REVIEW of film: “LOOSE CANNONS” [ = Report # 05 on the 46th CIFF ]

2010, 09-23:

REVIEW of film: “LOOSE CANNONS”  [ = Report # 05 on the 46^th CIFF ]  

                 Re the 2010 46^th CHICAGO INT’L FILM FESTIVAL =     

The original title of this dramedy Italian film is “Mine Vaganti”, & the basic story revolves around the Cantone family that wants to sell a portion of their PASTA-making company to another group...

...  But, as so often happens, things don’t go “smoothly” in the plan, mainly because the Cantones keep numerous SECRETS from each other in the town of Lecce…

…  Vincenzo (ENNIO FANTASTICHINI) is the stern, homophobic patriarch of the Cantone family.  His youngest son Tomasso (RICCARDO SCAMARCIO) has led the family into thinking he’s been studying Business in Rome.  He not only hasn’t been doing that, but he HATES the business world, & really wants to be a WRITER…

…  Tomasso has decided that his only way to get truly OUT of the family business is to “come-out” & admit to his family that he’s actually GAY, which he expects will cause his father to angrily REMOVE him from the company (especially because of the way his father is always concerned with what “others” in town might think of his family members)…

…  The father has planned a big family dinner, which is scheduled to be held with the new PARTNER group that includes pretty Alba Brunetti (NICOLE GRIMAUDO)…  Altho Tomasso had been “distant” from his older brother Antonio (ALESSANDRO PREZIOSI), he REVEALS his planned announcement to Antonio before the dinner is held…

…  But, before Tomasso can disclose his bombshell news to the rest of the family, he’s interrupted by a dinner-table announcement by ANTONIO who reveals his OWN secret-- which causes their father to have a heart attack after he tells Antonio to leave home because of his revelation…

…  Feeling “guilty” about what has happened at dinner, Tomasso keeps QUIET about his own secrets, & reluctantly agrees to join Alba in helping RUN the pasta operation…  Using his “noodle” leads Tomasso to grow increasingly UNHAPPY & distant from his lover back in Rome…

…  As time goes on, OTHER secrets are revealed--  by Alba, by the boys’ grandmother Luciana (ELENA SOFIA RICCI), Tomasso’s sister Elena (BIANCA NAPPI), and others… 

...  One of the main functions of this family seems to be to DYS-function, & things grow more complicated as Tomasso discloses his various secrets to other people little-by-little…  In time, we even learn just WHO is considered to be the main “loose cannon” in the family…

…  Near the end of the generally well-done film about family difficulties, they add in some very “STEREOTYPED” characters in the form of a visit to the family home by some of Tomasso’s FRIENDS from Rome--  which is so “over-done” in certain ways, that it “dragged-down” the film for me… 

…  But, since there’s a bunch of GOOD work in this (--  to the point that I’d almost expect an AMERICAN version to be made of the movie’s general plot ideas--), I’d give it 7 stars out of 10…

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