The Lucid Nightmare: Daniela Bianchi

Monday, April 25, 2016

Friday, April 22, 2016

Sunday, November 18, 2012

BOND 2: From Russia With Love

From Russia with Love

Director: Terence Young

Year 1963

From Russia with love is the second Bond entry in the long standing and lucrative spy series, and it features all the staples of the genre that we love, as concocted by Ian Fleming. The film establishes Sean Connery as the quintessential men of men, as it showcases his razor wit and overpowering charm in the role of James Bond 007. Shot in a sleek style and cool temperament by director Terence Young, this continuation of Bond’s misadventures in the espionage world is not to be missed.

The film follows secret agent James Bond as he is assigned to locate a Russian decoding machine called a Lektor. The only problem is that the evil organization known as SPECTRE is also hunting for the device, and they’ll stop at nothing in order to obtain it first, doing all they can to finally put 007 out of commission for good. With the aid of a sexy Russian undercover agent named Tatiana Romanova, Bond thwarts the efforts of SPECTRE and their two best agents Donald Grant and ex-KGB agent Rosa Klebb, as he gets one step closer to taking the Lektor for Queen and Country. Live it up because James Bond is back! He’s got new incredible women, new incredible enemies, and new incredible adventures, so soak it all up and get in the 60’s super spy mood!

Once again Sean Connery takes on the iconic role of James Bond for the second time, bringing with him the outrageous banter and smooth demeanor that made his portrayal of 007 so endearing the first time around. Connery melds into the character, making every gesture and every action-packed moment his own, as he solidifies his claim as the gold standard of secret agents. As I’ve mentioned before, Connery is my absolute favorite of the Bonds and in From Russia with Love, he gives it his all and really entertains to no end. There’s no denying that the longevity of the series has a great deal to do with the efforts that Connery put in during his first five consecutive portrayals of the much lauded character. You can see the slow evolution of James Bond beginning to blossom within this second entry, which gradually comes to fruition in Connery’s third outing, Goldfinger, only to then ultimately thrive in the forth installment Thunderball. It goes without saying that Connery has had an inspired progression throughout the series, and it’s great to see the early inklings of this storied character come to life.

Daniela Bianchi takes on the role of Tatiana Romanova, a rival agent to Bond, who is assigned to get up, close and personal with the impressionable agent in order to fulfill SPECTRE’s nefarious plans. As a pawn in SPECTRE’s grand scheme, Tatiana doesn’t fully realize the plot that has been put into play, and Bianchi perfectly mirrors the loyal innocence and coy nature that the character is needed to convey in this hardened situation. With a subtle hand and an expert sensibility, Bianchi knocks this role out of the park. After her fabulous turn as the double-edged Tatiana Romanova in From Russia with Love, Bianchi went on to take the Eurospy world by storm starring in such entertaining gems as Code Name: Tiger, Slalom, Balearic Caper, Special Mission Lady Chaplin, and of course teaming alongside Sean’s own brother, Neil, in Operation Kid Brother AKA OK Connery. With her drop dead gorgeous looks and her tendency to steal the limelight from her costars, Bianchi made the perfect femme fatale, and in From Russia with Love she proved that she had what it took to become an iconic Bond girl and then some.

As for the main villain of From Russia with Love, the honors go to Ernst Stavro Blofeld, the leader of SPECTRE the international terrorist organization. Strangely enough though, we never get to see the face of Blofeld in this film, giving the infamous ruler of this organization a mysterious aura that is later revealed in the fifth entry of the series, You Only Live Twice, by the iconic actor Donald Pleasence. To take the place of this faceless SPECTRE leader, the film focuses on the henchmen of Blofeld’s illusive organization, the ones that do his bidding. Robert Shaw takes on the role of Grant, a psychotic agent, whose sole purpose is to manipulate James Bond and ultimately destroy him. Shaw does a tremendous job as the demented Grant and his methodic acting and shark-like portrayal of this dangerous agent is quite stupendous. One of the highlights of the film is the tension-filled battle of wits and strength between himself and James Bond on a passenger train. The fight is brutal as both combatants get their fair share of bruises. Another stand out villain of the film is Rosa Klebb, played by Hungarian born actress Lotte Lenya. With her dagger studded boots and nasty attitude, she becomes quite a thorn in the side of James Bond.

