i know i wasted 90 mins of my life.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

Montalbano is great fun and a welcome change from the prevailing British detective/PI trope - a sullen, morose depressive living gloomy landscape, usually morning his lost wife, Alzheimer's ridden parent, etc. He lives in an equally depressing tiny apartment and eats TV dinners. I'm not sure why this trope is so prevalent, but I suppose they think that depressing equals deep and profound. Along comes Montalbano, who lives in sunny Sicilian in a splendid sea front apartment and dines on fine food. He is lively, excitable, and constantly gesticulating, a classic Italian stereotype. He really doesn't seem to have a care in the world apart from making sure that his next meal will be superb and avoiding another crisis with his long distance girlfriend Livia. (In the later books, he worries about getting older, but this never comes up in the TV show.)The show takes you into a world you haven't seen before. The sun, ocean and parched landscape with old, pastel, partially crumbling buildings are almost unreal. This is enhanced by the complete absence of other people or vehicles on the streets. Originally, this was the result of the producers trying to find a place that would be quieter and easier to shoot. Later, they concluded that it added a dreamlike quality to the production and did it on purpose. They were right. (It is jarring to see the prequal, Young Montalbano, where the streets show a normal amount of activity.)The plots are OK, ranging from typical serial killings to kidnapping, etc. It is all done in a gentler way than we are used to seeing. In Sicily, it seems, relationships are more important and less judgmental. It is just a slower, more languid life down there in the heat and the sun. This is reflected in the virtual absence of violence, although he and his men sometimes wield their guns and there is a small amount of gunplay in some episodes. However, the main reason for watching is the Sicilian landscape and the characters. Montalbano commands the loyalty of his equally excitable, team, most prominently Mimi, his number two and unabashed ladies' man, and Fazio, his absolutely reliable assistant. There are also lesser team members, such as Galuzzo, who is a little fast on the trigger, and Gallo, who drives like a madman, plus a few more. And, of course, there is Catarella, the comic relief who has major trouble opening and closing doors and can never get a name right. (He is even funnier in the books, where the translation does much more with his rapid speech and Sicilian dialect.) Perhaps the best secondary character, however, is the medical examiner Pasquano. I also like Balduccio Sanagra, the elderly Mafia Don. He is far more authentic and convincing than anyone you've ever seen on the Sopranos or any American show.He and Montalbano engage in a running dialog of mutual insults that is often hilarious. (Again, this portrayed much better in the books.). The show is also unusual in that it doesn't center on polished looking 20/30 somethings. Most the people you see on screen are over forty and many are elderly with all their rough edges showing. Even the minor characters have, well character. They look and talk like authentic Sicilians, probably because they are. There is some downside to the show. The continuity is very poor at times. Montalbano often suddenly shows up in a different place with no explanation for how or why he got there and what he wants to do. It is very helpful to have read the books to follow the TV show, which also often omits much of the background and rationale for his actions and conclusions. Reading the books helps, but this show really needs much better editing.Following the subtitles is difficult at times. The actors also speak very, very fast. I mean very fast. The subtitles change rapidly. Even then, they must severely truncate the dialog. You sometimes hear a word of Italian or a name in the dialogue that doesn't appear in the subtitles. I can seldom watch an entire two-hour movie in a single sitting with eye fatigue. The translation itself also often leaves a lot to be desired, as it often contains obvious, nonsensical errors.Lastly, it is hard not comparing the TV show to the books. I have already mentioned where the books are far better. As might imagined, they are better at explication and translation. Camilleri also does a lot of word play make a lot of literary references that don't appear on TV. While the books are generally better than the TV show, the TV does have some advantages over the books. The books are riddled with Camileri's leftist ideology, especially on issues of immigration and occupational safety. Fortunately, the TV show omits most of it. (The British could learn a lesson from this.) The Montalbano of the books is never described (apart from having a mustache), so seeing him gives a much stronger impression of what he is like.Overall, Montalbano is a nice change despite the shortcomings. It takes you into a world you haven't seen before with humor, a slower pace, and a set of wonderfully colorful and authentic characters. But I'd read the books first.

