Customer Reviews

La Scorta

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

La Scorta is one of the best Italian films of the 90s, although that hasn't stopped it from disappearing from circulation for years until Blue Underground's DVD release. Unlike the Eurotrash which is that label's main stock-in-trade, this is a powerful and sober crime drama (rather than an out-and-out thriller) about the small group of bodyguards protecting a judge investigating mafia and government corruption in Sicily. It's certainly not a glamorous portrait: terminally underfunded, they only have two bullet-proof vests between them, and instead of armoured cars they get clapped-out unmarked vehicles the police can't even afford to keep the tanks full. There's not much in the way of action, but there's plenty of suspense over what MIGHT happen. Every abandoned car by the roadside could be a bomb, a stuck gate could be a prime opportunity for an assassin, so that when the expected does finally happen (and to the most obvious candidate in the most obvious fashion) it doesn't feel quite like such a cliche, more inevitability. The film does a good job of humanising its protagonists en route. While they all have the usual stereotyped dead meat trappings - families, girlfriends, pregnant wives - they spend much of the first half jockeying for position, making mistakes and inadvertently betraying their charge. Ricky Tognazzi directs with energy and imagination that belies the film's low budget and is well served by his ensemble cast.

Sadly, the DVD transfer, while acceptable, is not great, although the extras are good.

Another very good Italian movie! Again during a period of terrible unrest in Sicily with the local mafia and the courageous judges who try to make a difference in that faction torn region.

La Scorta, the escorts, or actually the Bodyguards, tells the story of four diverse men detailed to guard the life of yet another Judge sent from the North to try and keep peace and justice in this faction riddled land.

The men have some trouble getting along together but eventually end by forming a tight and close band dedicated to preserving the life of the Judge they are committed to protect.

For who knows this period of Sicilian history the ending is plausible. For others it might come as a surprise. The original Italian dialog is very good. Sub titles are available.

Despite the fact that I knew none of the actors and don't speak Italian, this was a very credible film (and why shouldn't it be - it was a true story). The characters were well formed and very well played and the story was compelling. I think not having "big stars" in this production made it better, as equal attention could be payed to all. This is a film well worth seeing and I will probably watch it many times again.

Great movie..will hold your attention from beginning to end. True depiction of what the Mafia is really like and how their tentacles reach out and control businesses and government. A true...must watch film.

LA SCORTA, a movie released in 1993, played by Italian
actors, is very much a European movie, that rolls all into
one many aspects of a small, ephemeral microcosm,
surrounding an investigation into corruption and awarding
of contracts based on special favors between businessmen
and certain elected politicians, with the judiciary and
law enforcement caught in the crossfire.

It's not an action movie, considering that many personal,
human sides of the officers are demonstrated, such as
moments with family, kids, birthdays, festivities, etc.

It's not a humorous movie, either, considering the serious
topic it covers, deadly serious even, such as shown by an
explosive planted in a car, or 2 motocycle men doubling as
executioners, the death of powerful politicians, etc.

What this movie does, is portray the enormous frustration,
confusion, and struggle that occurs when there are
millions of people, and large numbers of special
interests, powerful people of all walks of life, each pulling
in every direction, such that nobody is completely
satisfied at any time, in terms of meeting their
own objectives. This is a lesson learned early on by many,
obviously, in life, and it has a lot to do with the
paradox of each person wishing to walk along the righteous
path, do the right thing, yet having to blend in, and go
along with what everyone else is doing in society, and expects,
so everyone can "get along." Call it the need to look the other
way, sometimes, because otherwise, perhaps society would be
unworkable. Each is an individual. Each has his or her own
goals. Each goes about reaching them in different ways.

Each has to win, in some way or another, maybe partially only,
for the totality of the system to work.

At the end, the special prosecutor is fired, because he's
inflexible in his rigid interpretation of the elimination
of corruption, alienating everyone around him. And society
can deal with the presence of corruption, but can't deal
with someone whose mind is set on one thing, and nothing else.

this movie is very good. have exelents actors and the quality of video is acceptable.i recommend this movie for people interested in mafia drama movies.

Somehow Tognazzi has dully rendered what should be riveting material about political and mafioso machinations in Sicilia. This film plays like a mediocre telanovela, devoid of artistry and utterly conventional. Maybe this is the reason Hollywood is remaking the movie.