Illuminata (1998)

Its very hard to describe this film. As far as backstage films go its not as emotionally stirring as The Dresser or as honestly funny as Noises Off, but there is a gentle humanity to the bergman like humor of the play. Unless you are in theatre,or even if you are, it demand complete attention to follow the film,but as you do,the more you like it.The direction of Mr. Turturro is splendid and he evokes some great performances from some wonderful actors. The late Donal McCann is wonderful in his comic role of the theatre owner's husband,It is very rare to see this fine actor doing comedy and He is one of the film's hifgh ponts,as is Christopher Walken as an Oscar Wilde like critic,Bill Irwin is also in fine form as the reluctant object of his affection. Turturro himself is wonderful in the key role of the playwright and its good to see Ben Gazzara on the big screen again. The film is far from perfect,it drags at times and there are momentsthat leave you saying, "what just happened?" but for overall effect its a good effort with a pleasing,if not brilliant ,product.

"Write what you know about" has long been the dictum for writers ranging all the way from accomplished published authors to struggling composition class students; is there a playwright then who can resist the temptation to compose a play about composing a play? It has, of course, been done countless times in the past ("Shakespeare in Love" being but the most recent popular example), but, alas, rarely as dully as in "Illuminata," Brandon Cole's tale of a turn-of-the-century repertory company struggling, amid personal conflicts, theatrical roadblocks and even death, to produce an original work (itself entitled "Illuminata"). Cole, along with co-writer and director, John Turturro, centers his story on the playwright, Tuccio, (also played by Turturro), as he copes with temperamental actors, theatre owners and critics, all of whom conspire, intentionally or unintentionally, to sabotage his work.Like so many films that attempt to deal seriously with the creative process, "Illuminata" seems naively to suggest that inspiration can only be achieved after the creator has undergone a series of concomitant life experiences that somehow illuminate the truths hitherto obscured in darkness. Thus, since, in this case, the play-within-the-play deals with the issue of marital infidelity, it is only after the entire cast and crew of the production have participated in a night long sexual roundelay (which consists essentially of switching partners in a style too cute for words) that the play (which failed in its first performance the night before) can come to complete artistic fruition. This cloying and cliched view of theatre as merely a reflection of life (or vice versa) might have been acceptable had the script provided any truly interesting characters, profound insights or satiric wit to carry us through. As it is, though, the characters are both unappealing and woefully underdeveloped, the insights consist of mere self-indulgent paeans to the glory of artistic creation and the humor rests mainly in a series of surprisingly crude illustrations of sexual activity. Furthermore, Turturro is such a dull, uninspiring lead, with his constant sadsack expression and look of pained bewilderment, that he conveys no sense of the dynamism essential to a person capable of producing a work of genius. This leaves the rest of the cast, some of whom are very good, pretty much adrift as they thrash about looking for something solid in the way of character development to hold onto.Actually, the highlight of this film comes during the opening credit sequence, a beautifully done marionette performance that is almost heartbreaking in its otherworldly beauty and delicacy. It is a measure of the failure of the rest of the film that the audience wishes IT were performed by marionettes as well.

This film starts off evocative and arresting but quickly slips into an incoherent mess of the most embarrasing sort. What might be half entertaining at a performance space in an East Village converted garage, on film is a completely vapid waste. Any comparison between SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE and this film is idiotic. SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE has been universally admired (justly so) for it's exceptional script (Tom Stoppard's no slouch) and incredible performances. This tripe will be forgotten by the time one reaches for the rewind button. Don't be fooled by thinking that because the film deals with art and culture that it is somehow deep and meaningful. Even with it's fancy Italianate name, ILLUMINATA is dim-witted and dull.

Does Turturro want to say something about theatre? Does he want to say something about love? Does he want to make a brilliant film like Woody Allen? Does he want to do all of these things? Probably. But he fails abysmally! The film is the most self-indulgent, pretentious piece of you-know-what I have ever sat through. The DVD version features a director's commentary. This one thinks will provide some glimmer as to what he thought he was doing. But no! Turturro and his young son chatter on in the most inane, inept, and ineffective babble ever recorded. Turturro should open a pizza parlor and leave film to artists. Who ever annoys me most this year will get this film for Christmas.