Mala Ordina: "The Italian Connection" indeed.

Two things have happened since I started watching Fernando Di Leo films. First, Di Leo has become one of my favorite directors. Second, Mario Adorf has become one of my favorite actors. At this point, if the two are collaborating, I take it for granted that I'm about to watch a superb film.


"La Mala Ordina" concerns a lowly pimp named Luca Canali. Despite his profession, he's a fairly decent fellow, pimping so he can pay for his daughters education and aid his ex-wife financially. A heroin deal somewhere up the mob ladder goes wrong and somehow he gets fingered as the one who fouled things, so the New York branch of the mob send two stone-cold killers (Played by the supremely menacing duo of Silva and Strode) to track and kill Canali. Desperate for answers, Canali fights back against the very organization he was once a lowly peon of, leading to all hell breaking loose.

                      First impression: I would not want these two gunning for me.

Once again, like in "Milano Calibro 9", several things stand out. The characters, the camera work, the music, and the sense of predestined tragedy. No matter how much the characters in this movie fulfill their roles, no matter how much they rail against the forces that antagonize them, they're all speeding to the same conclusion. The characters themselves feel as though they've whole histories to them, as though they're real people. Woody Strode doesn't even have much dialogue (At least not compared to his trash-talking partner) and yet everything you need to know about him comes through in his facial expressions and how he interacts with people.
Mario Adorf, like in Calibro, is just fantastic. When he feels agony over failing at something, or inordinate rage over a crime committed against him, you feel with him. It's rare that someone has a face as expressive as his, it's fascinating simply in how it moves...his face...yeah, okay, creepy. But true!
As I mentioned, the camera-work in this movie is just bloody phenomenal. Combined with the editing, it results in some of the most dynamic action sequences I've ever seen. There's one scene in particular, a car chase, that is NOT to be missed. The soundtrack, while not as epic as the film's predecessor, is still damn catchy. More in a funky exploitation vein than Calibro's brooding progressive overtures. Though considering the more action-y tone of the film, it definitely suits it.

                        Did I mention the crazy hippy parties? No? For shame!

Yes, they're plenty of hippies in the film. Complete with blue-fro wigs like the one pictured above. These scenes come complete with faux-Beatles music playing in the background (Since 70's hippy orgies aren't complete without the Beatles and/or Beatles wannabes supplying the ambient tunes).
Now, whereas Melville definitely influenced Calibro (And Mala Ordina for sure) you get a definite Friedkin impression here. "The French Connection" came out one year prior to this and the success it had must have reverberated within the Italian film industry. It almost feels as though "Mala Ordina" were intended to top French Connection in terms of sheer intensity and excitement. In the States it was even titled "The Italian Connection" (And now you see where the title of this review came from! Aren't I clever? Gosh, I know I am! I don't need you telling me! STOP PANDERING!).

And you know, for me, this whups "The French Connection". It may not have the same mythic quality that Calibro radiates, but I'll be damned if Mala Ordina isn't an excellent piece of film-making.

4.5/5

Something I noticed, J&B seems to be the only thing they drank in 70's Italy. Product placement, or simply the choice drink of mafioso's at the time?