edited by Jonathan Doyle

Mafioso (The Criterion Collection, 3.18.2008) Nino Badalamenti is a supervisor in a car manufacturing plant who hasn't taken a vacation in over two years. On his way out the door to visit his beloved childhood hometown of Sicily -- with his blonde wife and daughters -- Nino is handed a package by his boss and asked to deliver it to a powerful and influential Sicilian gangster named Don Vincenzo. Once in Sicily, Nino has a hoot seeing friends and family, but his wife has trouble fitting in and is unfairly dismissed as a snob by Nino's family. Even more worrisome, Nino finds himself entangled in an intricate web of secret mafioso dealings and is eventually sent on an unexpectedly... elaborate errand. (continued)

Upcoming

July 2

Hancock

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The Whackness

July 4

Diminished Capacity

Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S. Thompson

Holding Trevor

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We are Together

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Full Battle Rattle

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A Man Named Pearl

August

Eight Miles High

Garden Party

Harold

Hellboy II: The Golden Army

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Meet Dave

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A Very British Gangster

Before I Forget

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Theyr'e dropping like flies

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The rule-of-three once again applies: French actor Michel Serrault, best known for his role as Zaza in La Cage aux Folles, has died of cancer at age 79.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 30, 2007 at 11:53 AM

comment #1

T. S. Idiot says ...

Those who know Serrault only from La Cage auz Folles might consider seeing Nelly & Monsieur Arnaud, The Girl from Paris, and The Butterfly, some of the best subtle acting ever by an old man.

Posted by T. S. Idiot at July 30, 2007 12:18 PM

comment #2

cinefan says ...

Apparently, today it's the rule-of-four at work. Former 49ers coach Bill Walsh, like Snyder, has died of leukemia - very sad day.

Posted by cinefan at July 30, 2007 12:38 PM

comment #3

Wrecktum says ...

Fuck your fucking rule of three. Everytime a celebrity dies I always see idiots posting "who's next? There all always three." Well, there aren't always three, it's an idiotic game, and it belittles the death of real people to even fucking go there.

Death is the final transition of life. It's an important and reverent passage. Fuckers stop making a joke about it. I'm sick of it.

Posted by Wrecktum at July 30, 2007 01:13 PM

comment #4

Joe Leydon says ...

Wrecktum: I can sympathize with your reaction to what seems like rather cynical joking, especially at a time when we're losing giants like Bergman and Serrault. But the weird thing is, the Rule of Three appears to play out with almost creepy regularity. Seriously.

Posted by Joe Leydon at July 30, 2007 01:19 PM

comment #5

Nate West says ...

For celebrities, it's the "Rule of Three." For normal folks, it's the "Rule of 155,000 Deaths" per day. Kind of makes you feel special, eh?

Posted by Nate West at July 30, 2007 02:14 PM

comment #6

Joe Leydon says ...

Well, to quote Jeff's quote from Barry Lyndon not so long ago: They're all equal now.

Posted by Joe Leydon at July 30, 2007 02:18 PM

comment #7

Wrecktum says ...

Joe, that's nonsense. The human brain loves to make patterns where they don't actually exist (wasn't that what that shitty movie The Number 23 was all about?). That's all this is.

Anyway, back on tangent. Today is a rotten day for European cinema. How depressing.

Posted by Wrecktum at July 30, 2007 03:13 PM

comment #8

lipranzer says ...

I forgot Serrault was in NELLY AND MONSIEUR ARNAUD. He was terrific in that.

Posted by lipranzer at July 30, 2007 06:40 PM

comment #9

Andy D says ...

Right again, Joe. Now comes the news of Antonioni's death...

Posted by Andy D at July 31, 2007 06:44 AM

comment #10

yopla says ...

My heart is broken. He was one of my favorites.

He won 3 'César' as Best actor for 'La Cage aux folles' (The Birdcage was the american remake), 'Garde à vue' (a really great movie....'Suspicion' was the american remake) and 'Nelly and Mr Arnaud'.

In his roles he made me laugh (even in his life with some unforgettable interviews), he made me cry, he frightened me (go rent 'Docteur Petiot' or 'Les fantômes du Chapelier').
I think he did 135 movies in his career.

R.I.P. Mr Serrault.

Posted by yopla at July 31, 2007 08:32 AM

comment #11

Joe Leydon says ...

Did Petiot ever get any theatrical play here in the US? I saw it at a film festival years ago -- and thought Serrault was absolutely brilliant in it. And, of course, he was superb in Nelly and M. Arnaud.

Posted by Joe Leydon at July 31, 2007 09:27 AM

comment #12