Aside from the lively characters of From Russia with Love, the film, in true Bond fashion, showcases a remarkable array of beautiful and picturesque locations that highlight the globe trotting aspects of 007’s world to perfection. From James’ familiar stopping grounds in London, to the bustling streets of Istanbul, to the romantic venues of Venice, and to the paranoid alleyways of Zagreb and Belgrade, this Bond entry doesn’t skimp on the international flavor. Each locale is crucial in both placing Bond in a tangible place and time, but also in adding to the intrigue of what being a secret agent would be like. Seeing all of these wonderful sights are what makes the Bond universe so appealing to cinema fans, and with From Russia with Love, we get more than our fair share of sightseeing. Though the film lacks in the more traditional Bond trappings like elaborate lairs, intuitive gadgets, and tropical settings, this second entry in the long standing series is definitely one that brings an added bit of weight to the proceedings. Even if it doesn’t match up to some of the more iconic efforts of the bunch, From Russia with Love is still a damn fine production that has the added bonus of being headlined by one of the best Bond’s, in my humble opinion.

From Russia with Love is a great entry in the beloved series of Bond films, which tones down the flamboyant and extravagant elements that the series is mostly famous for, and rather focuses on a more grounded espionage tale to expand on the Bond universe. With Sean Connery reprising his role as the iconic super agent James Bond, the film doesn’t miss a step as Connery showcases his outstanding timing and unparalleled wit to great effect. The same can be said for Daniela Bianchi’s portrayal of Tatiana Romanova, as she pulls of a captivating performance filled with a nuanced vulnerable quality that is perfectly balanced against her strong and capable abilities as a fellow agent.

With the mysterious nature of Blofeld and his physical form kept under wraps, the film generates a mystifying aura about it, specifically when it comes to the SPECTRE organization. This unorthodox approach gives the film some added weight, and it also allows the lesser villains, such as Robert Shaw’s Grant and Lotte Lenya’s Rosa Klebb, to take center stage. In true grandiose fashion, From Russia with Love takes us on a whirlwind of a ride as it jettisons us from one beautiful location to the next, weaving an international tapestry of exotic wonders that really boggles the mind. From Turkey, to Italy, to Yugoslavia, the representations of these interesting countries are on full display as they meld with the always entertaining trappings of James Bond’s wild espionage-filled world. Even if it isn’t one of the best, From Russia with Love is still a respectable entry in the series. You really can’t go wrong with a Sean Connery Bond film, and this one is no exception. If I had my way, I’d rename this entertaining gem, From Russia with…..

You know who I am goddammit!

Damn, now that's the life.

Ask me to drop my towel, or I'll shoot.

Meow Mix, Meow Mix, please deliver.

Stop right there mister!

I'm so cool I can't stand it.

Rather pleased with yourself, eh Donald?

Well don't you look as pretty as a tulip.

It was an explosive ride.

If you can't handle the heat... get your ass out of the danger room.

Is it getting uncomfortable in here or is it just Rosa Klebb.

Well hello there.

You're seriously going to wear that out to the club?

It's the romantic ballad, "Put your gun on my shoulder."

Come sail away... Come sail away... Come and sail away with Bond.

The day the Skipper snapped. Look out Gilligan!

Have another bad day at the office James?

All's well that ends well.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

i SPY EUROSPY: Slalom

Slalom
Director: Luciano Salce
Year 1965

Slalom is a hilarious spy spoof that takes the fish out of water story and just rolls with it. Following in the same vein as Hot Enough for June AKA Agent 8 ¾ and Bang! Bang! You’re Dead! AKA Our Man in Marrakesh, the film shows what happens when an ordinary man is caught up in the exciting world of espionage. Played strictly for laughs, Slalom gets right down to the antics and never lets up until the closing moments.

The film follows Lucio Ridolfi as he embarks on a ski trip with his friend Riccardo and their two lovely, yet nagging, wives. Feeling the need to live a little and taste a bit of the single life while vacationing, Lucio whips up a scheme that sends his wife and her friend home, leaving both Lucio and Riccardo to play the roll of single bachelors at the exceptionally swinging ski resort. When Lucio falls for a mysterious blonde, his afternoon rendezvous turns into a fight for his life when bodies start appearing and strange men begin shooting at him. After being attacked by Santa and his group of sexy elves, Lucio wakes up to find that he is on a plane to Cairo and seated next to a beautiful woman who swears she is his wife. If matters couldn’t get any worse, he’s still being hunted by an unknown group of spies that want nothing more then to see him take his last vacation. On the run and lost in unfamiliar territory, Lucio must become the spy everyone mistakes him for or pay the ultimate price, death.

