The Leopard (2004)

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

The Prince of Salina, a noble aristocrat of impeccable integrity, tries to preserve his family and class amid the tumultuous social upheavals of 1860s Sicily."The Leopard" has circulated in at least four different versions. Visconti's first cut was 205-minutes long, but was felt to be excessive in length by both the director and producer, and was shortened to 195-minutes for its Cannes Film Festival premiere. Visconti then cut the film further to 185-minutes for its official release, and considered this version to be his preferred one. The U.S English-dubbed version, in which the Italian and French actors were dubbed over (except for Burt Lancaster, whose original English voice work is heard), was edited down to 161-minutes by its distributor 20th Century Fox.Who today (2015) has heard of Garibaldi? Who had heard of him in 1963 when the film was released? I suspect that fewer know him now than then, but he is still an obscure figure in America outside of the Sicilian community. And this is too bad, as he really sparked huge change in Europe. This film does not focus on Garibaldi (he does not appear in the film), but does discuss that change. And it is quite interesting.

This epic seems to be exclusively acclaimed by They Shoot Pictures Don't They's extensive top list as I've rarely heard about it anywhere else. Still, I can see why it deserves it. Although its history and politics are completely lost on me, its primary themes of class, family and progress of a nation still resonate, though it only conjures a feeling of anxiety about them rather than a full examination. Regardless, the film is worth watching for Burt Lancaster's terrific performance. Every moment he was on screen and spoke it was incredibly profound. Not only does he exhume wisdom, but there's a poignant emotion attached too. It's a film also notable for its great cinematography. With amazing swooping shots, it truly captures the grandeur of the characters, the sets and the world. That said, The Leopard goes a long way to make a simple point. Interesting film, if as not emotionally engaging as it could've been.8/10

I do not know many films where an established English or American star is in a foreign film either speaking the specific language or dubbed over while all other actors are speaking their own language, but that is the case with this Italian film from the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die. Basically, set in the 1860's, against the Sicilian landscape a dying aristocracy, led by the Prince of Salina, Don Fabrizio Corbero (Burt Lancaster), he is also known as The Leopard, and the film traces the slow waning of his noble home. We see how he turned from peasant and rose to become the enormously wealthy prince he is, but with the decline of his empire and personal fortunes he refuses to take steps and halt this or rebuild Sicily, but assuring his own position to marry Don Calogero's beautiful daughter Angelica (Claudia Cardinale) is the nephew, Tancredi, Prince of Falconeri (Golden Globe nominated Alain Delon). Angelica is introduced to society by Tancredi in the climactic sumptuous forty minute ball, but in the end the conclusion is unclear whether Don Calogero recovers his empire or any of his personal fortune. Also starring Paolo Stoppa as Don Calogero Sedara, Rina Morelli as Princess Maria Stella Salina and Romolo Valli as Father Pirrone. It is obvious that Lancaster has been dubbed over by an Italian voice, but he otherwise gives a good confident performance being the head of the family and of the aristocracy, I admit I did not really know everything that was going on, because it involved political stuff, like about the republican movement or whatever, but the performances and costumes are well done, and I know it is a most watchable period drama. It was nominated the Oscar for Best Costume Design. Very good!

Italian film that takes place in 1860. A revolution is sweeping over Sicily to overthrow the government. Burt Lancaster plays a prince who realizes a change is coming and his way of life is over. It also deals with his nephew Tancredi (Alain Delon) joining the revolution and his romancing of Angelica (Claudine Cardinale).VERY long but fascinating. It came to America in 1963 and was cut by 30 minutes--it's 3 hours and 15 minutes. Also it was shown in washed out color prints. It was fully restored in 1983 and that's the version I saw. It looks incredible. The film is in rich color with absolutely breath-taking settings. I have never seen such beautiful color cinematography! There's also a great music score by Nino Rota which perfectly matches the images. The story is long and drags at times (a sequence between Tancredi and Angelica in a deserted mansion should have been cut) but I was never really bored. There was ALWAYS something to look at. The acting varies. Delon was a little too lightweight for this role but Cardinale was good. Best of all was Lancaster. He's dubbed but is magnificent. His face perfectly shows what his character is going through. This is an Academy Award winning performance. So very long but never dull. Just incredible. A true classic!