next two films, Repulsion (1965) and Cul-de-sac (1966), made in England and co-written by Brach, won respectively Silver and Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festivals. In 1968, Polanski went to Hollywood, where he made the psychological thriller Rosemary's Baby (1968). However, after the brutal murder of his wife Sharon Tate by the infamous Manson gang in 1969, the director decided to return to Europe. In 1974, he again appeared with a US release of Chinatown (1974). It seemed the beginning of the promising Hollywood career, but after his conviction for the statutory rape of a 13-year old girl, Polanski fled from America to avoid prison. After Tess (1979), which was awarded several Oscars and Cesars, his work became intermittent and rarely approached the level of his better known films. The director also stretched his talents to include occasional work in theatre. He still likes to act in the films of other directors, sometimes with interesting results as it was in Una pura formalità (1994).

Trivia random: Roman and his father are Holocaust survivors. His father was Jewish, and his half-Jewish mother (who was murdered in Auschwitz) had been raised as a Roman Catholic.
Citazione random: Every failure made me more confident. Because I wanted even more to achieve as revenge. To show that I could.</sup>

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^{Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.}

^{Ghost Writer, The (2010)}

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<sup>Regista: Roman Polanski
Scrittore: Robert Harris, Robert Harris
Genere: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Valutazione: 7.9/10 (4828 voti)
Durata: Germany:128 min
Paese: France, Germany, UK
Lingua: English

Cast:</sup>

• ^{Ewan McGregor .... The Ghost}
• ^{Jon Bernthal .... Rick Ricardelli}
• ^{Kim Cattrall .... Amelia Bly}
• ^{Pierce Brosnan .... Adam Lang}
• ^{Tim Preece .... Roy}
• ^{James Belushi .... John Maddox}
• ^{Olivia Williams .... Ruth Lang}
• ^{Timothy Hutton .... Sidney Kroll}
• ^{Anna Botting .... SKY TV Newsreader}
• ^{Tom Wilkinson .... Paul Emmett}

<sup>Trama:
An unremarkable ghost-writer has landed a lucrative contract to redact the memoirs of Adam Lang, the former UK Prime Minister. After dominating British politics for years, Lang has retired with his wife to the USA. He lives on an island, in luxurious, isolated premises complete with a security detail and a secretarial staff. Soon, Adam Lang gets embroiled in a major scandal with international ramifications that reveals how far he was ready to go in order to nurture UK's "special relationship" with the USA. But before this controversy has started, before even he has closed the deal with the publisher, the ghost-writer gets unmistakable signs that the turgid draft he is tasked to put into shape inexplicably constitutes highly sensitive material.

Trivia random: When Roman Polanski was arrested September 2009 in Switzerland, post-production was never put on hold. He saw every step of the film and made all artistic decisions. He finished editing the movie while in a Swiss prison. In December 2009 Polanski was released on bail but placed under house arrest, where he remained when this movie was released. Link this trivia
Citazione random: Amelia Bly: Are you ill?
The Ghost: No, I'm aging. This place is Shangri-La in reverse.</sup>

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^{Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.}

^{Rosemary's Baby (1968)}

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<sup>Regista: Roman Polanski
Scrittore: Ira Levin, Roman Polanski
Genere: Drama, Mystery, Horror, Thriller
Valutazione: 8.1/10 (47631 voti) [#196 nella top250]
Durata: 136 min
Paese: USA
Lingua: English

Cast:</sup>

• ^{Mia Farrow .... Rosemary Woodhouse}
• ^{John Cassavetes .... Guy Woodhouse}
• ^{Ruth Gordon .... Minnie Castevet}
• ^{Sidney Blackmer .... Roman Castevet}
• ^{Maurice Evans .... Edward 'Hutch' Hutchins}
• ^{Ralph Bellamy .... Dr. Abraham Sapirstein}
• ^{Victoria Vetri .... Terry Gionoffrio (as Angela Dorian)}
• ^{Patsy Kelly .... Laura-Louise McBirney}
• ^{Elisha Cook Jr. .... Mr. Nicklas (as Elisha Cook)}
• ^{Emmaline Henry .... Elise Dunstan}

<sup>Trama:
Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse move into an apartment in a building with a bad reputation. They discover that their neighbours are a very friendly elderly couple named Roman and Minnie Castevet, and Guy begins to spend a lot of time with them. Strange things start to happen: a woman Rosemary meets in the washroom dies a mysterious death, Rosemary has strange dreams and hears strange noises and Guy becomes remote and distant. Then Rosemary falls pregnant and begins to suspect that her neighbours have special plans for her child.

