Big Deal on Madonna Street (1958)

 Mario Monicelli's "Big Deal on Madonna Street"


Mario Monicelli's 1958 caper film "Big Deal on Madonna Street" serves more as a commercial film than having any sort of artistic merit to it. I know, there are those who consider it a masterpiece in Italian cinema. However, I wasn't as inclined to raise this work to such lofty heights. 

It centers on a ragtag group of men who attempt to get inside a girl's apartment so that they can get to a safe full of cash on the other side of her wall. However, as is typical with most heist films, things go awry and unforeseen circumstances create obstacles to their success. Ultimately, in the end, it ends up being all for not, similarly to Stanley Kubrick's "The Killing" from two years prior.

Due to its comedic elements, its concern for entertainment value, and its focus on plot-driven success, the film is totally a commercial film above all else. While I don't see its artistic merit, that's not to say that the film wasn't a entertaining and worthwhile affair. Its characters are so full and rounded that one could call them compatriots. The unforeseen circumstances that get in their way create drama and tension that engulfs the viewer in the plot. While "Big Deal on Madonna Street" contains no emotional merit, its a worthwhile watch for audiences seeking a fun film.



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