The role of Lucio Ridolfi, helpless vacationer turned super spy, is played by Vittorio Gassman. He’s got a great style of overacting in this film, performing in that frantic and innocent everyman manner while being thrust into a situation he can’t possibly wrap his head around. From when he first starts his vacation, trying nervously to chat up every female in sight, to when he eventually lands in Cairo, zipping from one crazy situation to the next, he’s a man on fire showing so much energy that the Energizer bunny would be shocked and appalled. His acting is livid, often portraying the actions of a crazy person and that in itself is what makes his character so entertaining. You can’t help but be swept up in the insanity that he stumbles into and the fact that they make him such a likable schmuck in the beginning of the film helps carry him over to the jittery un-super like spy that he changes into later on in the film.

Another notable character in the film is Lucio’s friend Riccardo, played by the wonderful Adolfo Celi. Adolfo is mostly remembered for playing a more villainous role in the various Eurospy films that he has acted in and of course his portrayal of the evil Largo in Thunderball, but in this picture he is the lovable bosom buddy who encourages Lucio to live life to the fullest and take life by the horns. The portions of the film where Lucio and Riccardo spend most of their antic filled time together is mostly in the beginning of the movie, but their on screen chemistry together is so enjoyable that the fun atmosphere that they create in those early moments carry on into Lucio’s solo journey in Cairo. I especially appreciated this different side of Adolfo and his role here mirrors the character that he portrayed in That Man from Rio, fun, lovable, and full of piss and vinegar.

Of course with Slalom being a Eurospy film, it has to have a dynamic cast of lovely ladies to help fill out the formula of the genre, and this one doesn’t disappoint. From the lurid blonde bombshell Beba Loncar, who plays Helen the mysterious stranger that sets this whole film in motion, to the exotic Nagwa Fouad, who plays a small part as a sensual belly dancer, the film deals out the goods. The most important female role though, goes to the exquisite Daniela Bianchi. She plays the part of Nadia, the fake wife of Lucio, whose mysterious actions and unknown intentions lie heavy in the final act of this film. All three women play their roles perfectly, with Daniela especially crafting a character worthy of Eurospy remembrance. She’s a wonderful asset to the genre and in this film she delivers another wonderful performance.

With a solid cast aside, the film has some exceptional moments of action and suspense, blended with the comedic timing that only Vittorio can bring to the table. Even though the character of Lucio is a bit of a coward and uncoordinated to boot, Vittorio stages out some rather impressive fight scenes and action set pieces, albeit clumsily performed. The awkwardness of his actions are purposefully done, emphasizing the shocking experience that it is for Lucio to be finding himself in, in such an espionage filled nightmare. Vittorio genuinely delivers a hysterical performance and I often found myself laughing out loud at his crazy and overblown reactions to everything that is happening around him. It must have been a challenge to stay so amped as he was throughout the entire production of Slalom, but the efforts that he put into portraying this frantic character have paid off in full.

Slalom is a literally wild ride, filled with so many memorable moments and silly results that you really can’t deny the fun of it all. The spy spoof sub-genre of Eurospy films are a varied breed, but this one has enough intriguing instances to merit it a place beside the better portion of films. Vittorio does an expert job as the hapless Lucio Ridolfi and the rest of the cast fill in their parts commendably. When it comes to femme fatales, you really can’t go wrong with Daniela Bianchi. She’s played the role time and time again, but there is a reason for this blatant type casting. She embodies the role to perfection and does an excellent job with the ambiguous character of Nadia.

With its rollercoaster ride of mistaken identity and survival of the fittest tone, Slalom is an energetic wonder of a film and you’d have to be dead not to find a good time here. As a spy spoof, it is entertainment at its finest and as an engaging cinematic experience; it’s a joy to behold. If you’re looking for a more lighthearted example of the genre, then look no further than Slalom. It’s a downhill adventure that forgets the brakes, always pushing the envelope until the film threatens to ride off the rail. Check it out, it’s a…..