Trivia random: The devil costume that Anton LaVey was falsely rumored to have worn in the impregnation scene was later re-used in the film Asylum of Satan (1975). A small woman had difficulty fitting into the tiny suit. Link this trivia
Citazione random: Dr. Abe Sapirstein: Fantastic! Absolutely fantastic! What did you say the name was? Machado?</sup>

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^{Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.}

the IMDb meme

Da un'idea partita da qui e ripresa qui e in un po' di altri posti in giro per la rete, l'IMDb meme.

Banalmente, prendete la top 250 di IMDb e segnate i film che avete visto.
Ecco il mio elenco (in grassetto i film che ho visto, in corsivo quelli che ho in dvd/vhs).
Ne ho visti 130 su 250; sono contento di aver superato il 50%, anche se noto che mi mancano alcuni Grandi Classici^®.

1. The Godfather (1972) [Padrino, Il (1972)]
2. The Shawshank Redemption (1994) [Ali della libertà, Le (1994)]
3. The Godfather: Part II (1974) [Padrino parte seconda, Il (1974)]
4. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) [Signore degli anelli - Il ritorno del re, Il (2004)]
5. Buono, il brutto, il cattivo, Il (1966) [Due magnifici straccioni, I (1966)]
6. Casablanca (1942)
7. Schindler's List (1993) [Schindler's list - La lista di Schindler (1993)]
8. Pulp Fiction (1994) [Pulp Fiction (1994)]
9. Shichinin no samurai (1954) [Sette samurai, I (1954)]
10. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) [Impero colpisce ancora, L' (1997)]
11. Star Wars (1977) [Guerre stellari: Episodio IV - Una nuova speranza (1997)]
12. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) [Qualcuno volò sul nido del cuculo (1975)]
13. Rear Window (1954) [Finestra sul cortile, La (1954)]
14. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) [Signore degli anelli - La compagnia dell'anello, Il (2002)]
15. 12 Angry Men (1957) [Parola ai giurati, La (1957)]
16. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) [Predatori dell'arca perduta, I (1981)]
17. The Usual Suspects (1995) [Soliti sospetti, I (1995)]
18. Cidade de Deus (2002) [Città di Dio (2003)]
19. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) [Dottor Stranamore, ovvero come imparai a non preoccuparmi e ad amare la bomba, Il (1964)]
20. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) [Signore degli anelli - Le due torri, Il (2003)]
21. Psycho (1960) [Psyco (1960)]
22. Goodfellas (1990)
23. Citizen Kane (1941) [Quarto potere (1950)]
24. C'era una volta il West (1968)
25. North by Northwest (1959) [Intrigo internazionale (1959)]
26. Memento (2000)
27. The Silence of the Lambs (1991) [Silenzio degli innocenti, Il (1991)]
28. Lawrence of Arabia (1962) [Lawrence d'Arabia (1962)]
29. It's a Wonderful Life (1946) [Vita è meravigliosa, La (1946)]
30. Sunset Blvd. (1950) [Viale del tramonto (1950)]
31. Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain, Le (2001) [Favoloso mondo di Amélie, Il (2002)]
32. Fight Club (1999)
33. American Beauty (1999) [American Beauty (1999)]
34. The Matrix (1999) [Matrix (1999)]
35. Vertigo (1958) [Donna che visse due volte, La (1958)]
36. Apocalypse Now (1979)
37. Taxi Driver (1976)
38. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) [Se mi lasci ti cancello (2004)]
39. Se7en (1995)
40. Paths of Glory (1957) [Orizzonti di gloria (1957)]
41. Léon (1994)
42. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) [Buio oltre la siepe, Il (1962)]
43. Chinatown (1974)
44. American History X (1998)
45. Untergang, Der (2004) [Caduta - Gli ultimi giorni di Hitler, La (2005)]
46. The Third Man (1949) [Terzo uomo, Il (1949)]
