Salo, or The 120 Days of Sodom
I get asked a lot what my favorite review of the entire series is. The answer to that question is this one right here. The "Salo" video. It isn't the funniest of the whole series, and it might not have a lot of rewatchable value, but it's definitely the most stand out video of all of them I've done.
The video just started out as an experiment. What if the Snob reviewed Passolini's "Salo," one of the most controversial, perverted, and disgusting movie on the face of the planet; but as a twist, the character loves the movie because it's still a pretentious art film, even though the movie makes him physically sick.
It's the hardest video I ever had to write for the series. It's one thing writing a fake negative review for a movie I kinda like, but it's a whole other thing to write an incredibly pretentious positive review for a movie that I personally don't like. This video is my favorite, because the entire series is satirical. It makes fun of pompous arrogant movie critics who try to review exploitation films (and yes, it's also about me taking many jabs at the movies themselves). And in my mind, this review really gets that through, because in the league of artsy film criticism, the same critic who would give something like "Cannibal Holocaust" a zero star review would turn right around and give a movie like "Salo" a Best Film of the Decade award. To me, this video really nails that home, and that's why this one is my favorite.
The video just started out as an experiment. What if the Snob reviewed Passolini's "Salo," one of the most controversial, perverted, and disgusting movie on the face of the planet; but as a twist, the character loves the movie because it's still a pretentious art film, even though the movie makes him physically sick.
It's the hardest video I ever had to write for the series. It's one thing writing a fake negative review for a movie I kinda like, but it's a whole other thing to write an incredibly pretentious positive review for a movie that I personally don't like. This video is my favorite, because the entire series is satirical. It makes fun of pompous arrogant movie critics who try to review exploitation films (and yes, it's also about me taking many jabs at the movies themselves). And in my mind, this review really gets that through, because in the league of artsy film criticism, the same critic who would give something like "Cannibal Holocaust" a zero star review would turn right around and give a movie like "Salo" a Best Film of the Decade award. To me, this video really nails that home, and that's why this one is my favorite.
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this is the best review ever
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This is what WW@ Is all about this movie must be good
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WW2 you dumbass
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LOL
If only more people were as educated as him XD.
Really, how can you not know what WW it was!?
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Tried watching this movie. Did not go well.
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Dude...your a freak..lol, I can't believe you took that egg like that...wow!!
Um, I was actually a little sick myself before even watching this video...now if you excuse me, im going to go hurl
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holy fucking shit you had to fucking have salo!!! how did u find an image or sequence in this film that had no nudity in it! god damnit! fuck you for making me remember this film and thank you for making it seem more funny that it really is!
i don't blame u for being hogged up in the toilet. this shit is ... oh god...
sorry friend but dancing with that fucking doll wont take the pain away.
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Good film. Funny review
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Hilarious intro XD
Starts off real classy,just to see you puke.
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Finally got around to watching this film the other night. Yes, dry heaves were involved. Though the quick shot of the three libertines dancing during the Circle of Blood made me giggle.
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I know that the cinema snob is a character, but his insights into b-movies really do give sage advice for aspiring authors of serious fiction. On the other hand, here you did a very effective satire on people who cheer for the ugliest of things passed as high art. I certainly wouldn't like this film.
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Your retching sounds are pretty realistic. Of course watching this film, it wouldn't be hard to fake them...
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P.S. This is a favorite of mine too. As a matter of fact, you should set up a category called "Popular Videos" or "Brad's Favorites"--or both.
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Yeah, I'd like to see a favourite section. The nice thing about the internet is you can pretend to get intimate with them without actually knowing them or hiding in their floorboards.
I have a very large, pretentious book of recommended foreign films and to be honest it does look alot like people praising shit. Nice review.
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Great review, really great! It's a fantastic film as well, I love your fake subtitles!
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I'm glad this one was finally put up on here! One of your best.
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Ah yes, Salo. Pasolini's films are often more extreme than your average exploitation feature. The Decameron is one dirty flick.
You did a fine job on this one, for sure. Deftly satirical work, this is. Now: I am curious to know what your objections to Salo are.
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This movie is sick. OK, I get it, the director is against globalization and conformism. Shit eating doesn't make this a fucking masterpiece or even a decent movie for that matter.
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If shit eating doesnt make a good film, then about Pink Flamingos?
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Since Divine actually performed the "act" of actually eating shit, and wasn't just using some sort of an orange chocolate paste it would be unfair comparison. Actually if Divine showed up in Salo it might have been easier to keep interest in. Basically there are only two types of characters in this film the Nazis being human filth, and their victims who are just fucking weak. I would sooner die then allow someone to force me to eat shit.
I have to be honest when I say this film bored me to tears. It is much more intelligent then any of the other films the Snob has reviewed as of yet, but that doesn't exactly make it good. The feeling that Passolini was attempting too hard to shock, and disturb his audience is something I found distracting.
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It's too bad you didn't have the actual Black Devil Doll From Hell. The end of the review would have REALLY gotten a lot of laughs.
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"I think I'm allergic to corn".....classic!
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Epic, just fucking epic. I never laughed so hard during a review and felt bad for it afterwards.
Btw, good idea with the toilet I think thats where Im going now...To puke.
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I'm in a way pretty big on Art films but I agree with you on this, I never understood why something like this is always considered high art but something like I spit on your grave is considered trash...
