Non Ho Sonno (Dario Argento, 2001)

First, sorry for using the Italian title. Doing that reminds me of the days when I spent hours at a lot of stupid forums where people just copied the Italian titles from IMDB to seem more special, like they actually could spell it and used that title in every day conversation! Believe me, very few fans out there are SO smart and knowledgeable. In this case I've always known Sleepless as Non Ho Sonno (or Nonhosonno) because I bought it directly on DVD from Italy at the time it was released. Both titles feels boring and unimaginative any way, so what the hell...

When I first saw Non Ho Sonno I liked it, and the 2-3 times after that - but suddenly the fascination wore off and I didn't feel it was worth watching. I've seen The Card Player and Trauma more times for example, and I know how many who dislikes the first one. But its just a better told movie. Non Ho Sonno suffers from being a movie Argento made just to satisfiy his fans out there. He'd left that specific style years before, focusing on other themes and experimenting with different ideas. This didn't pay off and instead he made a movie that feels more like one of those tacky best of CD's you can buy at gas stations. 

The fans wants knifes on red velvet? Check. The fans wants a house with secrets? Check. The fans wants a doll? Check! And so on... I don't mind it really. Argento did a similar thing with Mother of Tears and his supernatural horrors, and it worked a lot better. What's the difference? Maybe because the last Mother somehow was connected to two other existing and have a bigger warrant to exist? I don't know. But among fans Non Ho Sonno is regared a better movie than it really is.

But I've changed my mind a little bit. It's not that bad. I found it more enjoyable today than I found it to be earlier. Probably because I've seen a lot worser movies since then! The almost mechanical set-ups and very graphic - but uninspired - gory kills is entertaining for a fan of giallos. It's a wonderful thing to just watch Argento work with themes he's an expert on, and somehow - even with some mind-numblingly stupid plot holes - it works in the end. The acting are crappier than crap - except for Gabriele Lavia and Stefano Dionisi, and Max Von Sydow of course. It's like watching a bunch of paralyzed monkey trying to cobble together a new Shakespeare-play in complete darkness. 

One thing I love is Von Sydow's understated acting and how the usually tepid cinematographer Ronnie Taylor almost lite him like Sven Nykvist would do it. The reason why Argento casted him was because of the Bergman-connection, so it's not surprising there's so much respect and calmess in Von Sydown's scenes. 

You know, there's lot with this movie I really don't like. But it deliver a fairly interesting mystery with a couple of good ideas. The gore is good and more violent and graphic than usual and the Goblin-score is okay-ish. It's not THAT bad, it works. It's just Argento the robot doing his job. I just wish he would have done this during his prime. Imagine this when he was on the top and loved his work, maybe directly after the similar Deep Red - or hell, even in the early eighties.

Now it's just a decent giallo from a direct who lost his passion for storytelling. 

Comments

[Megatron]

"First, sorry for using the Italian title. Doing that reminds me of the days when I spent hours at a lot of stupid forums where people just copied the Italian titles from IMDB to seem more special, like they actually could spell it and used that title in every day conversation! Believe me, very few fans out there are SO smart and knowledgeable."

At first I thought you were reviewing a asian film or something....

I usually use copy/past from IMDB because then you avoid confusion....let´s say you and I are discussing Fair Game......but which one?

(1986), (1995), or (2010)?

Original titles is ok I think, but I usually add the worldwide english titles as well.....IMDB however, changes these from time to time.

"When I first saw Non Ho Sonno I liked it, and the 2-3 times after that - but suddenly the fascination wore off and I didn't feel it was worth watching."

Heard of this film but never seen it.

"Non Ho Sonno suffers from being a movie Argento made just to satisfiy his fans out there. He'd left that specific style years before, focusing on other themes and experimenting with different ideas. This didn't pay off and instead he made a movie that feels more like one of those tacky best of CD's you can buy at gas stations."

Nothing unusal....some directors need to do that so their careers will survive, usually after a failed film that generated only negative reviews, and bad boxoffice.

"But I've changed my mind a little bit. It's not that bad. I found it more enjoyable today than I found it to be earlier. Probably because I've seen a lot worser movies since then!"

Or maybe you were just in the mood for this film.

"and Max Von Sydow of course."

That guy is a.....FUCKING LEGEND!

Well......Von Sydow is bonafide, just look at man´s CV.....he has done it all.

"It's like watching a bunch of paralyzed monkey trying to cobble together a new Shakespeare-play in complete darkness."

hahahhahahhahha....I´m stealing this from you.

"One thing I love is Von Sydow's understated acting"

Yeah, just look at him in Le scaphandre et le papillon/The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007), Three Days of the Condor (1975) for example, very subtle, lowkey.

"Imagine this when he was on the top and loved his work, maybe directly after the similar Deep Red - or hell, even in the early eighties. Now it's just a decent giallo from a direct who lost his passion for storytelling."

Sometimes you just have to settle for less, good review and thanks, Fred.

[Fred Anderson]

"I usually use copy/past from IMDB because then you avoid confusion....let´s say you and I are discussing Fair Game......but which one? (1986), (1995), or (2010)?"

I seriously doubt you're using "A Fei zheng zhuan" instead of Days of Being Wild?

That's what I mean, using foreign titles that you can't spell just to seem special to others. The forums are filled of these idiots who really, REALLY think they're something.

[Megatron]

Fred: Read the rest......I use BOTH of them....so it would be "A fei zheng zhuan/Days of being wild".

Just to avoid confusion, but sure....there are some that wants to be special.

[Jesper]

First Carrie 2 and now Sleepless - two movies I planed to rewatch and review, we must be in synch :) Great review(s) Fred, as always!