Reviews

The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Favorite Foreign Film
Gave this film earlier to my nephew, to whom I think it seemed old-fashioned, but he remarked on the shifts between reality and dreams (one of the film's main points, in my opinion). Of course movie-making technology has changed a lot since 1963. But if you don't mind gorgeous black-and-white photography, this is unquestionably one of Fellini's best. Plot-wise, it's about a film director (played by Mastroianni) with some hits to his credit who is facing a sort of writer's block, feeling pressure, especially from intellectuals and critics. At the beginning he is experiencing sort of a breakdown. But the show, of course, must go on. So it is about the process of trying to create when having potentially debilitating self-doubt, coming to terms and sorting things out. Note: not many bonus features on this Essential Art House DVD, but the film stands beautifully on its own.
This review is from Essential Art House: 8 1/2 [Criterion Collection] [DVD] [1963]