Pinocchio(2002 film)
Pinocchio | |
---|---|
Directed by | Roberto Benigni |
Screenplay by |
|
Based on | The Adventures of Pinocchio byCarlo Collodi |
Produced by | Gianluigi Braschi |
Starring |
|
Cinematography | Dante Spinotti |
Edited by | Simona Paggi |
Music by | Nicola Piovani |
Production companies |
|
Distributed by |
|
Release date |
|
Running time |
|
Country | Italy |
Language | Italian |
Budget | $40–45 million[2][3] |
Box office | $41.3 million[4] |
Pinocchiois a 2002 Italianfantasycomedy-dramafilm co-written and directed byRoberto Benigni,who also stars. It is based on the 1883 novelThe Adventures of PinocchiobyCarlo Collodi,with Benigni portrayingPinocchio.Filming took place in Italy andKalkara,Malta.It was dedicated to costume and production designerDanilo Donati,who died on 1 December 2001.
The film was released in Italy on 11 October 2002 by Medusa Distribuzione and met with mixed reviews.[5]It received an English-language dub in the United States, released byMiramax Filmsin December 2002, which was critically panned. While it became one of thehighest-grossing films in Italy,it underperformed internationally, grossing $41.3 million against a production budget of $40‒45 million. It was selected as the Italian entry for theBest Foreign Language Filmat the75th Academy Awards,but it was not nominated.
Plot[edit]
A magical log falls off a wagon, stopping atGeppetto's door. The wood carver creates a puppet from the log and names it Pinocchio. Pinocchio comes to life and runs away in the streets, turning the town upside down. The carpenter is blamed and taken to prison by thecarabinieri,while Pinocchio escapes.
Back home, atalking cricketscolds him for his behavior; this annoys Pinocchio, so he tries to hit him with a hammer. Tired and hungry, Pinocchio promises to his father that he will go to school and study. Geppetto returns home from prison and sold his only coat to buy schoolbooks for him. However, the naughty puppet goes on several adventures, dreading school.
Joining a puppet theater, Pinocchio is almost eaten by the giant puppet masterMangiafuoco.Lying to get out of the situation, he is given five gold coins. He then meetsThe Fox and the Cat,who trick him out of his money, telling him to plant it to grow a 'money tree' in the Miracle Meadow near the town of "Grab-A-Dimwit". ABlue Fairyencourages Pinocchio to give up his obnoxious ways and saves him from being hanged. After being examined by the Owl, the Crow, and the Talking Cricket, Pinocchio experiences the side effect of his lying. The Blue Fairy gives Pinocchio medicine; as he refuses it coffin-bearing rabbits appear, so he immediately takes it afterwards.
The Fox and Cat steal the gold coins Pinocchio buried. The Talking Cricket informs Pinocchio about it. Pinocchio tells the judges about the Fox and Cat's theft, but was sentenced to five years in jail for foolishness. While there, Pinocchio meetsLucignolo,a thief that stole 29 lollipops from a candy shop (though the judges are shown eating them) who is being released. Four months later, during the celebration of the King's son's birth, Pinocchio is set free. He stumbles across the grave of the Blue Fairy, who supposedly died of grief because of his antics.
Adovetells Pinocchio that his father was heading out to sea to look for him. Pinocchio arrives at the shore, finding Geppetto on his ship and been knocked out by the waves. Pinocchio nearly drowns trying to save his father, then washes up by a city where he meets the Blue Fairy again.
On his way to school, a kid throws a book at him; he ducks and the book hits Eugenio, who loses consciousness. Pinocchio is blamed for the crime. Upon nearing the Blue Fairy's house he escapes, ending up in a grape farmer's trap. Pinocchio is freed by Lucignolo and returns to the Blue Fairy's home.
The next day, Lucignolo convinces Pinocchio to join him on a trip to 'Fun Forever Land'. When there, the Cricket tries to warn them all they will turn into donkeys if they do not leave and continue being bad. Pinocchio soon becomes a donkey and is sold to a circusringmaster.
During his performance, Pinocchio gets hurt and is thrown into the sea, where he instantly returns to normal and is swallowed by agiant sharkwhich coincidentally has also swallowed Geppetto. They escape together.
Pinocchio takes Geppetto to a farm to help him recover by helping out a farmer to get his father better. Inside the farmer's paddock, he sees a sick donkey who he immediately recognizes as Lucignolo, but his friend tragically dies from working too hard.
