Бенвенуто

Начальник ДСРИ, близкий к Саркози, – некий Бернар Скварсини – отстранен от должности и находится под следствием. Прокурор передал его дело в уголовный суд. Скварсини обвиняют в незаконной слежке и шпионаже.

Начальник полиции месье Пешнар смещен со своей должности, и на его блестящей карьере поставлен крест.

Мелкие сошки из числа опричников Саркози отстранены от работы и наказаны.

Филипп Губэ арестован в Дубаи и депортирован во Францию.

Руководитель Лувра смещен со своего поста.

«Фишье» Банк де Франс, о котором я говорил в книге, отменили, и больше его не будут вести.

Николя Саркози, бывший президент Французской Республики, находится под следствием по уголовному делу.

Сильвио Берлускони осужден уголовным судом и избегает наказания исключительно в силу своего возраста и амнистии. Впрочем, он проходит в качестве подсудимого и по другим делам, где ему грозят многолетние сроки.

Папа римский Бенедикт XVI покинул Ватикан.

Портрет Бенвенуто Челлини мы собираемся и далее время от времени показывать на выставках.

Вот, пожалуй, и всё.

Caverage

Title: Benvenuto Cellini

Overall Rating 8

Written By: Oleg Nasobin

Prepared for:

Analyst: Michael Haddad

1-4 Pass 5–7 Consider

8-10 Read

Genre: Drama

Circa: 1500s

Target Audience: all quadrants, with an emphasis on 30+.

Log Line

The story of the artist Benvenuto Cellini, a contemporary of Michelangelo’s, whose sharp tongue and combative manner continually bred enemies who prevented him from achieving the greatness he felt he deserved.

Recommendation

Property: A well-written film that captures the essence of the period and effectively casts an interesting character study against a compelling and believable backdrop of court intrigue. The characters are well delineated and sympathetic, and the milieu of artistic achievement contemporaneous with that of Michelangelo makes a memorable setting.

Writer: Very strong. Has a feel for dialogue and pacing. Plot unfolds gradually and never lags, and characters seem believable.

Budget Level

No special effects, stunts or CG, so this could be done on a minimal budget. Period sets and costumes will add to the cost, but there are no battle or crowd scenes and locations are fairly minimal. Script could be done on a television movie budget if need be.

Appeal

Benvenuto carries the film and the role should go to a name. Role’s iconoclastic behavior and irascible manner will appeal to A-list talent, combined with the fact that this is the kind of role that wins awards, a top list name may be within reach even on a limited budget. Roles of the Duke and Duchess, Francois I, Madame D’Etampes, Pier Luigi, Cardinal Ferrara, and Dorothea are well-written and will appeal strongly to talent. Other characters are rendered well and should attract lesser names.

Execution of Key elements

Rating Comment

Concept 8 Engaging story, good ending

Story 7 Well-paced and constantly evolving

Characterization 9 Benvenuto is the kind of scoundrel moviegoers love

Dialogue 8 Believable and nuanced, rings true to period

Commercial Viability 7 May not capture a teenage audience, but could do well with an older, more discerning audience

Primary Characters

Benvenuto Cellini 37, a highly successful, and somewhat flamboyant, goldsmith to the Pope, often in repeated scrapes with the authorities, usually able to talk his way out of trouble due to his widely recognized artistic talent. Arrogant about his abilities, he rubs many the wrong way which he further exacerbates by being blunt to the point of being rude.

Dorothea 18, pretty, Benvenuto’s amply-bosomed housemaid with whom he’s been enjoying romantic liaisons, she protects his treasure while he’s incarcerated, but her interest in Benvenuto extends beyond that of a faithful servant. She is something of a psychic and she foresees a life of devotion to the mercurial Benvenuto.

Pier Luigi Enigmatic figure who attends Benvenuto’s trial, having given the judges the information that will condemn him. He is the son of the current Pope Paul, and is still resentful of Benvenuto for having killed Paul’s goldsmith Pompeo, with whom Pier Luigi was having a homosexual affair.

Francois I 45, King of France, eventually brings Benvenuto to his court to see what the arrogant young goldsmith can do.

Madame D’Etampes Beautiful mistress of Francois I, she has heard of Benvenuto and works with Cardinal Ferrara to convince Francois I to engage his services, but when Benvenuto appropriates the castle of her confidante she angrily begins to work in earnest against him.

Cardinal Ferrara He sings the praises of Benvenuto to Francois I, but he too is often incensed by Benvenuto’s abrupt and insensitive manner.

Other Characters

Bargello Chief Constable, leads a team of soldiers to arrest Benvenuto, quietly reasons with him so that he’ll give himself up peacefully as Bargello does not want to face Benvenuto’s capable sword.