The Complex Characters of Luca Marinelli

Photo by Siebbi

His intense dramatic performances have earned him a spot as one of contemporary Italian cinema’s top leading men.

Born in 1984, Luca Marinelli was no stranger to cinema when he enrolled in the Rome drama school Silvio d’Amico National Academy of Dramatic Art. His father, Eugenio Marinelli, is an actor and noted voiceover artist, having interpreted the likes of John Goodman, Gene Wilder and Ving Rhames for Italian audiences.

Marinelli graduated from film school in 2009 and hit the ground running as a lead actor. His breakout role was his very first in a feature film, Saverio Costanzo’s 2010 drama “La solitudine dei numeri primi” (The Solitude of Prime Numbers). Three years later, he was named a Shooting Star at the 2013 Berlin International Film Festival for his role in Paolo Virzì’s “Tutti i santi giorni” (Every Blessed Day). That same year, he had a small role as the tormented Andrea in Paolo Sorrentino’s Academy Award-winning “La grande bellezza” (The Great Beauty). He has also appeared in productions on this side of the Atlantic, including FX’s 2015 “Trust” and Netflix’s 2020 “The Old Guard.”

In 2016, he was awarded a Nastro d’Argento and David di Donatello for best supporting actor for his role in Gabriele Mainetti’s action-packed thriller “Lo chiamavano Jeeg Robot” (They Call Me Jeeg Robot). A classic tale of good guys versus bad guys, the film starts with a chase through the streets of Rome that leads to the banks of the Tiber River, where thief Enzo Ceccotti (Claudio Santamaria) jumps into the water to hide from the police. While submerged, he is exposed to radioactive materials that give him superhuman strength leading to his decision to change his life and start doing good. Marinelli plays Fabio Cannizzaro, nicknamed “The Gypsy,” a detestable gangster who longs for notoriety. Envious of the fame Enzo has achieved, he does everything in his power to destroy him, setting the stage for an amazing brawl and chill-inducing finale.

In 2017, Marinelli teamed up with Toni Servillo for Francesco Amato’s comedy “Lasciati andare” (Let Yourself Go!). The film opens with Marinelli’s character, Ettore, hiding stolen jewels in a field when suddenly the police close in on him. Next unfolds the story of Elia (Servillo), a stingy psychoanalyst whose health is on the decline. After being advised by his doctor to join a gym, he meets an energetic personal trainer and inadvertently becomes involved in her drama. Ettore resurfaces as her love interest, forcing Elia at gunpoint to hypnotize him to help him recall where he buried the jewels. Marinelli is hilarious in his unhinged but touching portrayal of an innocent kid gone bad due to traumatic events in his childhood.

Two years later, he played another tortured soul in Valerio Mieli’s “Ricordi?” (Remember?). The film follows a nameless couple played by Marinelli and Linda Caridi who recall the ups and downs of their relationship. Marinelli’s character is haunted by events that happened during his childhood and adolescence, so he has a darker view of the world, whereas Caridi’s character is more joyful and lighthearted. The film’s stunning cinematography and mystical locations, like Bomarzo’s famous Park of the Monsters, sets the stage for a dreamy journey through the past and present.

Marinelli received international praise for his performance in the title role of Pietro Marcello’s 2019 “Martin Eden.” Adapted from the novel by Jack London, the movie tracks an unskilled laborer who falls in love with Elena, the daughter of a wealthy industrialist. To overcome feeling inferior in Elena’s upper-class world, he pursues his dreams of becoming a writer, hoping it will help him rise above his humble origins. The steps he takes to achieving his goals change his perspective, and he experiences a political awakening. The film premiered at the 76th Venice International Film Festival, where Marinelli was awarded the Volpi Cup for best actor.

Marinelli’s latest film, “Le otto montagne” (The Eight Mountains), was released this year and is currently on the international film festival circuit. All of the aforementioned films are available to stream on Amazon. Click on the titles for direct links.

Written by Jeannine Guilyard for the December, 2022 edition of Fra Noi Magazine. Click here to subscribe.

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