Hey folks, Harry here... This is the film that many feel is Argento's return to form... Me, I feel that it is a step in the right direction. Personally I feel that Argento is strongest in the genre of Giallo cinema... those bristling Italian suspense/horror films that feel ripped straight out of dime store fear novels. The problem here in this film for me is that the photography and composition is nowhere near as elegant, the scenes nowhere near as gripping as his best work... DEEP RED and THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMMAGE (my two faves of his). However, this is a pretty damn good film. One that signals that perhaps we haven't seen the last of Mr Argento... I can't wait to see this all...
NONHOSONNO Review
Dario Argento`s NONHOSONNO a.k.a. I CAN`T SLEEP is a very encouraging and a very discomforting movie. It is encouraging because it delivers some of the best ideas Dario had in the last five years, his and Franco Ferrini`s script is vital and witty, always written to showcase the preposterous and the sick. Frightening part is the fact that NONHOSONNO was very under-budgeted. It looks like as if it was shot like an Italian television series. Italian TV is great and the movie feels watchable but you still miss the variety of shots and the grain that is essential for the cinematic experience. It was shot on film stock but it seems that Dario had a short schedule and a limited number of set-ups.
The story focuses on the fate of an old Turin detective Ullyses Moretti and the young man who witnessed the murder of his mother that Moretti pledged to solve. The murders itself are bizarre acts comitted by a midget who was allegedly dead since 1983.
The concept is gory and Argento cuts no slack in the 117 minute cut. His set-ups may have been limited but his guts aren`t. Sergio Stivaletti turns on the butchery whenever called upon. Argento still has the power to create menace in whatever situation. Even the mutilation of corpses feels painful in Argento`s vision.
This time, the limited technical ability debilitated the typical Argento`s dreaminess. Instead we have a straight `giallo` detective story with a vital spin.
It is a pity that Argento assembled such a brilliant crew that wasn`t supplied with an adequete budget. His previous feature PHANTOM OF THE OPERA had the same problem but it looked worse since Argento ran out of money during the production and had to finish the film with very limited funds. Let`s hope that brilliant British DP Ronnie Taylor, a sta like Max Von Sydow and Goblin will be there for an expensive and adequate project of the great author.
I CAN`T SLEEP is still much better than most of the stuff you can think of. This is why I beg you to buy the Artisan DVD and VHS that are going to be out later this year and support this genius whose financial troubles ceased to feel romantic or indie.
God bless,
Ethan
