The Climber (1975)

Best movie of this year hands down!

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Kick-ass gritty tale of the bad guys versus the bad guys here as Joe Dallesandro gets a huge chip on his shoulder with the mob in Naples. He's just a New York hustler peddling tobacco and collecting protection money when out of the blue he gets a kicking and thrown out of the gang for making too much noise. Joe heads for Rome, rather handily getting a lift from Stefania Casini (and hooking up with her in the process). Joe finds a contact in Rome and gets another job from a sinister gay man to rip off a business deal, steal a briefcase, then bring it back. He also offers to give Joe one up the crapper for extra incentive. Nothing turns out right as the briefcase contains a load of heroin belonging to that gang in Naples, and Joe's been double crossed by that gay fella!It's shortly after the Mob kill Joe's best friend that Joe decides the gloves are off, and he begins getting revenge by stabbing the guy that double crossed him first (in rather a realistic manner). America might be the land of opportunity, but Italy's the land where those capable of the most violence triumph over all, and Joe's headed for Naples with his new gang of boxers, bare-chested bikers who seem to have fallen into a time warp from an eighties Italian post-apocalypse film, and a sullen sharpshooter. The first thing you'll notice is that Joe Dallasendro isn't the best actor in the world. He can scowl real good though, and he's playing an arrogant tough nut to boot, so we can forgive for the lack of Gielguid-esque soliloquies. Director Squitieri makes everything seem much more grubby and dusty as usual, which lends a bit more realism to the proceedings, and it's the same with the violence. No fancy stuff here, although there's plenty of the red stuff. When I think about it, most of the emotion comes from Stefania Casini as the tearful girlfriend who watches her man drift further and further away due to his obsession with revenge, so it's worth watching for that too. Between this and Order To Kill I'm seeing a distinct change in the fashions, cars and music of this genre, from the brown-suited Dirty Harry rip-offs of two years ago we now have thin white t-shirts, afros, sports cars and hard rock on the soundtrack. Nice.

I've never understood the attraction to actor Joe Dallesandro. I've yet to see a film he's been in where I can actually say he was a good actor. For the most part he always seems angry, scowling and in general plays characters I could care less about. In looking over his list of credits at IMDb. com I found nothing that stood out that I could recommend to anyone as a great vehicle for him. Knowing this ahead of time I went into watching this movie hoping to be proved wrong.THE CLIMBER is a reference to Dallesandro's character Aldo, a low level criminal working in a warehouse and as a transporter for a gangster in Italy. Aldo dreams of bigger things and when he makes a mistake in crossing the boss an attempt is made on his life. He moves and begins again with several friends, creating a gang for himself in a nearby town but under the radar of his old boss.As I sit here writing much of what I watched is lost to me now. It left that little of an impression on me. The standard fare is here with gangsters threatening people, a few shootouts and attempts made on the lives of competitors. But nothing tremendous is on hand here. In fact most of it moves along fairly slow and the number of unbelievable moments that should demonstrate the ruthlessness of all these gangsters is never quite there.I've been fortunate to have access and viewed several crime dramas from Italian cinema and this one left me wanting more. It offered little in the form of entertainment and made me think that my opinion of Dallesandro as an actor is more justified than ever. If you're a fan then by all means add this to your collection and continue to sing his praises. If you're wanting to know what Italian crime films from the time period are like then don't start with this one. And for the average viewer there is far more out there worth your time.Arrow Video is releasing this film and I can't fault them on anything here, they continue to present any film they handle with love and care. The presentation is brand new 4K restoration of the film from the original negative. Extras include LITTLE JOE'S ADVENTURES IN EUROPE a brand new interview with Joe Dallesandro on his numerous European film appearances during the 1970s and early 1980s, a reversible sleeve with original and newly commissioned artwork by Chris Malbon and with the first pressing only a booklet featuring new writing on the film by Roberto Curti, author of Italian CRIME FILMOGRAPHY 1968-1980.

Here it is, the movie that inspired Bryan DePalma's "Scarface," and when you see "L'ambizioso" you will recognize it immediately. The story is the same, changing only the locales. Aldo, played by cult actor Joe Dallesandro in possibly his biggest role, is a New York born, small time criminal, who comes to Naples to make a name for himself. He goes from a small time gig of hawking black market cigarettes, and methodically claws his way to the top of the criminal underworld, after being betrayed by a colleague. The story arc is the same as DePalma's iconic film, which came a decade later. Filled with action, bloody shootouts, and searing drama, this is one epic movie. Little-known director Pasquale Squitieri made a series of these gangster movies, and they are all brilliant. This guy really knew his stuff. He seemed to have an understanding for bad guys as he tells the story always from their point of view. and he makes us sympathize with them, and even have immense respect for them. Which is why these movies might not be appropriate for young, impressionable minds. For fans of crime cinema and Italian mafia films, "L'ambizioso" is required viewing, and is worth tracking down.

This Is Also one Of Joe's best performances in Italy, with a good story, and lots of action. Joe Plays a regular Hustler on the streets of Italy, trying to make a living. In the beginning of the movie you see Joe almost get pinched for smuggling smokes, he gets away from the cops, but gets his bike smashed by local thuggies, and is told to get the hell out of dodge. Anyway as the title suggests, Joe is one ambitious guy and eventually makes his way to the top, only to eventually die in a fight for control in the mafia under world.