Il Divo

 

Il Divo (2009)

NEUTRAL
Various
Movie Reviews88%
NR
2008, Biography, 1h 50m
RT Critics’ Score: 92% (UNBIASED)
RT Audience Score: 80%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
32 wins & 40 nominations total

 

Critics Consensus

While the web of corruption in this Italian political thriller can be hard for a non-native to follow, the visuals and the intrigue are compelling and thrilling in equal measure
 

Audience Consensus

Il Divo is a wild ride through the corrupt world of Italian politics, with Tony Servillo delivering a performance that’s so good, it’s like he’s been mummified in plaster of Paris. But don’t worry, this movie isn’t as dry as a history textbook – it’s full of flashy visuals and hilarious deadpan moments that will keep you entertained from start to finish. If you’re looking for a biopic that’s both familiar and completely unique, Il Divo is the movie for you. Just don’t blame us if you start dancing like a corrupt politician afterwards.
 
Movie Trailer

Movie Info

Storyline

The story of Italian politician Giulio Andreotti, who has served as Prime Minister of Italy seven times since the restoration of democracy in 1946.

 
Production Company(ies)

 
Distributor
Music Box Films
 
Release Type
Theatrical
 
Filming Location(s)
Via del Corso, Rome, Lazio, Italy
 
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
 
Year of Release
2008
 

Technical Specs
  • Color:
    Color
  • Sound mix:
    Dolby Digital
  • Aspect ratio:
    2.35 : 1
  • Runtime:
    1h 50m
  • Language(s):
    Italian, English
  • Country of origin:
    United States
  • Release date:
    Release Date (Theaters): Apr 24, 2009 Limited
    Release Date (Streaming): Oct 27, 2009

 
Genre(s)
Biography
 
Keyword(s)

 

Box Office Details

Worldwide gross: $11,260,366
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $15,510,724
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,806
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,691,464
 
US/Canada gross: $240,159
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $330,810
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,428
US/Canada opening weekend: $13,867
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $19,101
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,529
 
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): 5700000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $7,851,532
Production budget ranking: 1,758
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $4,228,050
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $3,431,142
ROI to date (est.): 28%
ROI ranking: 1,248

 
Movie Cast & Crew

Cast & Crew

Toni ServilloGiulio AndreottiAnna BonaiutoLivia DanesePiera Degli Esposti
Toni Servillo
Giulio Andreotti
Anna Bonaiuto
Livia Danese
Piera Degli Esposti
Giulio Andreotti
Livia Danese
Signora Enea
Aldo Moro
Eugenio Scalfari
Toni Servillo – Giulio Andreotti
Anna Bonaiuto – Livia Danese
Piera Degli Esposti – Signora Enea
Paolo Graziosi – Aldo Moro
Giulio Bosetti – Eugenio Scalfari
Flavio Bucci – Franco Evangelisti

 

Paolo SorrentinoPaolo SorrentinoFrancesca CimaNicola GiulianoAndrea Occhipinti
Paolo Sorrentino
Paolo Sorrentino
Francesca Cima
Nicola Giuliano
Andrea Occhipinti
Director
Writer
Producer
Producer
Producer

Director(s)
Paolo Sorrentino
 
Writer(s)
Paolo Sorrentino
 
Producer(s)
Francesca Cima, Nicola Giuliano, Andrea Occhipinti

 
Movie Reviews & Awards
Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
32 wins & 40 nominations total
 
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
 

Top Reviews
Jonathan F. RichardsPeter HowellBrian TallericoRoger EbertKerry Lengel
Jonathan F. Richards
Peter Howell
Brian Tallerico
Roger Ebert
Kerry Lengel
Film.com
Toronto Star
Movie Retriever
Chicago Sun-Times
Arizona Republic
IL DIVO
 All Critics (51) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (47) | Rotten (4)
 The film takes flight on the brilliant title performance by Tony Servillo (Gomorrah), who plays Andreotti like a mummified Alec Guinness, as if encased in layers of plaster of Paris.
 
 August 23, 2009
 
 Jonathan F. Richards
 Film.com
 TOP CRITIC
 We may not know the man, but we know the dance, as seen in the highly diverting and hugely controversial Il Divo, a biopic as wly as its subject.
 
 July 10, 2009 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Peter Howell
 Toronto Star
 TOP CRITIC
 A stunning piece of work that feels both familiar and completely unique at the same time.
 
 July 10, 2009
 
 Brian Tallerico
 Movie Retriever
 TOP CRITIC
 After I saw Il Divo, I suppose I should have felt indignation. I suppose I should also have felt that way after “The Godfather.” But such films present such mesmerizing figures that I simply regard them, astonished.
 
 July 9, 2009 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Roger Ebert
 Chicago Sun-Times
 TOP CRITIC
 The enigmatic Andreotti is the perfect subject for a biopic in the European tradition.
 
 June 30, 2009 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Kerry Lengel
 Arizona Republic
 TOP CRITIC
 All in all, this phenomenal film illustrates Alexis de Tocqueville’s observation that “The people get the government they deserve.” In both meanings of the word, Il Divo is sensational.
 
 June 5, 2009 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Carrie Rickey
 Philadelphia Inquirer
 TOP CRITIC
 A more conventional filmmaker would be defeated by Andreotti’s murky history, but Sorrentino’s flamboyantly Baroque approach – full of dazzling visual flourishes worthy of Scorsese in his pomp – delivers an indelible portrait.
 
 November 21, 2020
 
 Jason Best
 Movie Talk
 Sumptuous filmmaking at its most flashiest, “Il Divo” may distance some people but I found it to be riveting.
 
 January 17, 2020
 
 Ard Vijn
 ScreenAnarchy
 A clever telling of the story about the epic levels of corruption in Italian public life that found the suitably opaque, vampiric presence of Andreotti at the centre of it.
 
 February 1, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
 
 PJ Nabarro
 Patrick Nabarro
 A fascinating history of recent Italian politics.
 
 April 2, 2010 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Wesley Lovell
 Cinema Sight
 … not so much a savage satire as one disenchanted with the institutional corruption of politics.
 
 December 5, 2009
 
 Sean Axmaker
 Seanax.com
 … Sorrentino avoids the dreary conventions of the biopic in favor of a cheeky mix of music montages, dramatic re-enactments and hilariously deadpan takes ….
 
 September 11, 2009 | Rating: 7/10
 
 Sarah Boslaugh
 Playback:stl…

 
Movie Plot & More
Plot
The story of Italian politician Giulio Andreotti, who has served as Prime Minister of Italy seven times since the restoration of democracy in 1946.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features Toni Servillo in a “brilliant title performance” as Giulio Andreotti, playing him like a “mummified Alec Guinness.”
 
Movie Links Wikipedia and Rotten Tomatoes

Links
Wikipedia: Go to Wiki
Rotten Tomatoes: Go to RT

 
Where to Watch

Where to Watch

 
Move the ScorePaolo-Sorrentino.jpg

Movies, Streaming