Last night I watched the first half - actually a little more than half - of 8 1/2. I started too late and realized I wouldn't get all the way through it. But much to my surprise, the main culprit was the effort it took to read and keep up with the subtitles. I've been reading subtitles all my life, but I was blindsided by two things here: deciphering the near-constant white words against bright images, and the fast intensity of them. I wonder if they look the same in new Fellini set. I don't think I've ever had this difficult a time on any other film.
I know it's the luck of the draw, since so many of this movie's scenes are light, and it is what it is. The letters have a bit of an outline, but I have to wonder if a color would work better. Whenever a darker background came along, my eyes rejoiced at the lovely contrast. But the moment was always fleeting.
La dolce vita was wonderful, with its 2.35:1 image and moving the titles into the region just below it. Hopefully once I've gotten the rest of the way through this film, which at this point will have to be tomorrow evening, subsequent viewings will be easier.
