Erica Derrick By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Brennan Camacho Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

Sarita Rafferty There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

Cassandra Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Bob Pr. I'm glad others like this so much -- many say it's the best film they've ever seen -- but it falls short of that for me. It's in the "neo-realistic Italian style" using "ordinary people" rather than trained actors which sometimes leads to more realistic films.Not for me in this case. To me, it seemed needlessly "jumpy" -- almost like its sequencing and development followed sort of a "comic strip" model in which actions are briefly portrayed followed by some later ones (or preceded by others), and it's up to the viewer/reader to fill in the gaps in the sequences and development. Also, I've had dogs for over half my long life and they've been very loving companions. While "Flike" (Umberto's dog) was a trained 'actor,' I NEVER saw the emotional reaction of genuine mutual love and affection that usually intermittently, spontaneously takes place between a man (or woman) and his/her dog. Trained obedience? Yes.Companions? Yes.Bosom buddies? No. No sign. Great story. Great plot.Execution? -- so-so.

Jeff Strichart I mainly posted this review to say that it is my favorite film of all time, and so I was flattered to read here that Ingmar Bergman said that it was his favorite film of all time as well. It is a must-watch as long as you are of the right persuasion and do not buy your movies at Walmart, because you will not find anything blowing up here; no product placement and it was not uber-market tested to appeal to the least common denominator. Nor does it feature played out actors delivering sound bytes disguised as lines. In fact much of the cast of Umberto D. were not even actors. However if you have an attention span longer than that of a flea and know how to appreciate a masterpiece then this is one for you.

Jackson Booth-Millard From director Vittorio De Sica (Bicycle Thieves, The Garden of the Finzi-Continis), I knew nothing about this Italian film before I found it in the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die book, and I had no idea of the concept or plot before watching it, so it was going to be interesting to try. Basically elderly pensioner and retired civil servant Umberto Domenico Ferrari (Carlo Battisti) is taking part in a street demonstration held by other pensioners who are demanding an increase in their money, but the police clean the streets of the crowd, and all he can do is return to his cheap furnished room in a boarding house and his dog Flick. Umberto is threatened to be evicted from the house by the landlady Antonia Belloni (Lina Gennari) who is demanding the rent he owes, all he can do to make the money he needs is sell his books and his watch, he does not want to beg in the streets as he has his pride. He is not able to get a loan from any of his acquaintances as well, his only true friend is the boarding house servant and simple girl Maria (Maria Pia Casilio), she is pregnant with the baby of one of two soldiers, neither of them will admit they are the father. Umberto's financial difficulties are delayed more when he contracts a sore throat and is admitted to hospital, when he is allowed to leave he has a frantic search for Flick who has disappeared, he eventually locates him in a dog pound, but he is indeed evicted from the house and is now homeless. Umberto feeling at his lowest plans to kill himself, so he first wants to find a home for his dog, unable to do this he decides that his pet must die with him, and cuddled up together he stands in the path of an incoming train, but he cannot go through with suicide and moves away, so the film ends with Umberto and Flick just playing together in a park, reaffirming the love for his dog, and for life. Also starring Alberto Albani Barbieri as Fiancé and Elena Rea as Sister. The director said "the ideal film would be ninety minutes in the life of a man to whom nothing happens, that statement does almost seem true as not a lot happens, but the poignant moments definitely work well, with Battisti certainly giving a fantastic performance as the old man going into despair and attempting to fight it, he is supported by non professional actors, shot on location this film works really well as an observational piece of a man ostracised from the society he formerly helped secure, it is a watchable drama. It was nominated the Oscar for Best Writing, Motion Picture Story. Very good!

Enchorde Whenever there is a list of classical movies that you just must see, Umberto D is very often among them. It is often said to be an masterpiece, and after seeing it, I can see why people say that. But it wasn't a movie for me.Umberto D is about an old man, Umberto, whose situation is grim. His pension is low, he is facing eviction and his friends are few. Ultimately he doubts his own need and will to live. It is a grim piece of reality. But just so. I can see why people think highly of the movie, but for me I want something else. I need a movie to either entertain me, or to touch me in some way. Umberto failed to do either. It certainly wasn't entertaining, and even though his situation is far from good, the filming and acting is good as well, it just didn't touch me. Somehow it was too ordinary, it was too good at what it aimed to be, a realistic movie. Unfortunately, perhaps.5/10