Date: 12/30/09 Title: "BENVENUTO CELLINI" Author: Oleg Nasobin Submitted by: Oleg Nasobin Submitted to: Hollywoodscript.com Format: SP Pages: 120 Time: mid 1500”s Locale: France and Italy Genre: Drama Analyst: Hollywoodscript.com PREMISE: Benvenuto Cellini was the most venerated goldsmith of Renaissance Europe. He was also a prison escapee, a philanderer, an infamous braggart – and a murderer. BENVENUTO CELLINI is a biopic with heart and excitement, tracing his fall, rise – and eventual berth as one of the greatest artists of the Renaissance. Concept VERY GOOD Characterization EXCELLENT Dialogue EXCELLENT Story Line VERY GOOD Setting/Prod. Values EXCELLENT Freshness of Story EXCELLENT SYNOPSIS: Based on a true story, BENVENUTO CELLINI tells the raucous tale of a man of enormous talent – and ego – who wowed Renaissance Europe both with his magnificent art and his tempestuous, often violent behavior. We follow his adventures through daring prison escapes, bravely fought battles, prophetic visions from God, lusty flings with beautiful young women, and murderous assassins on his trail – but his greatest challenge will be to prove his artistic worth to his Italian countrymen. It is 1537, and Benvenuto Cellini has already made his name as Italy’s greatest goldsmith. But he carries a big chip on his shoulder – he wants to be recognized as a great master of sculpture, but feels pigeonholed as a mere “craftsman.” But he has other problems. The film opens with his being tossed into jail by the Pope’s soldiers, at the behest of the Pope’s illegitimate son, Pier Luigi, on trumped-up charges of thievery. Imprisoned in the Castle Sant’Angelo, Benvenuto draws inspiration from his cellmate, a rebellious monk, and achieves a daring escape. After being caught once again and left to die in a dungeon, an ambitious Cardinal helps negotiate his freedom on behalf of the French King, who desires talented Italian artists to serve him. Benvenuto makes his way to the Royal Court in Paris where he is welcomed with enthusiasm by King François, who showers prestigious commissions on him. His artistic genius is about to be realized as he makes his dreamed-about transition from goldsmithing to sculpture – true art – but his ambitions are cut short by his unwillingness to play the courtly game of favors. Having angered the King’s mistress, and alienated allies with his rambunctious behavior, Benvenuto soon finds himself out on his rear, broke and miserable, dreams shattered. He returns to his native Florence with his tail between his legs, quite sure that he has blown his only chance to prove himself the equal of his idol, the great Michelangelo. Underestimated by even his own Florentines, Benvenuto resolves to take matters into his own hands. In an impressive feat of swallowing his own pride, he finagles a commission from the Duke of Florence to create a work that will stand next to the “David” in the city’s main square. But the question remains; will Benvenuto have what it takes to prove his greatness to Florence – and to himself? COMMENTS: Great characters make great movies, and Benvenuto Cellini’s unique spirit and talent (not to mention his gloriously massive ego) still crackle on the pages of this very entertaining script, more than four-hundred years after his death. One of the major Renaissance masters, his work resides in museums around the world, and his memory has stayed fresh through translations of his scandalous autobiography. This script is a vibrant offering for the screen, maintaining the core of Benvenuto’s narrative, and sustained with very smart dialogue and robust humor. An exciting portal into the life of one of the Renaissance’s most lively heroes, packed with verve and charm.
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