Call Me "The Sphinx", "The Hunchback", "The Black Pope" or Just "Il Divo"

This ultra-slick, highly stylized account of Giulio Andreotti's Machiavellian schemes during his premiership(s) goes down like butter, but in the final analysis, the pic's a tad too flashy and trivial in its depictions of dirty politics. There's a certain lack of insight, professionally covered up by lots of technical shenanigans and eye-catching performances, above all Toni Servillo's chameleon-like turn in the title role.

It's still worthwhile Italian film-making with the right amount of humour, violence and tragedy to warrant two enjoyable hours.

7 out of 10 sardonic aphorisms

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1023490/usercomments-19