"I'll never watch another movie again!" cried my sweet-hearted wife as she wept uncontrollably as the final scene ended. Touched, I wept with her, but made no such vow. She may not keep the vow either, but I can see why she said what she did. This was my second viewing, her first. This time, though, I was deeply touched by everything in the film. 12 years ago, when I first saw it, it was fun, interesting, and for me a real salvation for an actor--Tim Roth--who normally plays the bad guy. Today I can easily say that of the thousands of films I have seen, this one out-ranks all of them--definitely is #1 in my book. I honestly can think of no other great film that is as good. Mary Poppins comes to mind, but still doesn't make the grade like this one. Oh, and we love, love, love Jazz. There's Ragtime here, and Dixieland, and Roaring 20s Jazz, and other Jazz styles--and even quite a bit of Classical. Roger Waters even steps in for one of his classic solos written for this film--and I'm a big Pink Floyd fan because of, you guessed it, their Jazz influence. I've gushed enough, I guess, but see this one, then get a copy for yourself, and watch it once a year--to remind yourself that the inner world, the inner kingdom, is far and away better than anything that world out there has to offer. Anything.

The film is about the legend of the man '1900' who was found as an infant on new years day 1900 under the piano in the ball room of a cruise liner. The film tells the tale of a man who spent his whole life on a ship. A man with no country- only sea, who spent his childhood in the bowels of the ship shoveling coal and became the legendary pianist of that same grand ocean liner. Without going into the plot too much- the film is fantasy (why I compare it to Big Fish) but not too crazy that it wouldn't be believable. The music, costuming, and sets are beautiful and although the acting isn't always great, the film as a whole is compelling. There are touching moments (1900 sees a girl) , moments of tension (The challenge by Jazz legend Jelly Roll Morton), and musical magic. My most memorable scene is when Max meets 1900 in the ball room on a stormy night with high rolling seas. The brakes come off the piano and 1900 takes Max on a musical ride. Watch it for this scene alone and stick around for the Jelly Roll battle!