47. The Pianist (2002) [Pianista, Il (2002)]
48. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) [Monty Python (1976)]
49. M (1931) [M, il mostro di Dusseldorf (1931)]
50. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) [Tesoro della Sierra Madre, Il (1948)]
51. Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi (2001) [Città incantata, La (2003)]
52. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) [Ponte sul fiume Kwai, Il (1957)]
53. Boot, Das (1981) [U-Boot 96 (1981)]
54. L.A. Confidential (1997)
55. Alien (1979)
56. The Maltese Falcon (1941) [Mistero del falco, Il (1941)]
57. A Clockwork Orange (1971) [Arancia meccanica (1972)]
58. Requiem for a Dream (2000)
59. Hotel Rwanda (2004)
60. Metropolis (1927)
61. Double Indemnity (1944) [Fiamma del peccato, La (1944)]
62. The Shining (1980)
63. Reservoir Dogs (1992) [Iene, Le (1992)]
64. Saving Private Ryan (1998) [Salvate il soldato Ryan (1998)]
65. Rashômon (1950)
66. Singin' in the Rain (1952) [Cantando sotto la pioggia (1952)]
67. Sin City (2005)
68. Raging Bull (1980) [Toro scatenato (1981)]
69. Modern Times (1936) [Tempi moderni (1936)]
70. The Manchurian Candidate (1962) [Va' e uccidi (1962)]
71. Aliens (1986) [Aliens - Scontro finale (1986)]
72. Rebecca (1940) [Rebecca, la prima moglie (1940)]
73. The Great Escape (1963) [Grande fuga, La (1963)]
74. Some Like It Hot (1959) [A qualcuno piace caldo (1959)]
75. All About Eve (1950) [Eva contro Eva (1951)]
76. Touch of Evil (1958) [Infernale Quinlan, L' (1958)]
77. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) [2001 Odissea nello spazio (1968)]
78. Million Dollar Baby (2004)
79. Amadeus (1984)
80. The Departed (2006) [The departed - Il bene e il male (2006)]
81. Sjunde inseglet, Det (1957) [Settimo sigillo, Il (1957)]
82. Vita è bella, La (1997)
83. Jaws (1975) [Squalo, Lo (1975)]
84. The Sting (1973) [Stangata, La (1973)]
85. Forrest Gump (1994)
86. Strangers on a Train (1951) [Delitto per delitto (1952)]
87. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) [Terminator 2 - il giorno del giudizio (1991)]
88. Batman Begins (2005)
89. On the Waterfront (1954) [Fronte del porto (1954)]
90. The Wizard of Oz (1939) [Mago di Oz, Il (1947)]
91. Braveheart (1995) [Braveheart - cuore impavido (1995)]
92. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) [Mr. Smith va a Washington (1939)]
93. The Elephant Man (1980)
94. Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) [Kill Bill: volume 1 (2003)]
95. Blade Runner (1982)
96. The Incredibles (2004) [Incredibili, Gli (2004)]
97. Full Metal Jacket (1987)
98. The Apartment (1960) [Appartamento, L' (1960)]
99. The Big Sleep (1946) [Grande sonno, Il (1946)]
100. City Lights (1931) [Luci della città (1931)]
101. High Noon (1952) [Mezzogiorno di fuoco (1952)]
102. Notorious (1946) [Notorius, l'amante perduta (1946)]
103. Donnie Darko (2001)
104. Nuovo cinema Paradiso (1988)
105. Fargo (1996)
106. Ran (1985)
107. Crash (2004/I)
108. Finding Nemo (2003) [Alla ricerca di Nemo (2003)]
109. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) [Ritorno dello Jedi, Il (1997)]
110. The Great Dictator (1940) [Grande dittatore, Il (1940)]
111. Once Upon a Time in America (1984) [C'era una volta in America (1984)]
112. Cool Hand Luke (1967) [Nick mano fredda (1967)]
113. Mononoke-hime (1997) [Principessa Mononoke (2000)]
114. The Sixth Sense (1999) [The Sixth Sense - Il sesto senso (1999)]
115. Salaire de la peur, Le (1953) [Salario della paura, Il (1953)]
116. V for Vendetta (2005)
117. Unforgiven (1992) [Spietati, Gli (1992)]
118. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) [Indiana Jones e l'ultima crociata (1989)]
