Reviews (4)

Tense & very convincing
The story centers around a number of very different men (and their families)...they all have one thing in common - their job. The job is to protect a new judge who is intent on clamping down on the mafia - in Sicily...not quite a regular 9 to 5 job and one which gives plenty of room to bring you to the edge of your seat. The score is excellent and adds wonderfully to the tension which just seems to build and build in a delightfully non-Hollywood fashion that doesn't enable you to predict what is going to happen or when.

A great movie which is well worth reading the subtitles for if you don't speak Italian...too bad its not on DVD yet - a VHS copy will surely get worn out as even knowing the story does not remove the impact that this movie has so there is a good chance you will watch it often.

Don't miss this film
This is a film that Hollywood will probably remake and butcher a la La Femme Nikita. Great, great drama. See the real thing. Ricky Tognazzi is a serious talent. See it.

La Scorta: An Un-Hollywood Thriller
Because Ricky Tognazzi didn't have a Hollywood budget to make this true-crime story work, he relied on the basics: fast action, interesting characters, and genuine tension. Based on the true story of a government prosecutor who stood up to the Mafia in Sicily, "La Scorta" is a good buddy movie and great action movie rolled into one. With little special effects at his disposal, Tognazzi creates tension the old fashioned way: skill. He makes even the most simple moments seem dangerous, as they must have seemed for the real-life escorts whose job it was to protect the prosecutor from assasination. "La Scorta" is vivid proof of great action movies outside of Hollywood.

A Tense, Human Story of Honor and Courage
An engrossing film about a team of Carabinieri (Italian National Police) assigned to bodyguard a crusading magistrate in a Mafia-corrupted city in Sicily. Facing endemic corruption and escalating threats of retribution for their Magistrate's anti-corruption efforts, the "escort" team draws together, determined to protect him in his effort to break the Mafia grip on the city of Trapani. The film effectively portrays the insidiousness of corruption, as tainted politicians and even fellow justice officials seek to obstruct the Magistrate's efforts. Tognazzi creates increasing tension and a sense of foreboding as it becomes clear that the Magistrate and his escort have been targeted for elimination by organized criminal gangs. The film presents an interesting study in group dynamics as the escort team's diverse characters overcome their own bickering, apathy, and (ultimately) fear to protect their charge. The film is strnegthened by engaging performances from its ensemble cast. Tense, thrilling, and inspiring, "La Scorta" is not to be missed. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Congratulations to director Paul Weiland for taking a stupid premise and creating a truly romantic look at marriage. Mercedes Ruehl is dying of a weak heart, and her husband, Jean Reno, hopes to keep his promise to bury her in their tiny Italian village, despite a lack of room in the cemetery. While he is trying to keep his friends and neighbors out of the local bone yard, she is quietly seeking candidates for his next wife. Many movies treat marriage as a death sentence. For Roseanna looks past daily bickering to the enduring love and warm companionship of well-matched lovers. Clearly defined characters, a disarming dénouement, and passionate performances transform the silly plot into a playful valentine. --Rochelle O'Gorman ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Make sure you see the last line of the move!
For anyone whose been to a hilltop-castle town in Italy, and seen the gentlemen in the piazza with their cafe, this is a must see movie. The plot becomes, while a major stretch for American sensibilities, much more plausable for anyone who has ever been to town like the one in the movie. And make sure you catch the very last line - its one of the best closers for a movie in years. And for the love story - the last name of Jean Reno's character says it all.

God bless Mark Frankel.

Italy in your living room!
This is the kind of movie a wide range of people will enjoy. For a start, it taps into that ever popular theme of 'gentle comedy in small-town Italy'. If you've enjoyed 'Cinema Paradiso', 'Il Postino' or 'Life is Beautiful', you'll want to see this too. It has the same successful mix of scenery, music and eccentric characters. Watching this feels as though the wine bars and winding streets have come to your living room. Unlike the films just mentioned, however, this isn't really an Italian movie at all - it's all in English, with the characters affecting Italian accents with varying degrees of success and authenticity. Still, the accents are not too grating - you get used to them quite quickly - and its easy to enter into the spirit of the movie's premise. It helps greatly that the location filming is superb. The town is shown in all its slightly shoddy beauty. Nothing seems 'tarted up' for the camera, and this gives the whole a sense of realism to counterbalance the admittedly incredible plot. While this is absolutely a comedy, with some very funny moments, there is still a serious undertone - it all revolves around the wishes of a dying woman. The pain of love, requited and unrequited, is explored most sensitively. There are moments that will bring you to tears.

