Non è vero – So not true.
- You have to be some kind of intellectual to appreciate foreign film.
Not true. Exhibit A: Me!
I haven’t studied film and I don’t even want to be considered a film scholar. My qualifications are simply that I have watched virtually every Italian movie since the year 2000 (I’m obsessive, yes, but not intellectual). If you read this blog I will tell you about the more serious films, absolutely, but also about the funny ones, the chick flicks, the sexy ones, and all the ones that film scholars hate, like the ones from Checco Zalone.
2. Americans won’t identify with the stories.
Not true!
I think one of the reasons that Italian movies lacked global appeal in the past is because they weren’t as good in the ’80s and ’90s, and Italian filmmakers (on the whole) weren’t even trying to make movies that people outside Italy would enjoy.
But that’s changed. With films about dysfunctional families, a bad economy, cheating husbands, disrespectful teenagers and everything else we have to deal with here in the United States, you’ll find that Italians are just like us (only better looking.)
Seriously. And no one does organized crime like Italians do. You don’t have to identify with the mafia to love their great mafia movies.
3. There have been no good Italian films made since Marcelo Mastroianni stopped making them.
Pish posh and nonsense. Stupidaggini.
That’s like saying that there are no good Hollywood movies since Humphrey Bogart made Casablanca. If old movies are your thing, there’s nothing wrong with that, but please don’t assume that Italian cinema died in the ’70s.
4. The movies are hard to find.
Well, you are half right about that one.
There are too many good ones that are never distributed in the United States, unfortunately, but fortunately there are a lot that are.
In my ULTIMATE GUIDE TO STREAMING, you’ll find enough to keep you busy for a while. The list is ever-changing and updated as often as possible (Netflix giveth, and Netflix taketh away), but there are comedies, dramas, dramedies, award-winners and ones that are complete pieces of shit, so have at it! Binge away!
I Love Italian Everything 