There are some films that,despite having such a miserable long playing time, won't bore you quickly.However,there are films which have a regular playing time and still bore you to death.In the first category I include "The Lord of the Rings","The Wolf of Wall Street" and "The Shawshank Redemption".You can add this one,which takes about 165 minutes,to this list,because this is a breathtaking and fascinating masterpiece.A musical journey told in the form of a fairy tale,that grabs you by the throat in the beginning and releases you when the credits start.I'm not really a jazz enthusiast or a piano recitals specialist,but it aroused my musical curiosity.Sometimes it feels as if you are getting musical education and you're actually continuously looking at some virtuosic piano playing like in "Grand Piano".There is however a big difference with the latter.And that's the fact that you stay intrigued and want to watch further so you can see how it unfolds.And you don't need toothpicks so your eyes stay open.It's not a recent film, but there was somebody who was praising this movie on some web page and I had to see it.The whole story is told from the perspective of Max Tooney (Pruitt Taylor Vince) who played brass trumpet along with a legendary pianist in an orchestra on a cruise ship called "The Virginian".This legendary pianist once was abandoned by some poor immigrants and was left to be found in the class of the wealthier passengers, probably to ensure his future,but was eventually discovered and adopted by Danny Boodmann (Bill Nunn),a coal-man in the engine room.The young boy was named Danny Boodmann T.D. Lemon Nineteen Hundred.Or just plain simply 1900, his year of birth.To avoid problems with certain instances 1900 lived deep in the hull of the cruise ship, until the day Danny died.Then he suddenly disappears.Until he reappears one night,sitting behind a piano and playing it in a wonderful way.He'll become the most virtuoso fabulous pianist in the world who doesn't have the courage to set foot on shore.It's directed by Giuseppe Tornatore and is based on the monologue Novecento of the writer Alessandro Baricco.Overall,I thought there were three major chapters in this film.The first part can be described as "Oliver Twist on The Titanic".The same atmosphere and guidance as in Titanic,but without an iceberg anywhere so the crossing to America was completed without a hitch and one could behold the Statue of Liberty after arrival. A kind of Walt Disney part where the first years of 1900 were told in an amusing way. The second part is the largest and most musical part. A series of musical interludes, including the piano duel against Jelly Roll,"The man who invented jazz" as people said,and 1900.Ennio Morricone provided the musical frame.So you know that this is a guarantee for masterful pieces of music.The third part is the most philosophical and tragicomic area.The attempt that Max is doing to get 1900 to leave the old cruise ship before it gets demolished.Three chapters which flow into each other fluently.In the beginning it alternates between the past and the present by means of flashbacks.An engaging,comical and touching film that continues to fascinate and amaze.Tim Roth,who I recently saw starring in "Broken" and also has an impressive resume on his name,takes care of the lead role as the adult 1900.I think he's a wonderful actor who just has an innate calmness, interspersed with a truly sad, melancholic posture and gaze.The childish amazement about everyday things and the otherworldliness are expressed by him in a simple,unaffected way.He seems like a humble, timid and kind person,until he uses a heartfelt "asshole".A pianist who uses his emotions and the observed characteristics of people in his piano playing and only lives for his music. During a recording that was made by a music company,which would make him world famous and very rich,you can hear the tone and atmosphere of his piano performance slowly turn into a very intimate timbres merely by the appearance of a lovely lady.Even the deep philosophical reasoning in the end sounded acceptable, although 1900 didn't enjoy academic education.He gave a simplistic though rational explication about his state of mind and fear of the unknown.Pruitt Taylor Vince takes on the role of Max,the lone musician who is forced to sell his instrument.He wasn't really known to me.When I read his biography,he seemed to have made quite a furore in the years 80-90. He has won an Emmy for his role in "Murder One".It looks as if he has been forgotten a bit and only played small parts in some other films.Probably those parts were so small that I can't even remember them.All in all I found him fitting for this part although there was sometimes a case of overacting and he wasn't really in sync with the rudderless ship during the storm as he was wobbling all over the place.This stormy scene was for me rather too dramatic and slapstick-like.Pretending to be seasick,swaying back and forth and doing the waltzing dance while sitting behind the piano.Although this film is appropriate for it,it still didn't become an overly grand Hollywood spectacle.It was sometimes overwhelming and impressive.The moment someone sees the Statue of Liberty and the whole ship starts waving with handkerchiefs and everybody is shouting out of intense joy (while the upper class sticks to a polite subdued applause) was the first goosebumps moment. After the umpteenth time however,despite the successful comedic approach in the end,it was a bit too much.Also the piano duel was a highlight where it was indisputable that 1900 played in such a way that it looked like he was playing with four hands (and the highlight of the smoldering cigarette of course).Yet at one time I had reached a saturation point.A superb duel and brilliant expressions,but still it was excessively long.But these tiny remarks don't outweigh the greatness of this film. Brilliant, excellent movie !More reviews at http://opinion-as-a-moviefreak.blogspot.be

Seems a lot of folk that watch movies, have the mistaken view that if a film looks in anyway whatsoever 'different' it 'must' be good!. I'd imagine that '1900' must have made some members of the Italian fine Arts Council, and all those listed in the credits for pouring tons of money into this fiasco, want to hide themselves in the rest-room after the premiere. They must to this day, still be hiding the investment figures from any government auditors ~ following a massive $9 Million dollars, that returned less than $260,000. The version my wife and I watched was the international, running a seemingly interminable 123 Min's. To think that some poor souls overseas had to sit through 170 Min's is untenable. As it was, my wife kept asking how much longer can they stretch this ridiculously thin material? Perhaps the original Monologue by Alessandro Baricco (if it was short enough) may have held up, but as an overblown movie, not quite so.Director: Giuseppe Tornatore (and his bank-rollers) must have thought that after the success of 'Cinema Paradiso' everything he touches will turn to gold. But as this movies huge losses showed...all that glitters is not gold. And 'glitter' this movie does, big time. The sets are HUGE, but overdone to the point of being unintentionally unconvincing. Director of Photography: Hungarian born Lajos Koltai works hard, but the story and situations are simply so outlandishly foolish, that he can only attempt to add some visual saving graces. I would even go so far to say the word 'Fable' was added to the publicity as a last minute bid to salvage a complete wreak, following audience reactions.As a collector of Ennio Morricone soundtracks, I even found this score uninspired, as if he too knew this one was was doomed to failure.If you're easily pleased, and love 'Arty' pretensions, then you might enjoy this not entirely successful overindulgence. As with another film of director Tornatore; the very stylish, sex fueled, foul mouthed entry 'Malena'...I hope to never suffer either again. Maybe '1900' is OK for those that like to add their own depth to shallow fiction. It's also possible it might have been better if it had been given a way less excessive treatment ~ or even a better choice of stars (these look as if they're wondering if they've wandered onto the wrong set) it might then have come a little closer to working, but wouldn't hold out too much hope....