Inspector Montalbano

Sun, food, women, and murder; four words that best describe the Italian detective series Inspector Montalbano based on the books by Andrea Camilleri. Primarily set in picturesque Sicily, the series takes a wickedly fun and sinister approach as Inspector Montalbano, played by Luca Zingaretti, and his team go about solving crimes in the region.  

Having viewed two episodes I found Inspector Montalbano to be exceptionally well crafted because it tackles humor, death, and mystery in just the right balance. The series in general can be a bit unnerving at times, in a positive manner, because it combines sporadic moments of comedy with that of misery, changing the mood from light to dark, and back again, instantly at the flip of a coin.  

Excursion to Tindariconsists of the inspector looking at a murder, a missing elderly couple, and a case of adultery amidst politics and mafia intrusions. What struck me most about this episode was the unconventional end, something that brings forth the extreme cunningness of the Inspector.

The Artist's Touchis a murder mystery with a storyline consisting of deductions that mirror Sherlock Holmes at times. Once again, as in the previous episode, there is always a lingering shadow of the "important" things in life; beautiful women and food, both of which usually bring about the humorous side of Inspector Montalbano. 

It's easy to be carried away and get comfortable with the number of subplots while watching Inspector Montalbano. After only a little while the transition into reading the subtitles became natural, but still, a number of times I was so engrossed in the episodes, admiring and enjoying the original language (Italian), that I would skip reading the subtitles having to actually rewind, in-order to understand what was being said.

While the title character of the series portrays a certain charisma and charm and is without doubt the "hero", it has to be the supporting cast and their mannerisms that truly make it special. Be it the regulars, with a special mention of Catarella, or the episodic cast, each member is so well developed that they form an integral part of the series with Inspector Montalbano serving as a head keeping everything and everyone under control. It is also this supporting cast that is primarily responsible for the subtle, almost Peter Seller-esq comedy that underlines the series throughout. The influence of Italian culture is abundant with the food and sun-kissed locations playing a prominent role along with a general flirting that takes place between a number of characters.

Inspector Montalbano brings about certain freshness amongst the barrage of detective series that are produced in the west. Making the most of its location, the series keeps itself unique by having strong characters that can't help but make the audience love them and their eccentricities.       

Inspector Montalbano is a series not to be missed, especially if you like your dinner served by the seaside with a hint of anguish, a dash of whimsy, and a sprinkle of personalities to bring about an explosion of taste. 

DVD Information:

Title - Inspector Montalbano Collection Two

Episodes - Excursion to Tindari, The Artist's Touch, The Sense of Touch, Montalbano's Croquettes, The Scent of the Night, The Goldfinch and the Cat.

Release Date - 3rd September 2012

Running Time - 611 minutes approx. on 3 discs

Certificate - 15

Language - Italian with English Subtitles

Release - Acorn Media UK

Dial M for Murder

Hitchcock at his best. A husband (Ray Milland) planning to kill his adulterous wife (Grace Kelly). A murder gone wrong. The murderer (Anthony Dawson) ends up murdered. Perfect set up for an intense and compelling story.

There have been a number of remakes of this brilliant piece of a murder mystery that takes the genre and reverses it by telling the audience everything from the get go. The mystery, as the audience watches, is for the film characters to slowly put the pieces of the puzzle together.

Dial M for Murder is full of suspense and thrills and manages to entice the audience in a sort of cat and mouse one-upmanship game that takes place between the characters. The brilliance of Hitchcock is that although the identity of the culprit is known, all the characters have shades of grey making the audience question their decisions throughout the film.

Obviously, the tension build-up in the final act is typical Hitchcock, edge of the seat, fun. Considering that the entire film has a claustrophobic feel to it, as it is mostly filmed in the confined area of an apartment, and it still manages to entertain, proves why Hitchcock has always been known as the "master" of suspense.

4/5 Star Rating