Rewarding his efforts to strive for moral prudence, the Blue Fairy transforms him into a real boy. With his wish granted, he and his father see his old puppet body in the corner of the house, and he sets off his actual first day of school.
Cast[edit]
Character | Original Italian actor | English dubbing actor |
---|---|---|
Pinocchio | Roberto Benigni | Breckin Meyer |
Blue Fairy | Nicoletta Braschi | Glenn Close |
Medoro | Mino Bellei | Eric Idle |
Geppetto | Carlo Giuffrè | David Suchet |
Talking Cricket | Peppe Barra | John Cleese |
Mangiafuoco | Franco Javarone | Kevin James |
The Cat | Max Cavallari | Eddie Griffin |
The Fox | Bruno Arena | Cheech Marin |
GorillaJudge | Corrado Pani | David Suchet |
Lucignolo / Leonardo | Kim Rossi Stuart | Topher Grace |
Dove | N/A | Queen Latifah |
Coachman | Luis Molteni | Erik Bergmann |
Ringmaster | Alessandro Bergonzoni | Regis Philbin |
Farmer George | Andrea Nardi | Jim Belushi |
Carabiniere#1 | Alfredo Cavazzoni | David Coburn |
Carabiniere #2 | Vincenzo Bonanno | Rufus Collins |
Carabiniere #3 | Marco Tullio Cao | David Coburn |
Carabiniere #4 | Michele Mazzanti | Rufus Collins |
Green Grocer | Claudio Bellante | N/A |
Vintner | Massimo Bianchi | N/A |
Furcoat Man | Giuliano Ghiselli | Ray Iannicelli |
Street Vendor | Fausto Marchini | N/A |
Student | Valerio Ceccarelli | Matthew Labyorteaux |
Pulcinella | Tommaso Bianco | Tom Amundson |
Mrs. Rosaura | Silvia Floridi | N/A |
Pantalone | Franco Mescolini | Bob Papenbrook |
Harlequin | Stefano Onofri | Tony Abatemarco |
Innkeeper of the Gambero Rosso | Giorgio Ariani | Harry Murphy |
First Doctor | Donato Castellaneta | Steve Bulen |
Second Doctor | Lamberto Consani | Nicholas Guest |
Undertaker Rabbit | N/A | David Coburn |
Judge #2 | Giovanni Febraro | N/A |
Jailer | Camillo Grassi | David Coburn |
Fisherman | Luigi Delli | Stephen Mellor |
Lady with Pitchers | Paola Braschi de Giovanni | Nicole Orth-Pallavicini |
Eugenio | Riccardo Bizzarri | Stephen Apostolina |
Appuntato | Giacomo Gonnella | N/A |
Gendarmerie#1 | Totò Onnis | N/A |
Gendarmerie #2 | Danilo Nigrelli | N/A |
Brigadier | Dario Magi | N/A |
Melampo's Owner | Sandro Dori | Peter Gerety |
Schoolmaster | Remo Masini | N/A |
Boy #1 | Giorgio Noè | N/A |
Boy #2 | Mario Orfei | N/A |
Boy #3 | Dodo Otrecolli | N/A |
Boy #4 | Francesco Guzzo | N/A |
Boy #5 | Max Galligani | N/A |
Boy #6 | Stefano Scandaletti | N/A |
Man with the Mustache | Vincenzo Cerami | Peter Gerety |
Man with Fur | Franco Casaglieri | N/A |
Boy | Giorgio Fabbio | N/A |
Boy | Michele Manuzzi | N/A |
Release[edit]
To promote the film's release,McDonald'ssoldHappy Mealscontaining toys that each resembled a character of the film.[6]
In the United States and Canada, Miramax released the film onChristmas Daywith no advance screening. Miramax said that this is because they needed to do post-production looping to insert the English dub for its English-speaking release. Edward Guthmann, a film reviewer for theSan Francisco Chronicle,thought that this was because Miramax knew the film would not be well-received, and sought to have it released before critics gave their opinions on the film.[7]The English version includes some differences, such as changed dialogue, various shortened scenes, and added narration byDavid Suchet.After the English dubbed version was poorly received, Miramax reissued the film in Italian with English subtitles on February 7, 2003.[8]
Reception[edit]
Box-office[edit]
In Italy and Europe,Pinocchiogrossed over $7 million within the first three days of its release.[9]It went on to gross $3.67 million in the United States, and $37.7 million in other territories (of which €26 million was in Italy), for a worldwide total of $41.3 million, against a production budget of $40 million.[4]
Critical response[edit]
Original version[edit]
Pinocchioreceived mixed reviews.[5][10]David Rooney ofVarietywrote: 'In Roberto Benigni's take on Carlo Collodi's classic fairy tale,Pinocchio,the spirit of the lateFederico Fellini—with whom Benigni talked of doing the project together—surfaces repeatedly. But that spirit fails to enliven a film substantially lacking in personality, energy, magic and humor... The union between the Tuscan fairy tale and the region's most talented contemporary offspring would seem like the perfect marriage. In fact, it comes off as artificially exuberant and a little precious.'[11]Roberto Nepoti ofLa Repubblicastated: "The film is a kind of linear translation of the book, illustrated by the splendid scenographies of Danilo Donati, played by good actors, accompanied by special effects of excellent levels but where, unfortunately, something is missing. What is missing is a visionary fantasy, a sense of excess, of the poetry that belongs to Benigni as an actor and author, but which Benigni as director has not yet acquired."[12]
Pinocchiowent on to receive six nominations at theDavid di Donatello Awards,winning two in the process:Best Sets and DecorationsandBest Costumes,both toDanilo Donati.It was also nominated by the Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists.
