FEMME FATALES: BIG SCREEN CRUSHES #22 (MONICA BELUCCI)

This is best read with the song Jackie Blue by THE OZARK MOUNTAIN DAREDVILS as the theme. 

It’s the end of summer soon to officially be cuffing season as it is known in the streets.   

I try not to write these regularly as they seem somewhat to expose an obsession with certain actresses or at least their big screen interpretations. Not to mention i don't want to seem disrespectful to each individual and think by the next time i have moved onto a new piece about another actress or that i forgot them. this is testimony. The pieces i fear but hope aren't seen as sexist and misogynistic but I want to share me wonderment, fandom and expose actresses maybe for a wider audience. now my subject is a little more known then the last actress who I wrote a column about Olivia D'abo

HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE ME? (2005)

Written & Directed By: Bertrand Biler 
Cinematography By: Francoise Catonne 
Editor: Marion Monestier 

Cast: Monica Belucci, Bernard Campan, Gerard Depardieu

SHEITAN (2006)

DIRECTED BY: KIM CHAPIRON WRITTEN BY: KIM CHAPIRON & CHRISTIAN CHAPIRON CINEMATOGRAPHY BY: ALEX LAMARQUE EDITOR: Benjamin Weill Cast: Vincent Cassel, Roxanne Mesquida, Olivier Bartholemy, Nico le Phat tan, Leila Behkti, Monica Belucci On Christmas Eve, in the Styxx Club in Paris, the troublemaker Bart and his scum friends, Thaï and Ladj, meet the bartender Yasmine and the customer Eve, and after a fight of Bart in the nightclub, Eve invites the group to go to her house in the country. While on the road near the cottage, they are introduced by Eve to the weird shepherd and housekeeper, Joseph, whose wife is pregnant. Joseph feels a sort of attraction for Bart, and during this Christmas night, Joseph discloses his real intentions. This French horror movie plays like a extended episode of TALES FROM THE CRYPT. At first the movie starts off. You think you know where it’s going there is some violence but nowhere near horror violence. We get to know the characters. Not too many are likeable. Then the sexual shenanigans begin. Before finally we get to the horror and what we have been expecting. Unfortunately in the end all of this effort and violence has been for one thing. Which is truly insignificant. I guess that is the final joke. This movie could play as a black comedy more than a horror film. If it had more jokes and wasn’t unsettling. I like how the main character in the group of friends was the character you wished to die the most. He is a jerk that you feel doesn’t deserve his fate especially when it happens during the only tie he is a decent human being. Where as they guy who earlier was the most decent ended up being the coldest. I would have liked to know what happened to a few of the characters. Roxanne MEsquada as usual is excellent as the femme fatale. As sexy as she is dangerous. Why no American filmmaker has discovered and used her in their films is a mystery. Vincent Cassel is almost unrecognizable in his role as the handyman. This is a different type of role for him that is both funny and unsettling. At least he looks like he Is really into his role. Though it borders on camp. Leila bekhti As one of the group. is so beautiful I can’t wait to see her in more films. She is definitely one to watch. Sheitan is really cool because it makes fun with two types of french people. Those who live in the city and the others that live in the far country. So you should know a little bit about France if you want to understand everything about this movie. This film is a very unsettling and disturbing. More than it ever Is scary. In fact there are very few scares GRADE: C

THE PRIVATE LIVES OF PIPPA LEE (2009)

Written & Directed By: Rebecca Miller
Based On The Book By: Rebecca Miller
Cinematography By: Declan Quinn
Editor: Sabine Hoffman

CAST: Robin Wright Penn, Alan Arkin, Monica Belucci, Blake Lively, Maria Bello, Keanu Reeves, Winona Ryder, Mike Binder, Zoe Kazan, Cornel West, Shirley Knight