I Am What I Am

Also frantic, rambling and hyper-stylized. Tinto Brass is like a kid in a candy story in this movie, trying out every little trick in the book he can think of (split screen, black & white / color, fast cuts, fast motion, comic book inserts, etc.). Ewa Aulin is wonderful (an alternate title of the movie, I Am What I Am, sums her up perfectly), and there is also some terrific London location shooting. Plot-wise it doesn't make much sense, but I don't think it was supposed to; it is more about capturing a spur-of-the-moment spontaneity, and at that it succeeds. **1/2 out of 4.

A rather unusual agenda from tinto brass who obviously found later his niche in "t&a" movies. Col cuore in Gola is a psychedelic, pop art giallo that can just come from the great era of the late 60´s/70´s. Starting from the nice credits and music you immediately like this film and this is just the beginning! Trintignant founds in a nightclub a corpse beside the lovely aulin who just says "i wasnt it" Convinced that she is innocent he wants to help her and want to find out the murderer, Aulins brother should solve this case and both are searching for him. Though not quite without problems..a dwarf in raincoat is following them in companion with some gangsters who kidnap Aulin. Jean is now searching for aulin, aulins brother and (of course) the murderer. The Story itself is not that convincing (rather unimportant) but what here is really of interest is the unconvential style of brass : splitscreen(even tripple split screens!) some scenes in black and dark yellow filter and more.., and in the "middle" of course the presence of two very convincing leads: cool Trintignant and hot Ewa Aulin. (somehow priceless here in white fishnet stockings) the result is a quite good giallo with (obviously) strong references to pop art. In the same year Aulin and Trintignant appeared in the avantgarde giallo masterpiece "Death laid an egg", Col Cuore in Gola is not great as Giulio Questis film but is definitely entertaining.

Just saw this tonight uncut on the big screen here in Hollywood. Visually very nice. But not really a giallo, I don't know why people keep calling it that. There is a murder which basically occurs off-screen and has almost nothing to do with the "story." Virtually no violence, some eyebrow-raising sex, obviously inspired by Antonioni, et al. Little story, lots of avant garde/graphic style, references to Pop-Art/Lichtenstein, comics, "Blow-Up" and other movies/the Viet Nam War/other issues of the day. Nice visuals/editing/soundtrack (which was remarkably clear in the print I just saw, supposedly soon to be out on DVD). At times notably innovative and fresh. A bit of a surprise ending. Wandering narrative, quick cuts, lots of color and gritty flair. Swinging London backdrop. In b/w and color.

I love the clear inspiration from comic books. Very artistic style. The intermittent use of b&w is gorgeous. Ewa Aulin is a dream. Simply stunning.

However, the plot is a mess. The pacing is a mess. The tone is all over the place. The overall narrative has a mystery/detective/crime genre feel to it, but there are so many jarring departures into comedy(?) These tonal bungles kill the suspense and the believability.

This film is a dull "dejà vu" (Antonioni & Co.): better the originals.

Anything new but the inexpressive Ewa also in her nudity...!

Trintignant is there: maybe ?!.

I don't know why and for what reasons...And he seems too.

The fee was so interesting ?

Not to mention the chasing of Bernard by the bad guys and the ending of the story, both laughable...

The result is that the leading actor and the most attractive is the "Swinging London" and its people: better than nothing !

I recommend you not to waste your time as I did yesterday. Tinto Brass has to go softly "erotic" as usual, the way he was and still is (in his 90th), with Sandrelli and Grandi among the others: that's his plus.