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Why did I watch this while eating?
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Based on how you gave the example of a critic giving Cannibal Holocaust zero stars but highly praising Salo, I've got to ask: what is your opinion of the movie Cannibal Holocaust, all in all?
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The only silver lining on the cloud of shit that is "Cannibal Holocaust" was that it helped pave the way for actually good "faux" documentaries. If it wasn't for the use of real animal killing footage, and the whole ordeal where the director was arrested due to some dumb ass cops in Italy believing the film to be "real" the movie would have stayed where it belongs in shitty movie hell.
Peta could probably find good use for it though. I'm sure it could probably traumatize a lot of the weak minded to go Vegan.
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I think one of the reasons of why it's so appreciated is that's it based on Sade's novel. I think it's a pretty good movie actually myself, Cannibal Holocaust too.
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No offense, but I really hate those ads that pop up on the video.
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if those where the real subtitles, they really sucked , they had no relevance to what was said in the movie
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They weren't the real subtitles. I forgot what the actual subtitles said in the movie, but I'm sure that there was no mention of an Alaskan Pipe Line (gross...)
This review sums up my experience watching this. I understand what Pasolini was trying to say, but this movie is practically unwatchable.
Once was more than enough for me.
The only other movie of Pasolini's that I've seen was The Gospel According to St. Matthew. Unfortunately, it was a dubbed version, so it was hard for me to really appreciate the film without laughing at the horrible dubbing job.
I can't say that I'm a Pasolini fan.
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No personal offense but while Salo's quality is debatable, Cannibal Holocaust's is not. Deodato chose to make the film shocking in a way that a troubled adolescent child would have. Instead of relying on talent, and story he just threw a shit load of on screen animal killings, which I thought was extremely lazy. The only thing that kind of dilutes the potency of the anger those scenes cause in me is the fact that after the scenes were shot the natives in the film would actually eat, and not just waste the animals. I would not be surprised if a large portion of the people who saw that drivel turned Vegan after wards.
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Your review was absolutely genius and the ending was haunting like the one in the movie. Also you did a great job in satirizing the over pretentious film critic that can't enjoy a movie if it doesn't make an over elaborated point. You are saying if you want a complex plot in a movie than you have to suffer the complexity and graphical nature that comes in proving the plot, principle and moral. Also the movie has really a modern look on modern society that the fascists are like the superficial people we have today that if you aren't like them and with them you will be properly dealt with. Great review and I hope you expose the Snob to other great movies to see him suffer like Cannibal Holocaust or 2009 Antichrist.
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hey Snob! Have you seen FULL version of Salo? I heard full version is almost unavaliable. These so-called "uncensored" versions on warez is just a regular fake, these are NOT 117 min versions!
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Goddamnit you American idiots Italy was never Nazi occupied, at least get it right if you're gonna try to make fun of a movie..
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which is the movie based on the novel "the inscrutable americans" written by anurag mathur?
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the thecinemasnob always make an excellent posting. that is really a great thing.
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This should have been a revenge movie.
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Really, i love this movie, the book, and cannibal holocaust. however, it is hard to sit through. also, it isn't as lighthearted as the book. This is my favorite review because i could tell your acting the entire time and thought it was hilarious. So, i always return to this when im bored. Also, i love the joke about the squirrel
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I hated this movie so much. Extremely heavy handed and pretentious as all hell. I get the feeling that if Pasolini himself did not state in an interview that the shit eating was meant to be a take on mass produced foods, that nobody would have seen the point he was trying to make. I couldn't find a single line of dialogue that even hinted at Pasolinin's point with the shit eating. I saw no metaphor and I saw no art. I just saw people eating shit.
That's one of the biggest problems with the movie and the shit eating in particular. I don't expect a film maker to blatantly state his intentions with every scene in his films, but I do expect there to be allusions within the film to the point that he's trying to make. If you have to explain your intentions in an interview OUTSIDE the context of the film itself, then you have not made a good film at all.
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Well said.
Plus, factory-processed foods = our bodies are "factories" = we might as well eat shit? Um, our bodies do more than just digest the food we eat; eating brains and blood (zombies!) would make as much sense metaphorically as shit; plus, almost everything we as humans own comes from factories, from our clothing to the materials that make up our homes, to bicycles, and computers... so we might as well just wallow completely in shit too eh? Let's not forget too, that "natural" foods have, for centuries and still to this day, been grown via, what else, manure. In summation, Pasolini, your "thesis" is completely buttfucking retarded and only gullible fools with no critical thinking skills whatsoever would actually be impressed by this; no wonder pretentious, self-righteous knobs like Michael Haneke and Catherine Breillat jerk off to this movie so much.
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I got this film when I wanted to be "shocked". And all the other text reviews stated how it was a dark and disturbing tale that will drag you into a pit of darkness that you will never return from.
But I found this film to be bland, like the shit the girl had to eat. I was just there. Playing in my DVD player.
I didn't hate it, it wasn't offensive, it was not magnificent and groundbreaking, it was just there like the shit on the floor.
I guess my imagination was much better then the real deal. I wanted some dark, and twisted stuff. Not something that is less messed up then a Nick Cage movie, "8mm", not The Wicker Man.
I just wish that I had got "Battle for Algiers" at that time instead of this disc of bland.
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