SERGIO LEONE

I have always wanted to inaugurate Sergio Leone through a post due to the fact that he’s overlooked (I.M.O.P.O.) and not too many pay respects to his regard. I consider Sergio Leone to be one of the most important film directors of all time. He should be situated shoulder to shoulder among the greatest and most well-regarded film directors like Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, Martin Scorsese, and Akira Kurosawa just to name a few. He launched Clint Eastwood’s career through the “Dollars trilogy” (‘Fist Full of Dollars’, ‘For a Few Dollars More’, and ‘The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly’) and forever changed and redefined American western. He specifically blurred the lines between the good and the bad through his subtle juxtaposition which revolutionized movies into something more realistic and believable. He made a scene longer than anybody would usually do a scene for letting the scene bleed into the audience absolutely captivating their utmost attention. His wide angles, extreme facial close-ups, and his speechless (pun intended) intros inspired me as well as other directors (Quentin Tarantino) in the way they would want their movies done. Kill Bill, Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, and pretty much all Tarantino films are clearly due to Quentin’s fascination with Sergio Leone (one could argue). So before you go out and watch “Inglorious Bastards” this weekend (which I know you will), try to gain some knowledge on its predecessor and watch “A Fist Full of Dollars”. INFLUENCIAL.

It's another installment of the WEEKEND JUMPOFF. See ya'll on the flipside.

-somegiant