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8 1/2
Directed by Federico Fellini
Background: A movie director, Guido Anselmi, is being pressured by his producers, the media, and his friends and family to begin shooting his new movie. His producers are filming screen tests for the possible cast, securing locations, and even building a gigantic spaceship to use as a set for the new movie. The problem is, Guido has no idea what his new movie is about, as the script he wrote is a complete mess.
My take: I watched this classic foreign film for the first time a week ago. My initial reaction after it was over was "What the hell just happened?" I knew that there portions of the movie that I thought were absolutely brilliant, but there were also stretches that I felt were lagging. I've now seen it 3 more times, and also read the booklet included with the DVD, which provides a lot of commentary and explanation. I'm now convinced that this is one of the greatest movies I have ever seen, and I have still yet to uncover many of its secrets, as I haven't watched the commentary on the DVD yet.
Not an easy movie to get into, but an unforgettable experience if you are willing to delve.
11.5/12
(I like using a 12-pt scale. 9/12 is extremely good, but not 'classic'. 10+/12 is so good that it's classic. 12/12 is untouchable.)
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