Review: 'Il Divo'

Portrait of corrupt Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti is a wild and confusing race through accusations and crimes.

Exasperatingly frenetic, "Il Divo" is like a political drama by the great Francesco Rosi ("Lucky Luciano," "The Mattei Affair") that has somehow been reprogrammed by MTV. Writer-director Paolo Sorrentino attempts to flay the corrupt career of seven-time Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti, played by Toni Servillo with an impassiveness bordering on opaqueness. But who can sort out this avalanche of accusation? So much half-digested information is expelled, so many key incidents skate by, that the effect is like being force-fed a history lesson you never wanted to sit through in the first place. Grade: C-