Illuminata
Illuminata

Illuminata

1998Movie119 minEnglish

It's the start of the 20th century, and Tuccio, resident playwright of a theatre repertory company offers the owners of the company his new play, "Illuminata". They reject it, saying it's not finished, and intrigue starts that involves influential critic Bevalaqua, theatre star Celimene, young lead actors and other theatre residents

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Insights

IMDb6.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes42%
Metacritic51/100
Google Users64%
Director: John TurturroGenres: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Plot Summary

In the gritty, noir-inspired underworld of 1930s New York, a down-on-his-luck songwriter named Dustin is desperate for inspiration and a break. He finds himself entangled with a cast of colorful characters, including a club singer, a tough mob boss, and a mysterious woman, all while trying to get his play produced. The film explores themes of love, ambition, and the struggle for artistic integrity in a world of crime and deception.

Critical Reception

Illuminata received a mixed to negative reception from critics. While some praised its stylistic ambition and Turturro's distinctive vision, many found the film to be overly long, convoluted, and lacking in narrative coherence. The performances were generally acknowledged, but the overall impact was deemed underwhelming.

What Reviewers Say

  • The film boasts a unique visual style and ambitious storytelling.
  • However, many critics found the plot to be convoluted and the pacing uneven.
  • Performances are generally strong, but can't entirely salvage the narrative.

Google audience: Google users offered a more favorable view than critics, with many appreciating the film's quirky characters and artistic sensibilities. However, some found it to be slow and difficult to follow.

Fun Fact

The film's distinctive visual style was heavily influenced by classic film noir and the expressionist cinema of Germany in the 1920s.

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