American version[edit]
The English-dubbed recut version by Miramax was met with critical panning in the United States. On thereview aggregatorwebsiteRotten Tomatoes,0%of 55 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 2.7/10. The website's consensus reads: "Roberto Benigni misfires wildly with this adaptation ofPinocchio,and the result is an unfunny, poorly-made, creepy vanity project. "[14]It is rated the third-worst film of the 2000s decade behindBallistic: Ecks vs. SeverandOne Missed Calland ahead ofSuperbabies: Baby Geniuses 2.[15]Metacritic,which uses aweighted average,assigned the film a score of 11 out of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating "overwhelming dislike".[16]Jonathan Rosenbaumstated onChicago Readerthat "the recut American version is truly awful, but a good 75% of the awfulness is attributable to Miramax".[15]Audiences polled byCinemaScoregave the film an average grade of "D+" on an A+ to F scale.[17]Peter Howell ofThe Toronto Starwrote that "while there's no question that Benigni has the stamina and comic timing to play a mischievous child, even his considerable charisma cannot conceal the fact that he's a 50-year-old man in a red-and-white Harlequin suit, running around frantically pretending to be a boy. Braschi is utterly charmless as the Blue Fairy, despite making her entrance in a Cinderella carriage pulled by oversized white mice, one of the movies few visual feats."[18]
Amongst other issues, the English dub was heavily criticized, with many critics also finding that Breckin Meyer being chosen as Benigni's voice was inappropriate and that he was too young.[13]David Noh ofFilm Journal Internationalreferred to Meyer's performance as a "ridiculously inappropriate Valley Boy voice".[19]Elvis Mitchell ofThe New York Timesstated that the voices "are so sloppy you might feel as if you're watching a 1978Hong Kong action picture:the dubbed mouths of the Italian cast are probably still moving an hour after the film is over ". Mitchell also called it" an oddity that will be avoided by millions of people "and criticized Benigni's decision to play the titular character, opining that his role as Pinocchio is 'as believable asDiana RossplayingDorothyinThe Wiz".[20]Howell remarked that "the distributor Miramax has compounded the problem by overdubbing all the Italian voices in the film with the voices of British and American actors, robbing Pinocchio of much of its European flavour. (Three theatres in theGTA[were, at the time] showing the original Italian version, with subtitles.) Particularly puzzling is the decision to overdub Benigni with the flat American tones of Breckin Meyer (Rat Race), instead of allowing Benigni's own fractured English to inject some badly needed levity. (The English voices includeMonty Python's John Cleese and Eric Idle, adding to suspicions that these two will take any gig that comes with apaycheque.) "[18]
Ken Fox ofTV Guidewrote: "there's no getting past the shockingly poorly dubbed voice work of the English-speaking cast; Meyer's voice is particularly shrill and grating", but praised Benigni's performance and make up effects, stating: "he's one Italian icon playing another, and physically, he's actually quite good" and "the art direction is often exquisite, and the anthropomorphic animal characters are beautifully realized through clever makeup design".[21]
Accolades[edit]
The original version was nominated for sixDavid di Donatello Awards(winning two) and threeNastro d'Argento(winning one):[22][23]
- David di Donatello:
- Best Sets and Decorations(Danilo Donati) –won
- Best Costumes(Danilo Donati) –won
- Best Actor(Roberto Benigni)
- Supporting Actor(Kim Rossi Stuart)
- Best Cinematography(Dante Spinotti)
- Best Score(Nicola Piovani)
- Nastro d'Argento:
- Nastro d'Argento for Best Score(Nicola Piovani) –won
- Best Supporting Actor
- Best Producer(Nicoletta Braschi)
The English dub was nominated for sixGolden Raspberry Awards(a first for a foreign-language film) and won one:[24]
- Worst Picture
- Worst Director
- Worst Screenplay
- Worst Actor(Roberto Benigni "Dubbed Godzilla-style" byBreckin Meyer) –won
- Worst Remake or Sequel
- Worst Screen Couple(Roberto Benigni and Nicoletta Braschi)
See also[edit]
- List of films with a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes
- List of submissions to the 75th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
- List of Italian submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
- Pinocchio(2019) – another adaption that Roberto Benigni starred in, but this time in a different role (as Geppetto)
References[edit]
- ^"Miramax pulls strings for 'Pinocchio'".Variety.13 May 2001.Retrieved22 November2021.
