The Worst Film Ever

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Just recently I posted a couple of critical reviews here on IMDb about films that primarily deal with teenagers and young adults, stating how their appeal seemed to be somewhat limited to a target audience and not particularly popular for folks like me, a seasoned citizen already retired. So now as I contemplate on what I've just watched in "Umberto D.", I realize the shoe is on the other foot. Here's a film I can relate to from having lived a productive life, with an understanding of what the title character is going through in a desperate attempt to keep his apartment and ownership of his pet dog intact. Someone much younger will see the film as slow moving and boring and have an inability to relate. With that little preface out of the way, I'll get to the picture itself.A handful of reviewers describe the picture as neo-realist without explaining what that is. Very simply, director Vittorio De Sica uses real people, not actors, to tell his story, and uses real locations instead of filming on a set. It's a style that's been very successful for him, as anyone who's seen this picture or "Bicycle Thieves" will attest. The two movies are quite similar, as they both deal with impoverished citizens trying to make ends meet, living their daily lives in quiet desperation and not knowing what their situations will lead to. De Sica effectively balances this desperation with moments of subtle humor that diffuses some of the bleakness of the story being told. In this one, Umberto's pet dog Flike provides some of those moments, a memorable one was when Umberto had him panhandle with his hat because he couldn't force himself to do it on his own. There comes a point in the story when Umberto becomes particularly despondent, and he's asked by maid servant Maria (Maria Pia Casilio) at his boarding house what's bothering him. By this time he's been told he will be evicted, he's had a momentary respite at a hospital type clinic for an illness, and his dog was picked up by the city pound while he was absent from home. He's even unsuccessfully attempted to get acquaintances to lend him some money. For Umberto, the frustrations amount to "... a little bit of everything", as he even contemplates suicide as a final answer, though he has neither the will or the stomach for it. The story comes to a close on an ambiguously positive note, since we know as the viewers that Umberto's situation will not change as he playfully skips out of the picture with Flike at his heels. It's the type of ending that requires some contemplation, even though like Umberto, there's nothing we can do to help his circumstance, so all we can do is commiserate and feel compassion for the lonely old gent. Defining what will happen to Umberto rests with the imagination of the viewer.

UMBERTO D. is a movie in which we can recognize simple style, almost unbearable honesty, natural performance and empathy. Another gem of neo-realism. Retired civil servant faces life problems that his pension is not enough to rent rooms. The story shows his desperate efforts to try to find the money, where his only consolation provides his loyal dog. A lonely old man leads already lost battle for survival.One heartbreaking film about a lonely old man to whom every day is running out of a zeal and hope. Dog and maid were with him. The man in certain circumstances and faced with problems can not recognize beautiful word or a look of love. Money solves the problem, but money usually leads man to a certain extreme.Vittorio De Sica does not play with human emotions. He honestly shows emotions of his characters in certain circumstances. If I make this simple. This is actually a struggle for survival. On the face of the main character up close you can see the suffering and shame. Life losses often lead man astray, and he forgets what is actually all that matters. Tired, weak, defeated, humiliated, but dignified and lovable old man decides to tragic extremes. To me will always remain in the memory image of cheerful old man and a playful dog in autumn alley.Carlo Battisti as Umberto Domeniko Ferrari is the perfect image of human loneliness. Loneliness is not natural. Life is a struggle. Since it is not an actor by profession, this is a pretty good performance. Tired little bit of everything. Maria-Pia Casilio as Maria, the young maid, which despite her problems (pregnant and unmarried) gifts a kind word to her elder friend. I thought, in a certain part of the film, it may tend to develop a kind of relationship of a father figure and a girl in trouble. To my regret story went in the other direction. Her performance is impressive.

I mainly posted this review to say that it is my favorite film of all time, and so I was flattered to read here that Ingmar Bergman said that it was his favorite film of all time as well. It is a must-watch as long as you are of the right persuasion and do not buy your movies at Walmart, because you will not find anything blowing up here; no product placement and it was not uber-market tested to appeal to the least common denominator. Nor does it feature played out actors delivering sound bytes disguised as lines. In fact much of the cast of Umberto D. were not even actors. However if you have an attention span longer than that of a flea and know how to appreciate a masterpiece then this is one for you.

Whenever there is a list of classical movies that you just must see, Umberto D is very often among them. It is often said to be an masterpiece, and after seeing it, I can see why people say that. But it wasn't a movie for me.Umberto D is about an old man, Umberto, whose situation is grim. His pension is low, he is facing eviction and his friends are few. Ultimately he doubts his own need and will to live. It is a grim piece of reality. But just so. I can see why people think highly of the movie, but for me I want something else. I need a movie to either entertain me, or to touch me in some way. Umberto failed to do either. It certainly wasn't entertaining, and even though his situation is far from good, the filming and acting is good as well, it just didn't touch me. Somehow it was too ordinary, it was too good at what it aimed to be, a realistic movie. Unfortunately, perhaps.5/10