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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2017 0:32:45 GMT
I've only ever seen The Rose Tattoo, in which I think she's merely serviceable.  I was thinking I'd start with her other Oscar-nominated performance, Wild is the Wind, and then move on to Bellissima, Mamma Roma, and Rome, Open City. There has to be a reason why Tennessee Williams wrote specifically with her in mind, right? What do you think? |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2017 19:46:03 GMT
One of my all-time favourite actresses, without a doubt. L'amore and Bellissima are my favourite performances but I like just about anything she did. The former especially is an example both of her versatility and emotional depth. She is the best thing about The Fugitive Kind, Wild Is the Wind and Mamma Roma and I recommend you watch those if only for her work. Rome, Open City is one of my favourite Neorealist films but because her role is so small and she's been so much better, I wouldn't quite include it among her most memorable performances . Other lesser-known films featuring great Magnani performances: The Peddler and the Lady, Volcano, And the Wild Wild Women. |
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Post by Mattsby on Nov 15, 2017 22:15:41 GMT
The Fugitive Kind and Mamma Roma might be her best work, but the one I always think about (since seeing it) is The Passionate Thief... where she's incredibly hilarious and very memorable. And it's a terrific watch for New Years Eve. Here's the trailer:
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Post by sirjeremy on Nov 15, 2017 22:17:47 GMT
Haven't seen much of her work but from what I've seen, her performances in L'amore and Bellissima are worth seeking out.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2017 22:19:02 GMT
Haven't seen many, but she was terrific in Mamma Roma. Easily the best thing about it.
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Post by pacinoyes on Nov 17, 2017 21:13:07 GMT
Agree with my esteemed colleagues on here but I will say that to me The Fugitive Kind is sort of a litmus test:
Brando's most underrated work, but Tennessee Williams at his most purple dialog and Magnani diving into it and imo quite OTT. But it works because when you're doing something like this "realism" goes out the window, and you have to go for it, all out. There's no going for subtle underplaying (except Brando because everyone else has to react to his character) and the director (Lumet) totally knew it and framed it as such. Would love to see another stage run at it too.
Mamma Roma is my personal fave Pasolini btw.
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Post by MsMovieStar on Nov 18, 2017 19:41:21 GMT
Magnani is my all time favorite actress.  Oh honey, Mamma Roma, although I did see Volcano recently and it blew me away... |
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Post by pacinoyes on Mar 7, 2020 12:34:17 GMT
Born today, March 7th in 1908, she passed away in 1973 and I think it's safe to say there's never been anyone like her. Happy Birthday and there are plenty who consider her the single GOAT in film which would mean this was the greatest male-female acting face-off ever - see below. Of course like all the very greatest actors she's remembered for her technical and academic performances - her very subtle work and of course her perfectly calibrated accents. Nah j/k.......  |
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Post by PromNightCarrie on Mar 14, 2020 23:14:11 GMT
I have to see her to see what all the fuss is about. I always see so many raves.
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Post by stephen on Mar 14, 2020 23:24:11 GMT
I have to see her to see what all the fuss is about. I always see so many raves. You are missing a real treat. Magnani was a force unlike any other. |
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Post by Tommen_Saperstein on Mar 15, 2020 4:55:24 GMT
Only seen her in Fugitive Kind and I echo everyone else that she's outstanding in it. Of course there's not a bad performance in that film.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2022 4:47:32 GMT
Magnani with her son, Luca.   |
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Post by jimmalone on Jun 20, 2022 9:05:26 GMT
I've only ever seen The Rose Tattoo, in which I think she's merely serviceable.  I was thinking I'd start with her other Oscar-nominated performance, Wild is the Wind, and then move on to Bellissima, Mamma Roma, and Rome, Open City. There has to be a reason why Tennessee Williams wrote specifically with her in mind, right? What do you think? Not sure if you still look for recommendations, but if so I think her performance in "Bellissima" is fantastic and it's also a great film overall.
But then I also love her in "The Rose Tattoo", in which you didn't like her, so we might think a bit different about her acting.
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Post by pacinoyes on Jun 20, 2022 11:42:23 GMT
I've already commented on her in this thread and on The Fugitive Kind but here's a little example of what made her so great - at 58 seconds she says a very famous line from this play - when the Brando character says "I got no place to go" - the reply is "Well, everyone's got a problem, that's yours"It is immediately after this line when the Brando character starts to win her over - the actors play this scene wayyyyyyyyy down - so it mirrors the tone of the ending parts of the scene - not a high emotional pitch that it needs to come down from, but playing it down earlier changing the whole rhythm and ebb and flow. In some productions this is shouted by both actors to the other - and it STILL wrongly (imo) is sometimes....... Her acting is really terrific in this scene - and she pulls a Brando even - ie she acts with a prop which is his absolute forte (takes his snakeskin jacket, which she uses to warm herself, "shield" herself and which she "sheds" in a great actor move - dropped off of her shoulders)....in the first minute especially she's funny, casually cruel, knowingly ironic, unknowingly revealing, sexual, defensive. This is the type of thing I talk about that people evaluating performances often "miss" - actors here as the "auteurs" in a film - who by their performances are both rewriting the portrayal of text and its presentation to an audience. The director (Sidney Lumet no less) is just capturing it. People who play this scene now play THEIR interpretation of the scene which is the biggest compliment you can give them - they "redefined" the best way to approach it. Magnani is asked to play VERY big here - but not in every scene....and her genius is knowing when and how to modulate (or not) - which literally is something you'd struggle to name many actors - ever - who consistently and repeatedly excelled at it to the extent that it became identifiable in his or her presentational style (very few of these are American btw which is depressing af). It's a great line that she doesn't ACT like it is a great line but as a throwaway and if you see the film multiple times - or in pacinoyes' case, 100 - you pick up on it and start to see all kinds of gradations within it......exceptionally smart actress, especially for her era which she transcends......all-timer level..... |
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