119. Ben-Hur (1959)
120. Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
121. Annie Hall (1977) [Io & Annie (1977)]
122. Back to the Future (1985) [Ritorno al futuro (1985)]
123. Oldboy (2003)
124. The Killing (1956) [Rapina a mano armata (1956)]
125. Wo hu cang long (2000) [Tigre e il dragone, La (2001)]
126. Yojimbo (1961) [Sfida del samurai, La (1961)]
127. Life of Brian (1979) [Brian di Nazareth (1979)]
128. The Green Mile (1999) [Miglio verde, Il (2000)]
129. The Princess Bride (1987) [Storia fantastica, La (1987)]
130. The Deer Hunter (1978) [Cacciatore, Il (1978)]
131. Platoon (1986)
132. The Graduate (1967) [Laureato, Il (1967)]
133. It Happened One Night (1934) [Accadde una notte (1934)]
134. Notti di Cabiria, Le (1957)
135. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) [Butch Cassidy (1969)]
136. Per qualche dollaro in più (1965) [Due stranieri magnifici (1965)]
137. Gladiator (2000)
138. Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) [Sangue blu (1949)]
139. The African Queen (1951) [Regina d'Africa, La (1951)]
140. Gandhi (1982)
141. Ladri di biciclette (1948)
142. Amores perros (2000)
143. Toy Story 2 (1999) [Toy Story 2 - Woody e Buzz alla riscossa (2000)]
144. The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) [Robin Hood (1938)]
145. Diaboliques, Les (1955) [Diabolici, I (1955)]
146. Shadow of a Doubt (1943) [Ombra del dubbio, L' (1943)]
147. 8½ (1963) [Otto e mezzo (1963)]
148. Lola rennt (1998) [Lola corre (1998)]
149. Battaglia di Algeri, La (1966)
150. Brief Encounter (1945) [Breve incontro (1945)]
151. The Night of the Hunter (1955) [Morte corre sul fiume, La (1955)]
152. The Wild Bunch (1969) [Mucchio selvaggio, Il (1995)]
153. Stand by Me (1986) [Stand by me - ricordo di un'estate (1986)]
154. The Conversation (1974) [Conversazione, La (1974)]
155. Die Hard (1988)
156. The General (1927) [Come vinsi la guerra (1927)]
157. Smultronstället (1957) [Posto delle fragole, Il (1958)]
158. Harvey (1950)
159. Dog Day Afternoon (1975) [Quel pomeriggio di un giorno da cani (1975)]
160. Duck Soup (1933) [Guerra lampo dei fratelli Marx, La (1934)]
161. Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922) [Nosferatu il vampiro (1922)]
162. Patton (1970) [Patton generale d'acciaio (1970)]
163. Glory (1989) [Glory - uomini di gloria (1989)]
164. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) [Ultimatum alla Terra (1952)]
165. Cabinet des Dr. Caligari., Das (1920) [Gabinetto del dottor Caligari, Il (1920)]
166. Gone with the Wind (1939) [Via col vento (1951)]
167. Spartacus (1960)
168. Ying xiong (2002)
169. Groundhog Day (1993) [Ricomincio da capo (1993)]
170. Toy Story (1995) [Toy Story - Il mondo dei giocattoli (1996)]
171. The Gold Rush (1925) [Febbre dell'oro, La (1925)]
172. Finding Neverland (2004) [Neverland - Un sogno per la vita (2004)]
173. Trainspotting (1996)
174. Belle et la bête, La (1946) [Bella e la bestia, La (1946)]
175. Magnolia (1999)
176. The Exorcist (1973) [Esorcista, L' (1973)]
177. The Philadelphia Story (1940) [Scandalo a Filadelfia (1940)]
178. The Grapes of Wrath (1940) [Furore (1940)]
179. A Christmas Story (1983) [Storia di Natale, Una (1983)]
180. The Big Lebowski (1998) [Grande Lebowski, Il (1998)]
181. Mystic River (2003)
182. Shrek (2001)
183. Heat (1995) [Heat - la sfida (1996)]
184. Twelve Monkeys (1995) [Esercito delle dodici scimmie, L' (1995)]
185. Cinderella Man (2005)
186. Big Fish (2003) [Big fish - Le storie di una vita incredibile (2004)]
187. King Kong (1933)
188. Before Sunset (2004) [Prima del tramonto (2004)]
189. Ed Wood (1994)
