花魁杜十娘

Shoot down the baddies, strike a pose, get rich! The 2nd movie of the Dollars trilogy could be satirized in these terms, but how unfair would that be? You don’t watch Sergio Leone for deep philosophical insights, but for his filmmaking. For Ennio Morricone’s splendid scores too: he knows when to go silent, how to creep you out with dissonant strings, when to get synchronized and punctuate iconic gestures. He can charm with a chime, and soar into epicness or poise for a showdown. An interesting relationship between the two MC and internal conflicts among conspirators also make for a good story. But it's Maria Volonte as an eerie, brutal, cunning and even sensual villain who shines most.