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This film should not be treated as a mere football (or soccer in US terms)related documentary. There is much more than just a football star. The film is designed around Barcelona'a Catalan identity, and how Cruffy has uplifted the entire Catalan community's morale and self esteem during his years as a player and a coach. The film starts with Catalan related motives, and continues with Cruffy's football and personal qualities. I especially liked the fans' imitation of Cruffy's well-known figures and moves. I guess this is one of the best documentaries for a sports person. When I was young, I didn't like Cruyff, but after watching the film, my opinions has changed drastically. I truly recommend it to all documentary and Cruffy fans.

I just watched this film on tv few hours ago...A typical French thriller, with typical dialogue setting around an interesting story...I watched this just because of Alain Delon's name, but it ended up being a nice thriller after all....Delon was probably at his best looking days...slightly overweighted than his usual thin view, but he had his part very nicely put....I always have a profound respect for French film makers for following their unique code of film making style, which is way out of typical Hollywood cliches....this is one of such films...you won't regret your time...

As soon as I walked out of the movie theatre I said to myself I should write something about this film. But, who am I to write about it? I am not a journalist or somebody like that whose opinions are read all over. So, I started to talk about it to all my close friends. At least I could have influenced the people close to me. Then came IMdB to my mind. I sat down to write about it, but then it took me several minutes to hit the keyboard. No, it's not because there is nothing to write about the film. On the contrary, there is just so much to write, I can't figure out how to start.

Let me start to say like this: I watched it last night, and all my day today I have the frames hoovering around my mind, notes of the soundtrack ringing my ears. I spent extra hours in the middle of Istanbul's heavy traffic just get its soundtrack CD, but, my efforts in reaching it resembled Davide's efforts for finding Simone....all sold out.

As they say about some legendary directors, Ferzan Ozpetek's film has something to do with the fragile senses of life, not so much to bring tears into your eyes, but so much to tickle your fragile senses. He never chose to create a full blown drama, he never used cliche Hollywood tactics. In this film, it starts out to be a story of an ordinary middle class Italian family, having the typical life problems. Then, as the time passes, the film grows into itself and turns out to be one of the finest enjoyments of the silver screen. The scenes where Giovanna and Lorenzo chase Davide to the closed shop and then to the little caffee, the seemless changes of characters as the camera moves in circular motion, the dance of Davide with Giovanna, the cake making, all like a gentle hand caressing our fragile feelings. Excellent director of photography, magnificent music, larger than life actings of Mezzagiorno and Girotti were the reminicinces of last night's feast in my mind.

I don't know why, but Ozpetek always have something to say about gay relations. This film could have been as magnificent or may be more in a straight relationship story. Ozpetek moves his camera very gently, use the most relevent music themes to trigger quite elegant feelings of our lives. After seeing this film, I've realised how much I was surrounded by the cliche Hollywood films, all following pretty much the same formula. For those who haven't seen it yet, I guarantee at least that you shall experience a quite a different and interesting enjoyment, may be the most different one.

The film ended, and I stayed to the very end of the credits just to listen more of the great music. The last scene where he zoomed into Mezzagiorno's enchanting eyes was like a Sergio Leone closeup. Leone chose to zoom into his men with no name, Ozpetek chose to zoom into his real life characters...those characters that have the most elegant feelings in their eyes....and Giovanna Mezzogiorno...how can I describe that plain beauty? If I was to encounter somebody like her, I'd undertake all the penalties of life just to look a bit into her eyes. I wouldn't be able cook as good cakes as Davide, but do whatever it takes to make sure she stays there forever.

Go and see this film...make yourself a favor...get your feelings sense some of the most elegant moments of your life

there are some films, which you may come back over the years. You remember some scenes, or lines of dialogue when talking with friends. This is surely one of such films. Such a huge cast, such a nice story and a very easy flow of moments. I truly recommend one particular scene to everyone. The scene between Dennis Hopper and Christopher Walken. Everything about that scene is great, almost monumental moment of cinema history. If you don't have the time to watch the whole film, which is a real pity, at least pay attention for 5 minutes to watch this scene.

oh, by the way, almost forgotten, one of the top credits for this film surely goes to Tarantino. No one else could have written this better.

Those who saw the everfamous French police adventure films during 60s and 70s probably remember some few figures very well. I mean, the films were also great, but some faces were as great and representative of those days. Alain Delon was certainly the leading one among them. He always was "the man" of those films. A unique combination of ice-blue eyes, French arrogance and a bit of Meditterannean womanizer. He always had that air on him. The Man of ultimate beauty. Today, there are stars like Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Ralp Fiennes, who might be at the equal ground as Delon once played, but none of them come closer to his aura. He was a unique formula, and that formula only worked around Europe and Far East. Delon made several films in his career. He had his full actions, loved many women, killed many men, got killed sevral times. Naturally, like everyone in this universe, he's had his screen time come to an end. He is no longer the ultimate seducer, his looks don't penetrate as before, his face gathered wrinkles, the glimmer in his eyes faded. Unlike some others, Delon took all this natural process in piece. He didn't dye his hair, didn't have any surgical operation to make him look artificially younger. He took the hard fact of being old "like the brave men he portrayed in his films". It is a pity that although he still lives we no longer can watch such a star on the silver screen.

But, this is the last film he delivers the last remittances of his ever famous qualities. Casanova is a perfect match for Delon. He should have played the younger Casanova during 60s or 70s, when he was at his best appearance levels. But, this film also works very well for him. He is an aged Casanova, who is getting towards the end of his "usuall career", and he wants to put an end to this via his last seduction. The Return of Casanova is a very nicely designed film with carefully delivered details of the time Casanova lived. The scene where Casanova delivers a mission to the landlady is incredibly nice. Delon, unlike most of his films, also delivers a very deep acting. Most importantly, the screen images he throws fits perfectly well with the Casanova role. Some parts of this film reminded me of Kubrick's masterpiece, called Barry Lyndon, particularly in some interior scenes. Unlike Barry Lyndon, this films lacks some of the filmographic qualities, such as music. It could have been a true masterpiece if the director thought of using some of the classic tunes of the time to match with the heavy atmosphere of the time. The duel at the end and Casanova's final arrival to Venice with his wonderful blue hat could have been much greater if the cinematography and music were enhanced. Delon had given his most dramatic looks, but the director didn't spend enough screentime and didn't add some dramatic music to go with it.

In summary, if you are among the ultimate Delon fans, don't miss this film because this would be the last where you can feel Delon's everfamous aura, watch his ice-cold blue eyes glimmering for a last seduction. Adieu Delon, the ultimate seducer. Women will miss you a lot.

P.S. this film can be obtained from on-line stores, in a dvd format with several bonus trailers of other Delon films, but the pity was that the film didn't have English subtitles, like many of Delon films released recently in dvd format in France.