Diabolik ***½ (2021, Luca Marinelli, Miriam Leone, Valerio Mastandrea) – Classic Movie Review 12,590

Manetti Bros’ 2021 Italian film Diabolik is an engaging, likeable and entertaining reworking of Mario Bava’s 1968 film Danger: Diabolik. Against the odds, it is a success, reworking the original comic book material as a Sixties retro action crime film. 

The Manetti Bros’ 2021 Italian film Diabolik is a thoroughly engaging, likeable and entertaining reworking of Mario Bava’s much admired 1968 film Danger: Diabolik. Against the odds, it is a success, reworking the original comic book material as a Sixties retro action crime film. It’s not really a remake at all, it’s more of an homage, both to Bava’s film and the original comic series. And, wonder of wonders, this time we actually get action and crime, not just comic book campery, in a movie that deliciously has its cake and eats it by taking it seriously and jokily at the same time. The tone is just right.

The story and screenplay co-written by the Manetti Bros is based on the comic series of the same name by Angela and Luciana Giussani. Mario Gomboli is also credited for the story and Michelangelo La Neve is also credited for the screenplay. It runs an epic 133 minutes, which seems dangerous, not to mention off-putting. But, worry not, it keeps moving dynamically along by stylishly employing just about every trick in the book.

The Sixties-set production is superb, with to-die-for vintage cars, artefacts and locations all adding lustre, while the actors add allure. Luca Marinelli, a posh actor from Martin Eden and The Eight Mountains, is strong as the criminal mastermind Diabolik, and looks good suited up in leather. But, the slight problem is, that Diabolik doesn’t get enough screen time, sidelined in his own movie! And no acting is required, even though Marinelli is such a good actor.

So, even so, it’s Miriam Leone who steals the show as the attractive blonde young heiress Eva Kant. Miriam Leone, winner of the Miss Italia beauty contest in 2008, vamps for Italy in a perfectly judged turn. Brava! She is so much fun.

Valerio Mastandrea has a tougher job as Inspector Ginko, but his low-key, intense, smouldering turns kicks in after 10 minutes or so and then stays compelling on the screen.

Diabolik and Eva Kant by comic book artist Sergio Zaniboni.

The story is set in the 1960s in the fictional city of Clerville, where the elusive thief Diabolik hears of the forthcoming visit of heiress Eva Kant, who will be bringing a famous pink diamond with her. While trying to steal the jewel, he is bewitched by Eva’s charms, and she may be reciprocating. But (1) it may not be the real pink diamond; (2) Eva has an influential sugar daddy (Alessandro Roja) called Giorgio Caron who gave her the diamond; and (3) the police, led by Inspector Ginko, Palmer (Pier Giorgio Bellocchio) and Florian (Guglielmo Favilla), are rapidly closing in.

It’s tricky to carve out a coherent plot from comic books, but here it is all very well worked out and compelling, as well as so stylishly and lovingly delivered. Ben fatto, Manetti Bros!

Talking Ben fatto, the visual effects are slick and the cinematography (Francesca Amitrano) is sleek, with crisp editing by Federico Maria Maneschi, and there is a brilliant retro score by Pivio and Aldo De Scalzi and Manuel Agnelli (the Italian alternative rock band Afterhours). Yes, it’s a labour of love.

The Italian release was postponed to 16 December 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kino Lorber acquired the rights for the US.

It is the first part of a movie trilogy by the Manetti Bros. A sequel titled Diabolik: Ginko all’attacco! [Diabolik – Ginko Attacks!] was released on 17 November 2022. Leone and Mastandrea reprise their roles, but Giacomo Gianniotti replaces Luca Marinelli as Diabolik.

A third movie titled Diabolik: chi sei? is set to be released in 2023.

Marco Manetti (born 15 January 1968) and Antonio Manetti (born 16 September 1970), collectively referred to as the Manetti Bros, are Italian film-makers, famed for their video clips, TV series and musical comedies.

The cast are Luca Marinelli as Diabolik, Miriam Leone as Eva Kant, Valerio Mastandrea as Inspector Ginko, Alessandro Roja as Giorgio Caron, Serena Rossi as Elisabeth Gay, Luca Di Giovanni as Roberto, Vanessa Scalera as Caron’s secretary, Roberto Citran as the hotel manager, Antonino Iuorio as the prison warden, Daniela Piperno as the bank manager, Pier Giorgio Bellocchio as police officer Palmer, Guglielmo Favilla as police officer Florian, Urbano Barberini as Duncan, Giovanni Calcagno as a fireman, Davide Devenuto as Inspector Driskell, Stefano Pesce as the trial prosecutor, Massimo Triggiani as Diabolik’s lawyer, and Claudia Gerini as Ms Morel.

© Derek Winnert 2023 – Classic Movie Review 12,590

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