Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- brooding
- operatic
- tragic
- crime film marathon
- historical drama night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film an incoherent, garbled historical crime epic undermined by murky cinematography, weak lead casting, and grandiose storytelling.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Giuliano redistributes wealth to serf-like peasants, who hail him as their savior while his ego and power expand.
Don Masino Croce backs Giuliano but turns against him when the outlaw believes he has surpassed the Don’s authority.
The film emphasizes sweeping camera movements, amber lighting, horses, mountains, and land conflicts in an epic register.
The film uses Western analogies involving horses, mountains, land conflicts, outlaw power, and armed retaliation in Sicily.
Films like The Sicilian, and why
The Godfather Part II
shared crime drama, mafia power struggles, operatic scale, and political corruption
The Leopard
shared historical crime drama, outlaw mythology, land conflict, and Western-inflected violence
Bonnie and Clyde
shared crime drama, folk-hero outlaw framing, rural power structures, and tragic ambition
Salvatore Giuliano
shared Italian setting, organized crime, political violence, and somber historical atmosphere
Movie Details
- Director
- Michael Cimino
- Release Date
- 1987-10-07
- Runtime
- 116 min
- Rating
- 5.2 / 10 (152)
Cast
- Christopher Lambert
- Terence Stamp
- Joss Ackland
- John Turturro
- Richard Bauer
- Barbara Sukowa
- Giulia Boschi
- Ray McAnally
- Barry Miller
- Andreas Katsulas
Common questions
- What is The Sicilian about?
- A charismatic Sicilian bandit becomes a peasant savior whose swelling ambition collides with the Mafia patron who helped build his legend.
- What is The Sicilian like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Sicilian as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Sicilian violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The Sicilian as brutal.
- What did critics think of The Sicilian?
- Critics broadly found the film an incoherent, garbled historical crime epic undermined by murky cinematography, weak lead casting, and grandiose storytelling.
- Which films are like The Sicilian?
- Films with a similar feel include The Godfather Part II, The Leopard, Bonnie and Clyde, and Salvatore Giuliano.
- How long is The Sicilian?
- The Sicilian runs 116 minutes.
