Mastroianni

I only recently discovered Mastroianni (I watched La Dolce Vita a couple of weeks ago and Divorce Italian Style today), but I'm loving him! The facial tic was fabulous, I laughed every time he did it. I found myself wondering if George Clooney and/or the Coens were tipping their hats to Mastroianni's performance when they made O Brother, Where Art Thou because the characters' personalities and mannerisms seemed very similar to me. Right down to the hairnets they each wore. Lol!

He's definitely an amazing actor. It's shocking that people like him don't get more exposure in the English-speaking world. This is the fourth movie of his I've seen and he's been great in everyone. I just saw "Divorce Italian Style" last night and it is probably my favourite performance of his, so far. I had trouble recognizing him in the first scene. He is so natural that acting seems effortless for him. Just great!

The facial tic was Pietro Germi's. Mastroianni thought it would have been nice adding this kind of tic ti Baron Cefalù character... but Germi was not very happy of that...

To me Mastroianni is amongst the best actors who has ever existed. He could play equally easy a latin lover or a goofball. From his earlier films to his latest ones, I can't remember a bad performance by Marcello. More than likely he had bad days, but if so, the audience never noticed it.
"Fefé" is amongst his best performances, tremendously hilarious. In the hands of a lesser actor the role of "Ferdinando" might have ended up being, either a caricature or a disgusting character. But not in Mastroianni hands. We even forgive him the fact that he wanted to kill his wife! (and apparently he did it) and when we laugh, we laugh with him, not about him.
Tremendous actor and excellent dark-comedy.

A three-time Oscar nominee all for Italian speaking films, is quite an achievement. Surprised he is not more known.