It's like the far superior Nic Roeg flick DON'T LOOK NOW from the 1970's with Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie. But without the tension, without the drama, without the stars,without the photographic composition, lighting or anything else. (Family moves to Italy after a bereavement.Full Stop.
I found it trite. And the obvious Ryanair placements one of the few brutally obvious sponsors. No. This won't do.
The big differences are what count. Genova isn't trying to be Don't Look Now. And Venice out of season is a dark, dank and smelly place whereas Genoa is sunny and welcoming.
This story is at least as much about the two daughters and they way they react to the death of their mother, as distinct from two parents trying to deal with the loss of a child. DLN is a horror film, this is a drama.
So the plane was Ryanair. So what? Any film with a plane should be subject to your censure, since they usually carry the name of the airline on the outside, at least. Hardly intrusive.
No. As constructive criticism this won't do.
Excellent response, bogwart. I'd happily sign my name underneath your comment, if that was possible. *thumbs up!*
shareI agree with you but some of those scenes in the old city were dark and smelly too (I think one of the daughters says it smells of urine at one point)
I guess that's always possible. I don't know Italian law but I do know Portuguese law and until recently (and maybe still) men were permitted to pee against the wheels of cars parked in such places. It all adds to the local ambience.
Some of the centre parts of old cities are time-warps; I'm sure Genoa is no different although I've never been to the old part.
Well it sort of was trying to be Dont Look Now, but without actually admitting to it. The story resemblances between Genova and DLN are far too striking (made all the more blatant by using an Italian city, which was a big mistake regardless of how lovely it looked). On the DVD features for the film, director Winterbottom even namechecked DLN which he said he admired. Unfortunately, namechecking does not stop it from being imitation. Genova was by no means a bad film, but it was far from brilliant and it often came across as a semi-professional production (i.e. film students trying to make a cut-price copy Don't Look Now with little budget or equipment). This is quite surprising since Winterbottom has 20 years of directing experience. I must confess I would never have even bothered with this film had Colin Firth not been in it.
shareI'm sure many of us join you in regretting that you did bother; I certainly do. All you've managed to come up with by way of criticism is that Winterbottom liked DLN (just like millions of other people) and he used an Italian city. Just like many other directors of films set in Italy.
I guess on that basis Italian cities are out, then. Do cities get a ration of one film per genre?
If you didn't like the film just say so. There's no need to traduce the hard work of a fine director and a dedicated crew by continuing to chuck in red herrings about similarities. Using your criteria you may as well insist that 2001: A Space Odyssey was ripped off by Alien.
Actually AVATAR has striking similarities to FERNGULLY, an Aussie cartoon of yore. Tough guy log bulldozer driver in Queensland rain forest gets zapped by pixies to their size and sees the world through their environmentally correct, all green, politically right eyes and manages to correct the wrongs he and his company have been doing. THE END. But I digress: I see about 200 new films a year, sometimes a lot earlier than those allowed by the silly release schedule imposed by the film companies in the UK. The majority are OK, they won't go down in history or make a zillion dollars, or even change people's attitude or provide an interesting take on anything.They're just OK movies. Some stand out like giants because they hit the target on so many levels: SHAWSHANK,SPIRITED AWAY,IN BRUGES. Some stick in my throat as very, very bad. And it is not that many that fall into this category: far, far fewer than the giants. And it is these that I use to be just as useful in teaching me about what is wrong as CITIZEN KANE shows about doing things right. GENOVA (Is this word-play on the imaginary country GENOVIA, at the centre of PRINCESS DIARIES?)struck me as one of the worst wastes of thousands of feet of celluloid. I realise that some people think CHUCK NORRIS is a great actor. I personally think he's a very decent man and an upright human being, but as to his acting... I wouldn't cast him against Meryl Streep. I equally realise people have different tastes. But the fact that I found GENOVA to be so bad on so many levels in my scheme of reckoning warranted a few words. Some people say the director is talented and hard working... I see no evidence for this.
shareAre you practicing to be a contestant in a long-windedness contest? So you watch a couple of hundred films a year. I watch probably twice as many. Does that make what I have to say any more important? No, it doesn't.
Sure, the films you mention are great films. How many of those are there per year? Ignore them.
No, it's not wordplay. It's the Italian name of Genoa. Why throw completely irrelevant nonsense in if it serves no purpose?
You didn't like the film. Nobody has a problem with that. But if you deny the fact that Winterbottom is a talented and hard-working director then either you know insufficient about his work or you just don't like him.
Stick to your kiddy films and stop being tedious.
