Cassino in Ischia

I loved this film. Such a departure from Hollywood's recent fare of blockbuster CGI laden films with overly simple plots and no soul. From frame one to the last you know you're in for a real cinematic treat. You root for several characters whose film-within-a-film's success ties directly to their personal needs; each of which are different. Each actor seems perfectly suited for their part. Kudos to the casting agency! The film is funny, poignant at times, and is fast paced. Pay attention, because various plot lines seem often in a perilous state of flux... but somehow, everything comes together in the end with a satisfying, if not ironic, denouement that makes for a wide smile as the credits roll. If you're looking for a fun two hours this film would certainly fill that bill.

This is truly one of the best comedies I've seen in a long time. The direction is excellent, and it's clear that the director gave strong guidance, as every single actor delivered a fantastic performance. Dominic Purcell, in particular, was a revelation. We're used to seeing him in action roles, but here he had the opportunity to showcase the full range of his talent - and he absolutely nailed it.

The story is fresh and engaging, with clever references to the world of cinema. It follows an action film star who decides to try his hand at artistic filmmaking - a plot that mirrors Purcell's own venture into a different genre. I read that another actor was initially considered for the role, but in the end, Dominic brought something truly special to the film.

The setting is equally impressive. The stunning coastal landscapes of Italy are breathtaking and make you want to travel and see the filming locations for yourself. We watched this film on a streaming platform and enjoyed it so much that we ended up watching it again with our whole family - it was a wonderful experience to share.

A thoroughly enjoyable movie that I wholeheartedly recommend!

I really liked this film. Funny and often times poignant. The underlying premise of the movie sets up for a bunch of true and honest laughs and keeps things very interesting. The acting is great and the backstory of personal growth for Purcell's character is very interesting to watch develop. But the star of the show is the would be director seeking to return to his (imagined) past glory. He is a real comedic presence and his interaction with his family and would be in laws brought many laughs to me and my wife. The scenery of the locale is also quite beautiful and the director captured this beauty well. We truly enjoyed it.

I really enjoyed the movie. It had some poignant moments, as well as some hilarious scenes. A solid film with an interesting plot about a stunt man having to reinvent himself, with a director that needed a spark and found it surreptitiously.

The casting of the actors was absolutely spot on. And all of the characters seemed familiar, but with an Italian flair in most cases.

The acting was also quite solid for such an independent film. The screenwriting was solid, and the sets and scenery was fantastic as well.

And with some beautiful panorama shots of Italy and ischia. Can't wait to visit Ischia some day. It was gorgeous on film.

This film reminded me of what the movies used to be. It was packed with great quirky characters and fun scenes. And the beautiful scenery shots are a bonus. While the movie is pitched with Domenic Purcell at its center, actors such as Ugo Dighero and Miriam Candurro were the highlights for me.

I'm sure more experienced reviewers and cynics can find things to criticize but I thought this movie was fun and funny and touching and beautifully shot. The movie loves Italy and I'm sure Italy will love it back. And to realize the original lead actor passed away in the middle of shooting just makes it more impressive.

I'm looking forward to watching this movie again. And I'm looking forward to seeing more from the Ciota brothers.