The coming-of-age genre is ever-popular in both literature and cinema, and an author or film director generally likes to tackle this subject early in their career. But Paolo Sorrentino, who first came to international prominence with his “La Dolce Vita”–esque picture “The Great Beauty,” has chosen to do this autobiographical story of his youth 20 years after he made his first feature.
It might be hoped that the passage of time could give him some fond or melancholy distance from such material, but Sorrentino serves up his memories in an unappealingly inert and flat manner.
The bluntness of tone in Sorrentino’s “The Hand of God” is reflected in the facile and careless way it is made: In the opening shot of the movie, the camera moves forward fairly swiftly across water and takes in Sorrentino’s home city of Naples before smoothly turning back around to look at the sea.
It might be hoped that the passage of time could give him some fond or melancholy distance from such material, but Sorrentino serves up his memories in an unappealingly inert and flat manner.
The bluntness of tone in Sorrentino’s “The Hand of God” is reflected in the facile and careless way it is made: In the opening shot of the movie, the camera moves forward fairly swiftly across water and takes in Sorrentino’s home city of Naples before smoothly turning back around to look at the sea.
- 9/2/2021
- by Dan Callahan
- The Wrap
Similar News
2024 Cannes Film Festival Lineup Revealed: Oliver Stone Joins Paul Schrader, Andrea Arnold, and David Cronenberg
- 4/22/2024
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Oliver Stone Announces Documentary ‘Lula’ About Brazil’s President to Premiere at Cannes
- 4/22/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Italy’s Right-Wing Government Dithers and Delays Production Tax Incentives, Prompting Industry Uproar
- 4/17/2024
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Cronenberg, Lanthimos and Sorrentino among auteurs in Cannes Competition
- 4/11/2024
- ScreenDaily
Ali Abbasi’s Trump Drama ‘The Apprentice,’ Yorgos Lanthimos’ ‘Kinds of Kindness’ Set for Cannes Competition
- 4/11/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Cannes 2024: What’s In The Mix? (Part 2)
- 3/18/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Critic’s Notebook: On Its 50th Anniversary, Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘The Conversation’ Offers a Searing Vision of Then, and Now
- 4/17/2024
- by Sheri Linden
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Critic’s Notebook: Sharper Than Ever, French Crime Classic ‘Le Samouraï’ Might Be the Coolest Film Ever Made
- 4/9/2024
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
‘The Conversation’ 50th anniversary: Remembering Francis Ford Coppola’s intimate and most relevant film
- 4/9/2024
- by Christopher Tsang
- Gold Derby
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.