- ^"PINOCCHIO: IL SET - Cinecittà News - Luce Cinecittà"(in Italian).
- ^"Pinocchio (2002)".The Numbers.Retrieved19 July2020.
- ^ab"Pinocchio (2002)".Box Office Mojo.Retrieved29 May2015.
- ^ab"Film-makers race to reclaim the dark soul of Pinocchio".the Guardian.12 November 2017.
- ^Arnold, Thomas K. (22 December 2002)."Benigni brings 'Pinocchio' to life".USA Today.Retrieved8 May2017.
- ^Guthmann, Edward. "Benigni's 'Pinocchio' -- so much deadwood".San Francisco Chronicle.December 28, 2002. Retrieved on September 25, 2009.
- ^"Benigni's 'Pinocchio' Out With Subtitles".Plainview Herald.8 February 2003.
- ^Bruni, Frank (28 December 2002)."Pulling The Strings".tribunedigital-sunsentinel.Retrieved8 May2017.
- ^"Pinocchio (2002) Recensione".MoviePlayer(in Italian).
- ^Rooney, David (8 October 2002)."Pinocchio".
- ^Roberto Nepoti."Benigni intimidito da Collodi è un Pinocchio senza sberleffi".La Repubblica(in Italian).
- ^ab"Don't Dub It In|The Village Voice".
- ^"The Worst of the Worst Pictures".Rotten Tomatoes. Archived fromthe originalon 26 February 2008.Retrieved2 July2009.
- ^ab"Pinocchio - Rotten Tomatoes".Rotten Tomatoes.Fandango.Retrieved30 September2021.
- ^"Pinocchio (2002)".Metacritic.
- ^"Find CinemaScore"(Type "Pinocchio" in the search box).CinemaScore.Retrieved7 April2021.
- ^abHowell, Peter (27 December 2002)."This 'Pinocchio' is not beautiful".Toronto Star.Retrieved27 October2023.
- ^David Noh."Pinocchio".Film Journal International.
- ^Mitchell, Elvis (26 December 2002)."FILM REVIEW; How Many Actors Does It Take to Make a Log Talk?".The New York Times.Retrieved8 May2017.
- ^Ken Fox."Pinocchio".TV Guide.
- ^"David di Donatello 2003".Film.it(in Italian).
- ^"Nastro d'Argento 2003".Cinecittà(in Italian).
- ^"Entire RAZZIE History, Year-by-Year: 1980–2008".The Golden Raspberry Award Foundation. Archived fromthe originalon 6 July 2009.Retrieved24 December2009.
External links[edit]
- 2002 films
- 2002 comedy-drama films
- 2002 fantasy films
- 2000s children's comedy films
- 2000s children's drama films
- 2000s children's fantasy films
- 2000s fantasy comedy-drama films
- Children's comedy-drama films
- Films about giants
- Films directed by Roberto Benigni
- Films shot in Malta
- Films shot in Tuscany
- Films with screenplays by Vincenzo Cerami
- Golden Raspberry Award winning films
- Italian children's films
- Italian fantasy comedy-drama films
- 2000s Italian-language films
- Pinocchio films
- Films scored by Nicola Piovani
- Films distributed by Disney