8½

I’ve seen reviews all over the web claiming that 8 1/2 is the greatest film ever made and I just don’t see it. I really like the idea that the film itself is, in a way, about the film; as Guido tries to figure out what his film will be about, we’re trying to figure out what 8 1/2 is about. I also like the parallel between Guido and his film’s characters (they’re literally a depiction of Guido’s real life). Though not every scene is an aesthetic masterpiece, certain scenes are truly spectacles. I like the fast-paced style with lots of camera movement, which kept me from getting bored. Finally, I liked the blend between what Guido was imagining and what was real, though I can only recall two scenes depicting that dynamic (near the beginning when he met his mother, and near the end when he “committed suicide”). That being said, other than those few spectacular scenes, the film just felt ordinary. I was deliberating on whether to rate it a 3 or a 3.5, but since I hate when films depict or show cheating (especially a cheating wife), I decided on a 3 (out of 5). I think I’ll need to rewatch this film again after some time to try to absorb it a bit more, now that I already viewed it once.