Tonino Valerii (1934–2016)

A film starring Terence Hill and Henry Fonda (Titanus, 1973).

A young, reckless man is determined to turn his gunfighter hero into a legend.

C (Indifferent).

There's a lot to like about this, but it's difficult to actually sit through. The music is grating, the storytelling is badly communicated (despite what turns out eventually to be a good story), the humor has bad timing, and there's an infuriating amount of long, repetitive stretches where nothing happens.

(May 2023)… (altro)

"Il Mio Nome è Nessuno" is a weird, strange but ultimately hugely enjoyable spaghetti western. Based on an idea by Sergio Leone it sees Henry Fonda as aging gunfighter Jack Beauregard who simply wishes to retire with his nest egg. Unfortunately for Jack he's being pursued by Nobody (Terence Hill) who has a plan that will ensure Jack's immortality by seeing him going down in a blaze of glory by facing off solo against the 150 strong Wild Bunch. Director Tonino Valerii delivers a film that is part traditional spaghetti western and part comedy, with Fonda delivering the traditional elements and Hill delivering the slapstick. It is an unlikely combination that only partly works. At times the lighter comedy integrates well but some of the more pantomime elements are simply ineffective and jarring; at times spoiling the pacing and ambience of the film. The elements that work, however, are absolutely brilliant. Valeri has a real eye for a stunning vista and how people fit into that landscape. The sequences where the Wild Bunch gallop at speed are stirring and the climatic sequence where the 150 riders close in Beauregard are simply superb. The director also shows his ability in constructing a tense sequence - the opening scene where three gunmen close in on Beauregard are a masterclass in montaging and creating a sequence of mounting suspense. All these directorial touches are massively enhanced by another superb Ennio Morricone score. It is a more eccentric score than normal with Morricone slyly referencing some of his other works to great effect. Overall "Il Mio nome è Nessuno" is a great western, that is unfotrtunately hampered by some ill-advised comedy. The elements of the film that work are, however, brilliant - there are sequences here that are on par with the very best that the genre has to offer. And, of course, Morricone's score is a thing of beauty.… (altro)