Suburra (Stefano Sollima, 2015)

There are some corrupt politicians, several brutal mafia factions, prostitutes, morally compromised clergy and a host of other assorted lowlifes. This, Suburra would have us believe, is not only the power in Rome but effectively the population of Rome, and that is the film's biggest failing as well as its selling point for many viewers, who believe there is integrity in being so one-sided. As the various parties clash against each other, with anyone who has a clean public image struggling to be sucked down into the mire through bribery and other forms of coercion, a seductively convincing, thoroughly hopeless and rather ugly picture is formed of Italian society. But it is disingenuous, and its hyperstylicisation of the city backdrops and moments of catharsis gives away its true colours.

5/10