The narrative pace of King of Cool is remarkable: the clever montage welds the perspectives of different interviewees with footage about Dean Martin, that ultimately channel a unanimous concept. The film intertwines the multitudinous chronicles of the those who met and were inspired by the coolest of performers, with exceptional archival material of his films, TV shows and interviews. What emerges is the sense of mystery behind the buoyant icon. Some will say his charm and optimism derived from his attitude of “menefreghista” (i.e. someone who wouldn’t give a damn!), others refer to his propensity to be reserved about his worries and woes. In these terms, a pertinent parallelism is made with Macbeth’s quote: “Give sorrow words: the grief that does not speak whispers the o’er-fraught heart, and bids it break.” This sensation is blatant with the divorces and family losses Dean Martin had to confront throughout his life. Even when he found out he was ill, he did not make a fuss, nor did he tell anyone about his condition. He called his friend Frank Sinatra on what would become his last Christmas Eve, just to tell him a joke. — Chiara Spagnoli Gabardi