190. The Hustler (1961) [Spaccone, Lo (1961)]
191. Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) [Vincitori e vinti (1961)]
192. The Lady Vanishes (1938) [Signora scompare, La (1938)]
193. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) [Migliori anni della nostra vita, I (1946)]
194. The Terminator (1984)
195. Snatch. (2000) [Snatch - lo strappo (2001)]
196. Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005) [Wallace & Gromit - La maledizione del coniglio mannaro (2006)]
197. Out of the Past (1947) [Catene della colpa, Le (1947)]
198. Walk the Line (2005) [Quando l'amore brucia l'anima (2005)]
199. Bride of Frankenstein (1935) [Moglie di Frankenstein, La (1935)]
200. In the Heat of the Night (1967) [Calda notte dell'ispettore Tibbs, La (1967)]
201. Hotaru no haka (1988) [Tomba per le lucciole, Una (1988)]
202. Sleuth (1972) [Insospettabili, Gli (1972)]
203. Stalag 17 (1953) [Inferno dei vivi, L' (1953)]
204. Young Frankenstein (1974)
205. Bonnie and Clyde (1967) [Gangster Story (1967)]
206. Du rififi chez les hommes (1955) [Rififi (1956)]
207. The Thing (1982) [Cosa, La (1982)]
208. Hable con ella (2002) [Parla con lei (2002)]
209. Witness for the Prosecution (1957) [Testimone d'accusa (1957)]
210. The Straight Story (1999) [Storia vera, Una (2000)]
211. Rosemary's Baby (1968)
212. Manhattan (1979)
213. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) [Lock & Stock - pazzi scatenati (1998)]
214. Sling Blade (1996) [Lama tagliente (1996)]
215. Frankenstein (1931)
216. Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) [Arsenico e vecchi merletti (1945)]
217. Quatre cents coups, Les (1959) [Quattrocento colpi, I (1959)]
218. Monsters, Inc. (2001) [Monsters & Co. (2002)]
219. Tengoku to jigoku (1963) [Anatomia di un rapimento (1963)]
220. Scarface (1983)
221. Kumonosu jô (1957) [Trono di sangue, Il (1957)]
222. Anatomy of a Murder (1959) [Anatomia di un omicidio (1959)]
223. The Prestige (2006)
224. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) [Maledizione della prima luna, La (2003)]
225. Idi i smotri (1985) [Va' e vedi (1985)]
226. All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) [All'ovest niente di nuovo (1930)]
227. Roman Holiday (1953) [Vacanze romane (1953)]
228. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) [Uomo che uccise Liberty Valance, L' (1962)]
229. The Searchers (1956) [Sentieri selvaggi (1956)]
230. The Lost Weekend (1945) [Giorni perduti (1945)]
231. Doctor Zhivago (1965) [Dottor Zivago, Il (1965)]
232. Bringing Up Baby (1938) [Susanna (1938)]
233. Haine, La (1995) [Odio, L' (1995)]
234. Himmel über Berlin, Der (1987)
235. Brazil (1985)
236. A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) [Tram che si chiama desiderio, Un (1951)]
237. The Ox-Bow Incident (1943) [Alba fatale (1943)]
238. Planet of the Apes (1968) [Pianeta delle scimmie, Il (1968)]
239. Laberinto del Fauno, El (2006) [Labirinto del Fauno, Il (2006)]
240. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
241. In Cold Blood (1967) [A sangue freddo (1967)]
242. Harold and Maude (1971) [Harold e Maude (1971)]
243. Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes (1972) [Aguirre, furore di Dio (1972)]
244. All the President's Men (1976) [Tutti gli uomini del presidente (1976)]
245. Festen (1998) [Festen - Festa in famiglia (1998)]
246. The Insider (1999) [Insider - Dietro la verità (2000)]
247. Sherlock Jr. (1924) [Palla n. 13, La (1924)]
248. Great Expectations (1946) [Grandi speranze (1946)]
249. Kakushi-toride no san-akunin (1958) [Fortezza nascosta, La (1958)]
250. À bout de souffle (1960) [Fino all'ultimo respiro (1960)]