Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by townsend (A) on March 25, 2009 at 17:44:24

Excellent movie. Summmarized on web as follows:

"Matteo Garrone's Gomorrah is a dense, sprawling exposé of the corruption plaguing the communities of Naples and Caserta in modern-day Italy. The all-powerful Camorra syndicate influences the lives of even the most innocent citizens. In a manner similar to The Wire, Garrone tells his story from many different angles, resulting in a complicated narrative that often feels novelistic. In many cases, the revolving stories never overlap or intersect. While that may be jarring to those viewers who are used to having their strings tied neatly for them by a film's conclusion, Garrone's decision results in an experience that feels much more honest and true. We witness the syndicate's impact from the top down and from the inside out, following a cavalcade of characters who are all trying in their own ways to escape the deadly world in which they live.

Based on the book by Roberto Saviano, Garrone's crime epic is a powerful indictment of the corruption that is running rampant in Italy. His decision to present such a wide spectrum of characters enables him to show just how deeply everyone is impacted by this terrifying, unchecked display of criminal power."

Filmed in a documentary style. A fascinating film. Considering that it is about the Camorra, there is a surprising lack of violence in this movie, yet the threat of violence simmers behind most scenes. When there is violence, it isn't over-the-top, like in many American crime movies, but the displays of violence are brief, brutal, and deadly.

• http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gomorrah/   (Open in New Window)