Nate-30

This film was first recommended to me by a high school friend who typically enjoys a different kind of film than I. He counts Reservoir Dogs and Mean Streets among his favorites; I am partial to Notorious and Annie Hall. But for his sake, I watched Amarcord, and in the past years have found myself returning to it time and again. I haven't seen any other movies by Mr. Fellini, so I can judge this film only against itself. By such standards, it is a masterpiece. Never have I seen Italy portrayed as lovingly, nor the spectrum of childhood emotions - happiness, love, frustration - represented as frankly. The images are spellbinding - sunlight and fog and great dark seas. Yesterdays are perfect, it would seem, and love exists in what we can remember. So my friend got it right with this one. Amarcord is a kind of magic only the very best in cinema inspire within us. It's the magic that makes us remember.

This film is among the masterpieces of American cinema. For all the ballyhoo Mr. Allen has received in his personal life, his testament here to the bittersweet idiosyncrasies of relationships speaks truer to the heart than any movie (outside of Casablanca) that I have had the privilege to see. The wit of his characters' dialogue, the spontaneity of Ms. Keaton's performance, the afterglow of Allen's romance with New York City - each gives the movie a magical quality that resonates into our daily lives, our passionate ambitions, even our dreams. It is a film to treasure.