For The New Year: Some Last Minute Resolutions

Tired of resolving to lose weight every year and then not doing it? Let me help you with some more achievable New Year’s Resolutions.

You could resolve to be more patient, or eat healthier, or exercise more, or blah, blah, blah, blah. You can do those things, but while you are making promises to yourself, make this your year to:

1) Conquer your fears of subtitles.

I understand where you are coming from; really I do. When I watch French films I have to be wide awake and ready to focus my full attention on the movie because I don’t speak French and I have to read the whole film. Sometimes that’s a drag, and sometimes I’m just not in the mood. But it’s worth the trouble. I’ve missed so many great films because I was too lazy to read the subtitles. And remember, just because there are subtitles, it doesn’t mean it’s an artsy-fartsy “for movie snobs only” movie. Lots of movies are just for fun – they are just fun in another language.

sole-a-catinelle-checco-zalone-con-in-una-scena-del-film-289156 — You think all foreign film is too “artsy”? Tell that to Checco Zalone.

2) Get less addicted to Hollywood movies.

We saw a dozen American-made films this Christmas season and while many were great (The Gambler, in particular), most were just so-so and a couple were terrible. Next time you are tempted to watch an Adam Sandler movie, check my list of Italian films from Netflix instead. You’ll thank me.

3) Find your local film festivals and theaters that show more films with a more limited distribution.

I’ll try my best to help you with this, and if you send me information about what is showing in your city, I will share it here, but just remember; they are out there. My city, Cleveland Ohio, has an amazing Italian Film Festival every fall that even I didn’t know about until a few years ago. Organizer Joyce Mariani does a great job of bringing in very entertaining films that you won’t find elsewhere, and it sells out every year.

This month, Paolo Virzì’s Il Capitale Umano (Human Capital), is making the rounds in US theaters so please don’t miss it!

Human_Capital_600 — Watch for Human Capital

4) Get to know the players.

Italy is just exploding with talent right now, so put aside your Fellini movies and check out Paolo Sorrentino, Paolo Virzì, Alice Rohrwacher, Pierfrancesco Favino, Roberto Andò… (I could go on forever). These contemporary directors are doing exciting work and it would be a shame to miss out on them just because of subtitles or because you believe the rumors that the Italian film industry is dead.

5) Make my Netflix and Amazon Instant lists your bucket lists.

There are plenty of Italian films you can watch RIGHT NOW. So call your boss, tell him or her you won’t be in today, and START WATCHING.

WATCH THEM ON NETFLIX
WATCH THEM ON AMAZON INSTANT

But the most important,

6) If you are Italian, be proud of what your country is producing right now and help me spread the word!

You have some things to brag these days, so take advantage.

What do you mean Italy has nothing interesting going on - You've got Riccardo Scamarcio! — What do you mean Italy has nothing interesting going on – You’ve got Riccardo Scamarcio!