Got a good marriage? Wish you did?
For Roseanna is one of those little beautiful movies that you look for for a long time to add to your DVD collection but sadly hasn't come out yet.
Life and love. That is truely what is important. Mercedes Ruehl and Jean Reno shine as two people so madly in love with each other that they would do anything to make the other happy when all they really want is each other. If you have a good marriage (as I do) or wish you did it opens the warmth and possibility that such simple things actually exist and when you find them to grab on with both hands and cherish it.
Buy this movie. Guys. You'll even like it!

COZY ITALIA !!
A truly perfect movie.It shall be pity if you miss.Actually I'm a fan of Jean Reno,but this is really one of his best and also not a well-known one.Why don't they release the DVD version of it?

WHAT A WONDERFUL SURPRISE -- FROM BEGINNING TO END!
I expected Ms. Ruehl to be great and she was. But it was Jean Reno who really surprised me. I loved him in The Professional, but this was a character I'd never seen him play....and he did it with class, wit and above-all -- great talent! So, to all you Jean Reno fans who've yet to see this movie, you're in for a treat. And for everyone who loves Mercedes, you'll love her even more! ... Read more

Amazon.com

An unusual mix of lyrical filmmaking in golden hues and gauzy images with shocking, brutal violence, Flight of the Innocent gives akid's-eye view of a war among crime families in Southern Italy. Resourceful schoolboy Vito (Manuel Colao), the youngest son in a mob family of kidnappers, is the sole survivor of a massacre that lays waste to his entire rural household. He flees to Rome to find his cousin, while a vicious scar-faced killer (Federico Pacifici) is on his trail, haunted by the face of his family's latest victim, a boy no older than he. Though clever and patient, Vito remains a boy whose innocence is threatened by the corruption around him, his world shattered by murder, fear, and the guilt over his family's crimes, which he attempts to atone for in a personal act of penitence. It's a startlingly beautiful film filled with poetic images and a sense of wonder constantly shattered by violence, a beautiful visual irony that tends to overwhelm the more difficult conflicts of the narrative and may ultimately splinter the film's potential audience. The lyrical delicacy of the film hardly fits the he-man attitude of most action cinema, and the explosive, brutal violence will likely turn away much of its art-house audience. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Moving, lyrical film
This is the rarest of films -- action and violence are present, certainly -- yet, due to the vulnerability of the protagonist, a young boy, the viewer is "brought into" the film in a way that is impossible with the macho, untouchable action heroes that frequently litter such films. The tension and suspense is offset by a lyricism also not present in most "action" films. Ultimately, this is a beautiful, life-affirming film wrapped up in the guise of an action film. A unique film -- don't miss it.

Mediocre
Little boy witnesses his entire family gunned down in a small Italian village. He must flee from pursuers and police to save his life, and any chance of creating a family of his own. This film attempts to blend foreign sensitivity with American, "Peckinpah" violence. Although the pacing of this film is enthralling, it fails to create enough tension to keep the viewer interested. Although it may be recognized as an achievement in Europe, it fails to deliver the potent suspenseful moments promised.

An auspicious debut!
This film has suspense, beautiful cinematography, a haunting score and a real sense of style on the part of it's first time director. Well worth taking a look at! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Moving, lyrical film
This is the rarest of films -- action and violence are present, certainly -- yet, due to the vulnerability of the protagonist, a young boy, the viewer is "brought into" the film in a way that is impossible with the macho, untouchable action heroes that frequently litter such films. The tension and suspense is offset by a lyricism also not present in most "action" films. Ultimately, this is a beautiful, life-affirming film wrapped up in the guise of an action film. A unique film -- don't miss it.

