Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Michelangelo Antonioni: 1912-2007

Michelangelo Antonioni, the Italian modernist who's stark, enigmatic films provided a counterpoint to the neorealism of such peers as Frederico Fellini, died yesterday, the same day as another cinematic legend, Ingmar Bergman.

Antonioni made his mark on international filmmaking in the 1960's with his acclaimed L'Avventura trilogy (featuring his muse, Monica Vitti) and the highly influential Blow Up, a watershed moment for the swinging decade. Following the infamous Zabriskie Point, Antonioni rebounded with The Passenger (starring Jack Nicholson), considered by many one of his finest works.

Although not as prolific as some of his contemporaries, Antonioni's seductive visual style and minimalist vision placed him among the elite of international iconoclasts. His impact and influence on world film is immeasurable.

Links via Imdb.com and NYTimes.com.

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