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Today's movie did not make the NYTimes 1176 Best Film list.

I wanted to see it because many regard it as a great film from Michelangelo Antonioni, a great director.

And, after being 'lost' or 'unavailable' for almost 30 years, it is now available on DVD and perfectly restored.

The Passenger / Professione: reporter (1975)

The young and uncharismatic (that is a good thing) Jack Nicholson plays a reporter in Africa who has a chance to change his identity and takes it.

Needless to say, complications follow.

This being an Antonioni film, those complications take beautiful and intriguing form.

It is a rich and visually generous film. There are lots of cinematographic highlights that do not detract from the feeling or tone of the film but, in fact, create the ambience of it.

For me, it was a sort of continuous dread and feeling of islolation.

The last seven minutes are one shot with Nicholson alive on a bed at the beginning and then...................well.

No spoilers.

It is a famous shot and worth all its reputation.

There are several versions of this film and this is the one shown in Europe. It has 7 more minutes than the American version and it is not Antonioni's director's cut. It is doubtful he made one.

Whoever's cut it is, I liked it a lot.

There are the usual vast open spaces and the continuous list of unknowns with just enough knowns to keep you going. So clever. Great art.

I will give it a 5 out of Netflix5.