this is what I wrote a friend about "life is beautiful"...

Rating: 10/10 (31 May 1999)

astonishing. thanks so much for the recommendation. i suspended my identity in favor of his and when he loosened his grip at the end i pretty much fell apart -- couldn't remember who i was. from the faces of the other audience members, they were going through the same thing. Not to exaggerate, but i don't think anyone has gone to the heart of masculine/feminine comedy/tragedy with that big a presence since Garbo in the 1930s. If i'm right, this is causing an earthquake in hollywood, because he'll be altering the landscape of acting (like brando did in the 50s with "streetcar" and "on the waterfront"). Perhaps ACTING will once again be at the center of the cinema industry, where it currently is not. all hail roberto benigni.