One of my worst-films list of some years ago to rival Genova, was surprise, surprise, another of the same director's films, Shadowlands. Tedious, baleful, miscast.Some interesting art direction that wasn't allowed to expand. Perhaps where we differ, is that I am so pleased when I see a film I think- That's a good effort. This director seems to pick those woeful English studies steeped in bedsit inner city land- writer on welfare kind of thing.Thank you so much for your suggestion to continue watching animation- I will, as I have always done (which is all made by adults, don't you know?) and documentaries in fact- anything other than sitting through Genova again. I make a promise here and now. I promise never to watch your Winterbottom again.
shareYou have a rough weekend or something? Shadowlands was directed by Richard Attenborough. Your use of the word 'baleful' in connection with a film is bizarre.
And don't patronise me, you little cock. "Perhaps where we differ, is that I am so pleased when I see a film I think- That's a good effort." Arrogant little poser - don't presume to tell me what I may or may not think.
"This director seems to pick those woeful English studies steeped in bedsit inner city land- writer on welfare kind of thing." Right. Like Code 46, Butterfly Kiss, The Road to Guantanamo, A Mighty Heart and In This World. All woeful English studies, right?
I couldn't give a rat's clackers whether or not you watch anything by Winterbottom again. Why should I care? And he's not my Winterbottom, you stupid, stupid little man. Just leave it at that. You can't stand him and I quite like most of his stuff, and adore Code 46. Is that enough to argue about? I sincerely hope not.
I do so apologise, but I meant Wonderland.Shadowlands wasn't much better. I notice it had the same script writer as Genova. You kindness and forbearance are most appreciated.Someone in my age bracket often gets the cold shoulder; on crowded buses and trains;having to stand for mile after mile; going along to have endless tests in hospitals, but when I converse with knowledgeable young fillies like yourself, I almost feel rejuvenated.
shareI do agree with you,Nic Niewart.
The majority of films are in the "OK" department- maybe 95%. Nothing too hot, nothing too outstanding, but they do it with workmanlike panache and it gets the job done. Cop shows. Musicals. Thrillers.Rom-Coms.
About 2% are outstanding. Work like Citizen Kane,Seven Samurai etc and the greats that are admired and appreciated all over the world by the greatest directors and actors.
That leaves 3% as dross. Absolute waste of time. Your words: dismal, poor, alas.
Genova is one of these. I think it probably stems from the bodies in the UK (I agree with the very first reviewer)that give out money to projects like this. They must be very unhappy people, uncertain of their mission in life,and seek out other pained souls with scripts and script-treatments to set upon the world.
Personally I would rather not make a film, or be involved in one if it's like Genova.
bogwart, why are you being such a dick towards other people just because they don't agree with you? The resemblances to Don't Look Now are far too apparent to ignore. If you don't want to see that then don't, but don't be such an immature kid to other people because they do.
shareAlways nice to see a rational and reasonable response, without any of the juvenile haranguing which characterises these boards. And it's thrilling to be called a kid after all these years.
Now trot on, little cow, before I light the barbecue.
You just got promoted from dick to a$$hole.
shareWhat a little coward you must be IRL.
shareStill talking, bogbrush? Well...in between taking your prozac and trying to deal with your anger issues towards people who don't agree with you, perhaps you should take the time to actually read a few reviews of Genova from professional critics who know something about films. As an example, The Times states that it is a "baffling remake of Don't Look Now". In fact, just type "Genova Don't Look Now" into Google and see the sheer volume of search finds you get.
Just think of all the hate mail you can send to all of these reviewers. It's bound to pass the time until your doctor increases your anti-depressant dosage or until your mother takes your computer away.
Have fun living in "I'm right and everyone else is wrong" land.
You really do have the mental acuity of pondlife, don't you? Where would you place this?:
"Comparisons have been made to Don't Look Now, which is a bit facile, as this is not a supernatural story, but one about the ruinous impact of guilt on a child. The mother appears at first to Mary as a benevolent force, but ultimately as something quite different; culminating in a scene that will have you on the edge of your seat."
Precisely. Any reviewer who wants to put more into the 'meaning' of this film is barking.
I would suggest you leave the personal abuse out of it. Gets you nowhere and makes you look like the brat you undoubtedly are. For interest my mother died over 20 years ago and I have children older than you, so stop with that, too.
In fact I would suggest that you leave this whole thing behind and move on. What on earth is the point of being rude to someone you don't know over comments made such a long time ago? I've seen a couple of hundred films since then and I really don't see the point of clinging onto this one.
the names of both posters ends in . . .wart. I believe this is actually different personalities of the same human manifesting themselves on the same message board arguing against each other.
shareIt's like the far superior Nic Roeg flick DON'T LOOK NOW from the 1970's with Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie. But without the tension, without the drama, without the stars,without the photographic composition, lighting or anything else. (Family moves to Italy after a bereavement.Full Stop.Ditto. They really shouldn't be mentioned in the same sentence.🐭 share