Starring: Gastone Moschin, Barbara Bouchet, Mario Ardof, Frank Wolff, Luigi Pistilli, Ivo Garanni
Runtime: 1hr 28min
Country: Italy
The first in a neo-noir crime trilogy based in Milan from rediscovered director Fernando Di Leo, Caliber 9 successfully pulls of a thriller that is attention grabbing without too much violence. A great fan of noir films, Di Leo stays faithful to necessary cliches (cops, vigilantes, the femme fatale etc.), while adding his own twists that in turn criticize the genre; the most notable being corrupt and ill intended police officers. While the officers are not made out to be straight villains, unlike their American counterparts they are displayed as faulted, and at times, lackadaisical. Unlike other Italian crime films (even some from Di Leo himself) it is unknown through almost the entirety of the film if the protagonist is in fact, innocent. What makes Gastone's character so charming is his mysticism connected to our reliance on him. Also added into the ix are fascist/communist and new vs. old vigiliantism undertones. With its political commenary, violence, great soundtrack from Luis Bacalov, and likeable characters Caliber 9 should not be missed by fans.
Cheesy: 3/5
Sleazy: 3/5
Culty: 4.5/5
Overall: 3.5/5
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