Mediocre
Little boy witnesses his entire family gunned down in a small Italian village. He must flee from pursuers and police to save his life, and any chance of creating a family of his own. This film attempts to blend foreign sensitivity with American, "Peckinpah" violence. Although the pacing of this film is enthralling, it fails to create enough tension to keep the viewer interested. Although it may be recognized as an achievement in Europe, it fails to deliver the potent suspenseful moments promised.

An auspicious debut!
This film has suspense, beautiful cinematography, a haunting score and a real sense of style on the part of it's first time director. Well worth taking a look at! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Gary Cooper-esque Spaghetti Western
A pimp, a preacher, a bandit, a bully, a disgraced officer, and a beautiful woman form a tense alliance for profit in this surprisingly good Italian-made Western. The date of release can't be right (1971) since Jeffrey Hunter died in 1969. 1968 is more likely, making it one of his last films. Hunter is excellent in his role as Mr. Collins, creating a character one could see Gary Cooper handling in his prime. The cast adds flavor to the story as the ruffians Hunter is surrounded by look more like menacing real-life thugs than actors.
I've seen many Spaghetti Westerns, so many that I've begun looking at more obscure ones to satisfy my appetite. When I found this one, I'd never heard of it and my expectations were low. Ten minutes into it changed that. The musical score is one of the best themes I've ever heard in this genre. Except for Hunter the cast was unknown to me, but each was very effective. The conflict between Collins and Paco was quite cool. Hunter's performance displays just how much his premature death robbed us of a fine leading man. I highly recommend this movie to any Western fan. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Make sure you see the last line of the move!
For anyone whose been to a hilltop-castle town in Italy, and seen the gentlemen in the piazza with their cafe, this is a must see movie. The plot becomes, while a major stretch for American sensibilities, much more plausable for anyone who has ever been to town like the one in the movie. And make sure you catch the very last line - its one of the best closers for a movie in years. And for the love story - the last name of Jean Reno's character says it all.

God bless Mark Frankel.

Italy in your living room!
This is the kind of movie a wide range of people will enjoy. For a start, it taps into that ever popular theme of 'gentle comedy in small-town Italy'. If you've enjoyed 'Cinema Paradiso', 'Il Postino' or 'Life is Beautiful', you'll want to see this too. It has the same successful mix of scenery, music and eccentric characters. Watching this feels as though the wine bars and winding streets have come to your living room. Unlike the films just mentioned, however, this isn't really an Italian movie at all - it's all in English, with the characters affecting Italian accents with varying degrees of success and authenticity. Still, the accents are not too grating - you get used to them quite quickly - and its easy to enter into the spirit of the movie's premise. It helps greatly that the location filming is superb. The town is shown in all its slightly shoddy beauty. Nothing seems 'tarted up' for the camera, and this gives the whole a sense of realism to counterbalance the admittedly incredible plot. While this is absolutely a comedy, with some very funny moments, there is still a serious undertone - it all revolves around the wishes of a dying woman. The pain of love, requited and unrequited, is explored most sensitively. There are moments that will bring you to tears.

Got a good marriage? Wish you did?
For Roseanna is one of those little beautiful movies that you look for for a long time to add to your DVD collection but sadly hasn't come out yet.
Life and love. That is truely what is important. Mercedes Ruehl and Jean Reno shine as two people so madly in love with each other that they would do anything to make the other happy when all they really want is each other. If you have a good marriage (as I do) or wish you did it opens the warmth and possibility that such simple things actually exist and when you find them to grab on with both hands and cherish it.
Buy this movie. Guys. You'll even like it!

COZY ITALIA !!
A truly perfect movie.It shall be pity if you miss.Actually I'm a fan of Jean Reno,but this is really one of his best and also not a well-known one.Why don't they release the DVD version of it?

WHAT A WONDERFUL SURPRISE -- FROM BEGINNING TO END!
I expected Ms. Ruehl to be great and she was. But it was Jean Reno who really surprised me. I loved him in The Professional, but this was a character I'd never seen him play....and he did it with class, wit and above-all -- great talent! So, to all you Jean Reno fans who've yet to see this movie, you're in for a treat. And for everyone who loves Mercedes, you'll love her even more! ... Read more