Uno bianca (2001) (TV)

A solid modern day made-for-TV Italian crime thriller, 13 June 2006

Back in the late-80s/early-90s, Michele Soavi appeared to be the one of the few bright spots in Italy's struggling film community. But after making Cemetery Man in 1994, he seemed to have dropped off the face of the Earth. While Uno bianca is the only thing from Soavi that I've seen since his return, he doesn't appear to have lost anything that made him such a promising director. The direction and other technical aspects of the film are nicely done. Soavi obviously knows how to put together a long film and keep it flowing. At 200 minutes in length, Uno bianca is a long film. But not once during the entire runtime did I ever get bored. In fact, I was so entertained that I actually wanted more. While not necessarily groundbreaking, the cinematography and editing provide a lot of interest. There's a definite touch of style running throughout the film that adds much to the enjoyment.

Uno bianca is the story of the police's attempt to put a stop to a group of murderous robbers known as the "Uno Bianca Gang". Tired of the ineffective police bureaucracy, Officer Valerio (Kim Rossi Stuart) and his partner, Rocco (Dino Abbrescia), decide to take a different approach to put a stop to the gang. By re-interviewing witnesses, wiretapping phones, and setting up video surveillance, Valerio is convinced that he and his partner can discover who is behind the gang and stop their reign of terror. While the plot may sound similar to some the poliziotteschi made in the 70s, Uno bianca is more akin to a police procedural and lacks the over-the-top violence and outrageous plot points often found in those films. The film has more in common with the television show Law & Order than it does some of its Italian predecessors like Almost Human or Syndicate Sadists. Uno bianca is based in reality with real people carrying out a real investigation. That's not to say there aren't scenes of violence and bloodshed, but these moments remain firmly grounding in the real world.

A film as long as Uno bianca will only work if the acting is good and believable. Stuart is excellent in the lead role. He has a quiet confidence about him that works. Stuart's Valerio is the kind of character that's easy to believe in and root for. In contrast, Abbrescia plays Rocco a little more laid back and fun-loving. Still, he's no less committed to his job. He's the kind of guy you would like to have for a friend. And finally, Pietro Bontempo is perfect in the role of Michele, the leader of the "Uno Bianca Gang". Botempo gives Michele the intelligence and ruthlessness necessary to head-up a criminal enterprise. Similar to the point I made when discussing the plot, it's the realism these actors give to their characters that helps to make Uno bianca work. Good job, guys!

8/10