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5.4/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.4/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Aldebaran remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like old Italian dramas that get a little too wrapped up in marital angst, maybe. It’s definitely not for anyone looking for a tight plot. You’ll probably hate it if you have zero patience for guys who let their insecurities ruin their day, every single day.
The whole thing feels like one long, slow-motion argument. Corrado is supposed to be this respected naval officer, but half the time he's just staring daggers at his wife or looking stressed in a uniform that fits him way better than his life does.
There’s a specific scene where he’s meant to be focusing on duty, but you can see his brain just stuck on whatever his wife did last night. It feels *real* in that annoying, human way where you want to reach into the screen and shake him. 🙄
Speaking of feeling out of place, the tone jumps around a bit. It’s not quite as experimental as The Life and Death of 9413, a Hollywood Extra, but it has these odd little beats where you expect something big to happen and instead, just another tense conversation happens in a doorway.
It’s not as light as Kiddie Kabaret, that's for sure. It feels heavier, maybe trying to be a bit more serious about military life than the budget or the script really allows.
I found myself staring at the background details more than the actors. Is that a real ship? Is that a prop? Who cares, really. It’s just the vibe of the thing.
Ultimately (oops, I used the word), it’s a bit of a slog. But if you’re into the history of these types of films, you’ll find enough to chew on. Just don't expect a masterpiece of naval strategy. It’s all about the drama on the home front, even when they're supposed to be at sea. ⚓