The Criterion Collection has released a brand new clip from filmmaker Alexander Payne's (
Election,
Sideways) introduction of Dino Risi's recently restored classic comedy
Il Sorpasso a.k.a.
The Easy Life (1962), which will be released on Blu-ray on April 29th.
Official synopsis: The ultimate Italian road comedy,
Il Sorpasso stars the unlikely pair of Vittorio Gassman and Jean-Louis Trintignant as, respectively, a waggish, free-wheeling bachelor and the bookish law student he takes on a madcap trip from Rome to rural Southern Italy. An unpredictable journey that careers from slapstick to tragedy, this film, directed by Dino Risi, is a wildly entertaining commentary on the pleasures and consequences of the good life. A holy grail of commedia all'italiana,
Il Sorpasso is so fresh and exciting that one can easily see why it has long been adored in Italy.
Note: Blu-ray.com has already reviewed Criterion's upcoming Blu-ray release of
Il Sorpasso. Click on the link to see our listing and review.