8 1/2

Starring: Marcello Mastroianni, Anouk Aimee, Claudia Cardinale, Sandra Milo, Rossella Fall, Barbara Steele, Madeleine Lebeau, Caterina Boratto, Eddra Gale, Guido Alberti, Ian Dallas, Georgia Summers
Directed by: Federico Fellini
Rating: Not rated
Genre: Drama
1963

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A director (Marcello Mastroianni) struggles to focus on his next film amidst an onslaught of requests and demands, leading him to retreat into his memories and fantasies.

Review:

Tim: I really enjoyed Federico Fellini's dreamlike autobiographical film, 8 1/2. I would probably pull up short of calling the film truly great, but I see where so many in the industry would connect and relate to it. It shows an unflinching, relentless view of what it's like to be the director of a film with big expectations, countless requests, and a feeling of being lost in the midst of it all. The film may not quite be as powerful as I'd hoped, but it has a long list of strengths.

The film did win two Academy Awards- Best Foreign Language Film and Best Costume Design B&W. This is obviously just one data point, but it speaks to the quality of the film. I always find it interested when a foreign film manages to win a second Academy Award- it's so often that the Academy gives the Foreign Language one and moves on. The costume design here is absolutely impressive- the sheer size of the cast and their dress kept the costume designers very busy.

This was actually my first Fellini film and I certainly see why he's regarded as a genius. This movie was born out of a personal struggle as he contemplated his next movie and when he lost his idea, this one took its place. I found that fascinating, to see a director craft such a personal, insightful look into his own psyche, as well as a visual depiction of the stresses and concerns directors face. This is probably why so many in the industry connect with the movie- they can relate to the experience depicted here. It's always nice to see a director share something very personal on screen. Now, that being said, I have to admit there felt like a bit of presumptuousness to Fellini's story. Maybe I'd feel differently if I'd seen his other movies first, but as far as autobiographical movies are concerned, he made some interesting choices about the main character. I think we have to acknowledge creative liberties were taken, but it's somewhat telling to see how his main character is depicted.

Outside of that, I really loved the performance of Marcello Mastroianni. I loved how his performance never felt performative. He spends the majority of the movie off in his own world, introspective, deep in thought while craziness swirls around him. I loved how he depicted this character- obviously intelligent, full of baggage, somewhat haunted by his past and lost when he contemplates his future. Mastroianni conveyed a great deal without ever straying into over-the-top territory. His restrained performance was absolutely perfect for the film. Sandra Milo was decent as the director's mistress. She gets a lot of screen time and her performance felt a bit forced, but she still makes a lasting impression. Anouk Aimee gives a strong performance as the director's estranged wife. She's quite the contrast to Milo's character. It felt like Aimee was a bit too restrained in her performance, but it still works. I loved the small performance of Claudia Cardinale as the director's "Ideal Woman". She was well cast for this and delivers a layered performance full of charisma. I wish she had more to do in this film, her screen time is frustratingly small. The rest of the cast worked well- it's surprising how extensive it is.

Now, 8 1/2 is absolutely an avante-garde film. It rarely aligns with our expectations, instead delivering its story in a nebulous, uncertain fashion. The movie jumps from real life to the past (real or imagined), to fantasies of the director. It takes a lot to follow along on your first viewing. Fellini never makes the movie too complicated to follow, though. I didn't catch everything that happened, but I was able to follow the story with little issue. I'm sure I missed some of the symbols and allusions Fellini included, but the movie is fairly accessible for being a film that by it's nature isn't exactly accessible. You do kind of need to let the film wash over you and pick up what you can.

I did enjoy 8 1/2- it's called this because it was Fellini's eighth and a half (he co-directed a film) movie (which, incidentally, is never explained in the film). I can see how it resonates with people and how it was an influential movie. It was fun to explore it and see this winding, personal story. While I liked it, I was never able to fully connect with the characters or love Fellini's view of this personal character. It's a very good movie, for sure, but I don't think I would quite call the movie great (which I recognize is not aligned with the majority of critics).

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: La Dolce Vita