Johnny Stecchino
'Johnny Stecchino', released in 1991, proved to be the biggest box officehit in its native country, Italy. The movie stars Robert Benigni, who isalso the co -writer and director of the movie. Robert Begnini plays adouble role in this movie, one as bus driver Dante and his look- alikegangster Johnny. The movie that runs for 100 minutes is an excellent proofof Robert Benigni's ability to turn an usually serious topic of Mafia into The movie is about a jolly bus driver , Dante in Rome . He hasn'tgot anything exciting in life, in fact he lives a life of kindheartedloser. His best friend is one of retarded children he transports fromschool to home and back again, Lillo. He also shoplifts bananas with thisfriend to discourage him from eating pastries, as he is diabetic. The scenewhere he steals bananas shows how Begnini can "squeeze more laughs from asimple prop, (in this case a banana), than any other comic in modernmovies"(1). At the same time he is tricking the federal government byacting that he got a spastic hand due to some injury in order to get someextra benefits .His love life also paints a pathetic picture: he cant get asingle girl in town who is willing to go out with him eve
As hismajor viewers and fans are Italians, there is number of ways he mocks atthe Italian people and culture. the movie also questions the morals of the upper class andsympathizes with the condition of the poor in Italy. The plan is to get Dante killed in place ofJohnny. However, it leads to nothing but more confusion and chaos with no oneaccept the uncle and Maria knowing the truth. When he tries totake some bananas out of his pocket the crowd grows wild and they mistakeit for a bomb. She iswife of a Mafia leader, Johnny Stechinno or Johnny the tooth pick wholooking exactly like Dante and who has denounced some of his fellows infront of the police. Dante believes that his scam with federalgovernment has been discoveredThen there is another cocaine-mistaken scene with Catholic cardinal. The director makes a commendable effort at exposing the weaknessesof Italian political and social structures and in his subtle way, hemanages to reveal a great deal about the corruption prevails in politicalquarters. Robert Benigni is hold par to great comedians of all times such as CharlieChaplain as mentioned by Fred Hoon Joo Jung of Korea Times:"Roberto Benigni is a comedic genius on par with Charlie Chaplin and theStooges"But his movie is falls short of his critics' expectations. The characters seemto be too foolish to remain ignorant for too long and wisest one amongthem, Maria, proved she to most idiotic as she fell for Dante. The movie provides the audiences with some really hilarious scenes and isdifferent from other modern comedies as Robert Begnini directs the movie ina such simpler way (such as using silent film techniques) which somecritics believe is due to lack of directorial skills. Life changes for Dante when, in the first scene, he encounters Maria aftercoming out of night party who faints as she sees him. The uncle talks to him in mafia jargon which Dante mistakes forautomobile lingo, followed by the jokes of Dante confusing cocaine formagic drug for diabetes. Forexample, Johnny has a stupid obsession with tidiness and therefore keepsdusting his clothes and other accessories, he does not kiss the old ladiesbecause he believes that somehow challenges his masculinity. Besides that, the plot of movie was not strong enough therefore the, movieseem to stretch too thin over its featured time and Robert's comic geniusloses bit of its magic.
Common topics in this essay:
Stechinno Johnny,
Dante Rome,
Mafia Italy,
Robert Benigni,
Robert Begnini,
Italian Mafioso,
Chaplin Stooges,
Justice Johnny,
Palermo Sicily,
,
robert benigni,
federal government,
wife mafia leader,
due lack,
italian culture,
spastic hand,
robert begnini,
upper class,
wife mafia,
political social,
bus driver,
bus driver dante,
|
Acceptance Essays
