Word: gassman
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1970-1979
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...tedium is in no way relieved by Altman's film-making technique. In place of his usual brio, the director has used pretentious cinematic gimmicks, monochromatic sets and portentous, dissonant music. He reduces an all-star international cast-Newman, Fernando Rey, Bibi Andersson, Brigitte Fossey, David Langton, Vittorio Gassman-to interchangeable (and often indistinguishable) ciphers. He blurs the perimeters of his images with Vaseline. Though two writers assisted Altman on the screenplay, the witless lines amount to paint-by-number existentialism: "Every time you cheat death, you feel the pure thrill of life...
...often cruel and crude. But the film gets better as it goes along. Altman's whipped up a surrealistic storm sequence that will stun you, and in quieter scenes he's evolved some subliminal editing techniques that immerse you in the characters without your even realizing it. Vittorio Gassman...
...casting is both daring and first-rate. Altman has somehow made an ensemble out of a group that includes (in no particular order of significance) Lillian Gish, Pat McCormick, Howard Duff, Vittorio Gassman, Dina Merrill, Nina van Pallandt, Lauren Hutton, Mia Farrow, Geraldine Chaplin, Desi Arnaz Jr., Amy Stryker, Paul Dooley, various veterans of his stock company and a title card full of newcomers. They are all wonderful. If someone deserves to be singled out, it is Carol Burnett, who plays the bride's up tight but restless mother. For her to appear in this film took guts...
...poor victim to the hospital. Unfortunately, no hospital will take the dude, and while Sordi prattles on hysterically about nothing and everything, the wretch expires on the front seat, which he is rather nastily staining with his blood. Finally, Sordi drops him off where he found him. Vittorio Gassman also comes up with a good scene, playing a Roman Catholic cardinal stranded by an automotive failure at a small parish church, where an angry group of beefy peasants is busy arguing over something or other. Gassman extricates himself splendidly, laying a little bit of that old-time religion...
Though he is popularly viewed as a kind of Catholic Mr. Chips, Hesburgh is now held in such awe by Notre Dame students that they seldom deal personally with him. Student Body President Mike Gassman says he would not dare interrupt the president with ordinary school problems because "he's too important now." Another student says, "Father Ted is usually too busy playing world savior." Both of them are swift to add, however, they think Hesburgh is the main force behind Notre Dame's stress on values...