Love detective mystery dramas and non-English/American ones also fascinate me. 'Inspector Montalbano' is one of the best and most entertaining examples. It is not easy breathing freshness into a well-worn genre but 'Inspector Montalbano manages to do so with aplomb.Watching 'Inspector Montalbano' is, as said in my review summary and one that to me is apt, like eating a delicious Italian meal that immensely satisfies and leaves you wanting more. There may be very familiar tropes, but in a way it's inevitable and doesn't detract from the enjoyment at all. A couple of stories (like last night's "The Mud Pyramid") may not be as engrossing as most others, or have the most logical, easy-to-follow-entirely plots or the most cooked-all-the-way-through denouements, but this doesn't matter when far outweighed by the rest of the show being so good.If you love all things Italian (with them having some of the best scenery, food and music of any country) and love detective mystery dramas, 'Inspector Montalbano' will be right up your alley most likely. It's beautifully shot always and the scenery is stunning, making those who've never been to Italy want to book a holiday there as soon as possible. The music is never over-bearing or low-key with a nice atmosphere and flavour.Scripts are always tautly written and infused with beautifully balanced and hilarious humour. The subtitles are not hard to follow, while the cases are absorbing and rarely feel convoluted while suitably challenging the viewer. The characters may be stereotypes but well-written ones, especially one of the most fascinating foreign detective mystery dramas titular characters there is to me and the scene-stealing Catarella (hilarious comic relief but more than that).Acting is terrific, especially from Luca Zigaretti who is a treasure in the title role. Angelo Russo's comic timing is a refreshing and always perfectly timed joy. Direction is always paced beautifully and tight while sometimes appropriately deliberate.Overall, brilliant. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Inspector Montalbano ("Il commissario Montalbano") is based on the novels of Italian writer Andrea Camilleri. The books have been expertly translated into English by Stephen Sartarelli. If you have read another of my reviews about the Finnish series "Private Eye Varies," you'll know I am a fan of the Scandinavian mysteries, which are simply brilliant. The Italian mysteries are brilliant, as well, but in very different ways. Montalbano is a stellar example of the latter. These Italian mystery shows are often humorous, contain a strong message of morality, and the major characters are usually bigger than life. Sometimes (as in the Don Matteo mysteries), the relationships of the characters are really what the show is about, and the mystery is… ancillary. The Montalbano action primarily takes place in Vigàta, Sicily. One of the great joys of this series is watching the astonishing Sicilian regional actors hired to do "bit" parts. One can only sit in wonder at the talent on display. And the fascinating physical appearance of many of the actors. It is truly spectacular. These "minor" roles often bring a lot of humor to the series. You'll find yourself watching, mesmerized by them, and for a brief time totally taken away from the main plot (which, inevitably, you always are led back to). One of my favorites is a woman who plucks a chicken while being interviewed. It is unforgettable acting. Another favorite scene is with a man and his parrot, the latter singing "The Internationale." It is so fantastic to watch Montalbano as he (respectfully) interacts with these crazy characters. There are, in fact, too many such scenes to mention. Montalbano has been played since 1999 by the amazing actor Luca Zingaretti. If Inspector Montalbano epitomizes Italian mysteries (arguable, to be sure), Zingaretti is the embodiment of the actors. He's brilliant. He plays both tragedy and comedy with equal skill. And I just love watching him. He is a joy. He reflects us in his bemused but respectful treatment of the odd characters he meets. Zingaretti seems to be an actor who brings out excellence in all those with whom he shares scenes. He is indeed special.For an American audience, the seemingly exaggerated gestures made by Montalbano and others can be a little off-putting (I believe this is somewhat intentionally done in the series – I remember wondering at first if Italian men really, REALLY, behave that way), but there is nothing off-putting about Zingaretti. Nor the other wonderful major characters: Fazio, Augello and Catarella… And, oh but can I single out Catarella for special mention? This would seem to be a sort of "stock" Italian character – comic relief, to be sure. We see similar characters in other series (Natalina in Don Matteo, for example), too. But Catarella stands out. He's truly one of a kind. And I laugh every time he runs into Montalbano's door. Every single time! There is a lot of political and social commentary in the books, and this comes out in the movies. It would be easy to say "Italy is a messed up place," and, for sure, the country and Sicily have a history and reputation that are undeniable. But Montalbano is loyal and true and just. He can do things that are surprising because they would seem to be outside of the law. But ultimately, he is evenhanded and fair. This "fairness" is pervasive in the books and the series. One of the things I like most about this series is its languid pace. There are scenes that go on forever, where nothing happens, and you start to wonder how they can even exist. For example, scenes where Salvo Montalbano is just walking along, going somewhere, thinking. They go on and on. It's wonderful and so very different from the ADHD sort of Law and Order shows we are used to in this country. Another of my favorite things is how beautifully done this series is. The sets are often spectacular, whether it is the inside of someone's apartment, or inside an abandoned warehouse, or even inside an old, unused, underground tunnel. They are, visually, masterpieces to behold.This is a great series. Very much worth watching. I am so glad that Zingaretti has not grown tired of the role. That all the actors are still making this series. And thanks to MHz Worldview International Mystery for airing shows like this and others in the U.S. I can't come close to expressing how glorious (and important!) it is to have these international productions available.And note: Inspector Montalbano is so beloved and popular that another series, a prequel: The Young Montalbano ("Il giovane Montalbano") was made starting in 2012. It is equally excellent. This second, prequel, series has much to offer, in both similar and different ways. Watch for my review!

Detective Montalbano ( Il Commissario Montalbano ) is a film rendition of a classic series of detective novels written by Andrea Camilleri.Our hero Salvo Montalbano, played by the excellent Luca Zingaretti, is a chief detective (Il Commissario) working in the province of Ragusta, Sicily, Italy. Salvo lives a single life, is a gourmet, and a long-distance swimmer with a beautiful ocean-front house. Salvo is confronted with crimes that require his wits, stamina, and a the ability to deal with political and bureaucratic pressures to close cases " quickly " and without stepping on the wrong toes, unless of course, they belong to his subordinates. He manages to somehow accomplish this and also maintain a relationship with his distant and " long-suffering " girlfriend, Livia, living on the mainland in Genoa ( not counting the beautiful women he encounters on-duty in Sicily ).I first saw episodes of this RAI program in Germany where it remains very popular, and began buying the Camilleri novels in the US. I also started collecting the 18 volume DVD collection, which are available from the EBAY Italia website. MHz Television in Virginia, deserves a big credit for introducing the Detective Montalbano series to North America with English subtitles, although the Mhz film quality is somewhat grainy and less colorful when compared to the original DVD.The original novels jump between Italian, Siciliano, and a mix of both. The films make good use of the mainland Italian detectives assigned to Ragusa having to contend with the local police staff language and Sicilian customs. As mentioned in the review above, Catarella, a local officer at the front desk is enjoyable when both confronted by, and confusing to, Salvo Montalbano.If you have been to Sicily, or plan on visiting someday, you will enjoy this series by RAI. Highly recommended !