161. Into The Labyrinth ( L'uomo del labirinto); movie review Donato Carrisi

 

 

INTO THE LABYRINTH (L'UOMO DEL LABIRINTO)

Cert 15

130 mins

BBFC advice: Contains strong bloody violence, threat, nudity, language, sexual threat

For the first time after watching more than 5,000 movies, I have just read an explanation of an ending.

And I am still none the wiser!

Of course, director Donato Carrisi would not be unique if he were attempting to be deliberately mysterious.

I spoke recently to a business client who had enjoyed Tenet because it allowed him to make his own mind up with what was going on.

I told him that I found it confusing and that I much prefer the loose ends of movies to be tied up.

Ditto Into The Labyrinth.

Nevertheless, it is worth immersing oneself if only to see Dustin Hoffman still sparkling in his 80s.

Hoffman plays a world-renowned psychologist who is interviewing a young woman (Valentina Bellè) who has escaped from her kidnapper after 15 years in captivity.

The case has long dogged a private investigator (Toni Servillo) who painstakingly turfs up clues to lead to the identity of the criminal.

He finds himself dragged into a surreal world of police incompetence, dodgy dealings in the church, a comic book expert and a man dressed as a rabbit.

There is no doubt that Into The Labyrinth is strange - the rabbit angle is most bizarre but is less distracting than might be expected because the film's overall intrigue dominates.

It is dark and weird and its plot needs expert execution and it gets it, thanks to its superb cast.

Hoffman makes a wonderful cross between therapist and investigator, pressing the buttons of his subject just at the right time.

Servillo takes his place among the classic private eyes, obdurately going about his job, caring little for his own safety because he has recently been diagnosed with a terminal condition.

Meanwhile, Bellè hits a perfect pitch as the young woman who is bewildered by her emergence from so long in the darkness.

However, as suggested, both Mrs W and I were frustrated rather than enamoured by its ending.

Reasons to watch: Intriguing plot and great acting

Reasons to avoid: Frustratingly confusing ending

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: Yes

Overall rating: 7.5/10

Did you know? Dustin Hoffman was put in the Guinness Book of Records for the "Greatest Age Span Portrayed by a Movie Actor" in a film during 1970's Little Big Man. His character, Jack Crabb, ranged from age 17 to age 121.

The final word. Donato Carrisi: "When I saw the final cut for the first time, I was surprised: it was extremely colourful and nagged at my mind. Which is the thing that shocked me: the film hadn’t come out of my head: it was trying to get into my head. When you find yourself doing something that is really your own idea, and put it on the screen, you believe you are the creator of the whole thing and you can control the material. Instead, that same material suddenly takes control over you. I do hope audiences will have the same experience." Noir In Festival

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