MOVIE REVIEW : ‘La Scorta’ a Thoughtful, Slick Thriller : Ricky Tognazzi’s film is concerned with character to an extent most melodramas don’t think is worth their while.

The worst of times for a particular country may end up the best of times for its filmmakers. Witness “La Scorta,” a taut, expertly made political thriller that confronts Italy’s pervasive institutional corruption with a surprising combination of energy and sensitivity.

Slickly directed in the best sense by Ricky Tognazzi, whose father Ugo was a celebrated actor (“La Cage aux Folles”), “La Scorta” offers more than the expected squealing tires on rain-slick pavement. It is also a thoughtful film, concerned with character to an extent most melodramas don’t think is worth their while.

Set in Sicily, where the Italian government and the Mafia have been engaged in a bitter, violent power struggle, “La Scorta” is freely adapted from the experiences of a real-life investigating magistrate and the escort of carabinieri , or state police, designated to protect his life.

An expensive film by Italian standards, “La Scorta” ended up being a huge hit in its home country and was well received as well at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. The factors that helped make it popular, qualities like carefully controlled tension and unself-conscious heroism, should translate easily to this country as well.

“La Scorta” focuses on a pair of carabinieri, part of a detail assigned to a magistrate who has vowed to at least begin to clean up the city of Trapani. One, Angelo Mandolesi (Claudio Amendola) has come back to Sicily because his best friend was killed trying to protect the city’s last magistrate. The other, Andrea Corsale (Enrico Lo Verso), never left, and now has a wife and three children who are strongly affected by the kind of work he does.

When Judge De Francesco (Carlo Cecchi) arrives, he doesn’t feel comfortable with the idea of protection. And his escort, it turns out, has to make do with an ancient Alfa that barely runs. There are so few bullet-proof vests that the detail has to draw straws to determine who gets one.

Gradually, however, the seriousness of the problem becomes clearer to both the judge and his protectors. It is a venality so nearly all-inclusive that it makes almost everyone, even many of its supposed opponents, an accomplice in the evil to one degree or another.

To meet this challenge, the previously faction-ridden escort, including the uncommitted Fabio (Ricky Memphis) and the easy-going Raffaele (Tony Sperandeo), coalesce into one of those cinematic band of brothers, united in their determination to protect the judge and see that at least an attempt at justice is made.

A lot of the elements of the script by Graziano Diana and Simona Izzo are extremely traditional: wiretaps, gutless squealers and midnight rendezvous. But director Tognazzi, helped by one of the best of Ennio Morricone’s recent scores, makes the scenes crackle and doesn’t fall victim to excessive histrionics.

Watching these obsessed men shiver with uncertainty as they enter a building or climb a flight of stairs knowing that something could go wrong at any time, that even a momentary lapse could mean death, is as intense an experience as it sounds. Operating on the theory that if you’re not scared, you’re not doing your job, they make us feel the realism of their story.

Essential here is the work of the excellent actors, most of whom are not well known to American audiences. Claudio Amendola has the necessary animal energy for the brooding Angelo, Carlo Cecchi is the image of stony integrity as the judge and Enrico Lo Verso, the star of “Stolen Children,” is sympathetic as the escort leader and concerned father who will only kiss his kids when they’re asleep so they won’t grow up soft. Such touches raise “La Scorta” above the crowd.

* No MPAA rating. Times guidelines: considerable violence and tension.

‘La Scorta’

Claudio Amendola: Angelo Mandolesi

Enrico Lo Verso: Andrea Corsale

Carlo Cecchi: Judge De Francesco

Ricky Memphis: Fabio Muzzi

Leo Gullotta: Polizzi

Tony Sperandeo: Raffaele Frasca

A Claudio Bonivento Productions production, released by First Look Pictures. Director Ricky Tognazzi. Producer Claudio Bonivento. Screenplay Graziano Diana, Simona Izzo. Cinematographer Alessandro Gelsini. Editor Carla Simoncelli. Costumes Catia Dottori. Music Ennio Morricone. Production design Mariangela Capuano. Sound Remo Ugolinelli. Running time: 1 hour, 32 minutes.

* In limited release, playing the Music Hall, 9036 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, (310) 477-5581, and the Colorado, 2588 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena , (818) 796-9704.