Directed by Martin Scorsese
Hosted by Martin Scorsese
Genre: Documentary
Country: Italy / UK
Runtime: 246 minutes
MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for some images of violence and sexuality

Evaluation: 10/10
by Greg Ferguson









As my inaugural film review for this column, for which I plan to delve into my past to retrieve for you those films which I believe are worthy of your consideration, I’ve decided to harken back in time to a favourite director of mine’s personal and nostalgic look back at cinema history. Martin Scorsese’s My Voyage To Italy is a sprawling, passionate encomium to the heritage and legacy of Italian cinema, including the likes of Roberto Rosselini, Vittorio de Sica, Luchino Visconti, Federico Fellini, and Michaelangelo Antonioni. More than just a documentary featuring an assortment of highlights, this film transcends that convention to give us the history of one of the most culturally rich nations in the world, and insight into the youth and spirit of arguably one of our greatest living film directors.

Through his loving guidance and narration, we’re treated to a four-hour crash course on the Neo Realist movement and the various other stylistic innovations pioneered by the filmmakers of the time. Yet, the purpose isn’t strictly educative; part of Scorsese’s aim is to share with fellow enthusiasts and lovers of film, art, and history his favourite films. For those who are unfamiliar with the subject, you are introduced to classics such as Paisan, Open City, The Bicycle Thief, Umberto D, Senso, I Vitelloni, La Dolce Vita, 8½, L’avventura, and Eclipse, narrated by a man who grew up in New York City’s Italian community during the 1940s and ‘50s and descended from Sicilian immigrants. Remarkably, we get to see how viewing these films for the first time helped shape Scorsese’s worldview and sense of identity, connecting him at once to his family, his people, and to himself. Likewise, we intuit that his art is his own contribution to this lineage, connecting him back to all that has come before.

The selected clips are all quite engrossing and incredibly tantalizing. None of these films can stand outside of context; there is the sense of a collective life force that permeates each of the films he describes, as if the progress and evolution of a society and an art form are both happening before our eyes. Admittedly, I’ve only seen a smattering of the films depicted, but I am compelled to see them all in full eventually. This is Scorsese’s earnest desire by the end of this documentary: to have inspired us to venture out and explore the past and this hallmark of human achievement we call movies. So too is my own desire in writing this column.

Hi, I am Greg Ferguson and I love movies.

So much so that I will tell you what I like about them and what I love to hate about them. Welcome to Ferguson On Films, where I will review all types of movies from rentals to first-run showings.

If you have an opinion on my opinions, then please share by clicking on the comment section below each post and add your commentary.

About me, your movie critic:

I was born on the 13th of June, 1981, in Moncton, NB, Canada.

The first movie I recall ever seeing is Benji The Hunted (1987), which I didn't even stay long enough at the theatre to see all the way through (Dad chose the movie, and I was duly bored and demanded to leave, despite its running length being merely 88min).

That experience didn't disuade me from gravitating toward other titles, and as I grew older I was attracted to horror and action movies (I rented nearly every Schwarzenegger title from my local Video Tech outlet, although I was disheartened to discover that I couldn't find Hercules In New York (1970)).

Approaching my senior year in high school, I began to take an interest in more adult fare. I found it particularly odd, although empowering, for instance, that at the age of 16 I was brazen enough to attend Oscar And Lucinda (1997) all by myself.

At about the same time, I was beginning to take an avid notice of English literature, and when Hamlet provided me with my first portal into the literary world of human drama, symbolism, metaphor, and Great Danes, I sought out the Kenneth Brannagh film version (1996), which totally bowled me over.

As it happened, I ended up majoring in English at Mount Allison University with minors in Philosophy and Women's Studies, which should tell you that I have an acute interest in the human condition as expressed imaginatively and creatively, with a propensity for deep thought which includes a careful consideration of marginalized peoples.

Of course, I find this all very fun, so don't let my wordiness fool you. I'm a fun guy too!

All my life I've been passionate about movies. I find them to be such an all-involving art form; they show not only sights otherwise foreign to me but worlds, and encompass so many different skills working in cohesion (writing, music, lyricism, art form, acting and performance).

And the best movies are capable of teaching and enlightening; of making us better people. It is a sublime human creation, which for me is so much more than mere entertainment or hobby.
With that said, I hope you have gotten to know me a little better than when you began.

If you would like to contact me for whatever reason, please send me an e-mail at gmfrgsn@gmail.com.

Thanks for visiting Ferguson On Films!