Romanzo criminale (2005)

Set in the 1970s, it's the story of three lifelong friends who take control of organized crime in Rome.

Director:

Michele Placido

Writers:

Giancarlo De Cataldo (novel), Stefano Rulli (screenplay),

Stars:

Kim Rossi Stuart, Anna Mouglalis, Pierfrancesco Favino

22 wins & 15 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kim Rossi Stuart	...	Il Freddo
Anna Mouglalis	...	Patrizia / Cinzia
Pierfrancesco Favino	...	Libano
Claudio Santamaria	...	Il Dandi
Stefano Accorsi	...	Commissario Scialoja
Riccardo Scamarcio	...	Il Nero
Jasmine Trinca	...	Roberta
Toni Bertorelli	...	La Voce
Luigi Angelillo	...	Zio Carlo (as Gigi Angelillo)
Antonello Fassari	...	Ciro Buffoni
Elio Germano	...	Il Sorcio
Franco Interlenghi	...	Barone Rosellini
Donato Placido	...	Colussi
Massimo Popolizio	...	Il Terribile
Gianmarco Tognazzi	...	Carenza (as Gian Marco Tognazzi)

Storyline

Italy, the 1970s, in the grip of molded politics, corruption and the mafia. A small circle of friends grows up in Rome and decides to use their skills and connections with organized crime and specialists to carve out their own share. Thus Il Freddo, Libano and Il Dandi builds up a rogue crime empire. Commissario Scialoja however gives chase, successfully once he can play on the breakdown of their loyalty, especially from Patrizia 'Cinzia'.

---

Plot Keywords:

friend | 1970s | loyalty | male frontal nudity | nonlinear timeline | 

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | History

---

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [it] Warner Bros [fr]

Country:

Italy France UK

Language:

Italian English French

Release Date:

30 September 2005 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Kings of Crime

Filming Locations:

Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$818,418 (Italy) (30 September 2005)

Gross:

$2,215,402 (Europe) (7 October 2005)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cattleya, Babe Film, Warner Bros. Pictures Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

152 min 174 min (extended)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Michele Placido wanted Paz Vega to play Patrizia but she could not take on the role because of scheduling conflicts. Anna Mouglalis was cast instead.

---

Goofs

In the scene where Gigio lies dead in the hospital his chest rises as he takes a breath.

---

Connections

Featured in Time Shift: Italian Noir: The Story of Italian Crime Fiction (2010)

---

Soundtracks

"Another one bites the dust"
Performed by Queen

User Reviews

To The Criminals With Love

There is long tradition in Italian cinema in which the hero is a thief or a pathetic loser or a criminal or, like in "Romanzo Criminale" all three. Part of the tradition is to humanize the beasts, to give them feelings, to make us feel for them. Here we're giving an endless romance based on the real life Magliana band, a bunch of heartless, violent thugs that dominated the Roman gangland in the 70's. Michele Placido and his script writers concoct a confused and confusing document that is as annoying, tedious and opportunistic as it is long, endless really. There is, however, one big plus in its favor, the actors. They are given a sketchy draw of their perverse characters but they go for it with body and soul. Kim Rossi Stuart's tormented Freddo exudes a cutting pain that makes you think he has a conscience. Claudio Santamaria projects danger without even trying and the "Libanese" is played by an actor totally new to me, Pierfrancesco Favino, that gives the best performance by an Italian Actor in many, many moons. Riccardo Scamarcio has a face to launch a thousand ships but unfortunately no character and Stefano Accorsi is totally unbelievable in a character that is nothing short of absurd. Explosions, production values, American style editing, but very slow pacing, a brilliant dirty photography by the great Luca Bigazzi. What a pity that with all of this talent available the end result is so mediocre.