Irreversible
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Movie Reviews of Irreversible
Movie Review: Hardest film I've ever seen
Summary: 5 Stars
Irreversible sparked my interest because several politicians in Australia wanted to have it banned here. I wanted to know why I shouldn't be allowed to see this film.
The device of running each of the scenes in reverse order is an effective one in this film and it reverses "causality" and we see the results of a situation before we film out what caused it.
We meet Monica Bellucci's boyfriend and their mutual friend early in the film and I thought that they were a couple of sick, testosterone driven criminals.... However, slowly, but surely, we discover the horrible truth - that a brutal and inhuman act of violence towards Monica Bellucci has pushed them over the edge.
We step deeper and deeper back in time and learn that the trio of friends were leading a happy bohemian life. We finally find Monica Bellucci in the final (first) scene peacefully ready a book on the grass of a park, children a playing nearby and the Allegretto from Beethoven's 7th Symphony is playing in the background. The music brings us both peace at the end of this film and also reminds us of the tragedy we have just witnessed.
Irreversible is a difficult film. It is difficult to watch and difficult to consider. It shows us entropy - of time, relationships, beauty and idealism. I guess it also shows us that extreme situations can push normally decent human beings into barbarism.
I don't think I would or could watch Irreversible again any time soon. However, I am glad that I've seen it and I certainly don't think it should have been banned.
Please understand that this is a very adult movie and it certainly isn't for everyone. Irreversible is a very confronting experience. I haven't made up my mind yet about the importance of that experience.
Movie Review: Existentialism
Summary: 5 Stars
Irreversible is a film that displaces the viewer in such a significant way that to watch it is more akin to dreaming about a real-life experience. The film, through dialogue, actions, and character archetypes, suggests that only way to make sense of and live through the horrific and reversed melodramatic anti-revenge storyline is to view the film through a near existential psychological perspective. Yipe. In easier language, the film demands your own removal of pre-conditioned emotional responses to rape, murder, revenge, humor, sexual excitement, intimacy, sadness, rage, and especially blame. The very beginning of the film features the man from the feature I STAND ALONE telling another man how he messed his own life up...that time destroys all things. His companion ultimately nay-says this, indicating that any crimes or tragedies are just what they are, nothing more...a series of events. Noe challenges the viewers to attempt to view Irreversible in that very detached state, not for or against what you see. (nutty camera moves...) By doing so you will be able to live through the incredibly sad and horrific storyline. By Noe telling the story in reverse, he rescues the film from melodrama, vengence, or "true crime" genre BS. Together, almost in a 50/50 contract deal, Noe and the viewer can attain the meaning of this story about Alex, Marcus, Pierre, the Tenia, ramifications and origins of any and all the events you see in Irreversible. The result will vary, I believe, from person to person...as it should. I can only echo other reviews in warning you of the intensity and violence, but the sadness and (yes) beauty of the film's meaning that I derived was phenomenal.Movie Review: WAY TOO EXTREME FOR YOUR TYPICAL AMERICAN MOVIE GOER.
Summary: 5 Stars
I admit when I watched this movie I was absolutley disturbed! It enraged me and made me feel violated. But then I went over this movie in my head for days and weeks... analyzing certain moments and effects... discussed it with others... tried to imagine alternatives... FOR WEEKS!!! and it dawned on me...
THIS IS A PRETTY GOOD F---ING MOVIE! If this movie can move someone to the point of this much emotion it has done a remarkable job. JUST LOOK AT THE OUTRAGED RESPONES IN THIS COLUMN. This movie was intended to shed light on something that some people only hear about in stories. Its not intended to be erotic! Unfortunatley some sickos might see it that way. But thats not the mission of this film. This movie peels away from all that HOLLYWOOD NONESENSE and over-endulgence and gives you the gritty f---ing truth. You can't romantisize this kind of subject matter, people.
This is a terribly realistic movie! It deals with very tragic themes and adult situations! If you watch this movie be aware! THE WARNING OF THIS MOVIE'S CONTENT IS CLEARLEY STATED ON IT'S COVER!
The special effects are astounding! THE EDITING OF THIS MOVIE WAS INTENTIONAL TO THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND. Remember the "Blair Witch Project"? Okay... well that's the idea. It's supposed to be unfiltered and candid, almost nausiating. It suits the subject matter. Notice the minimal use of editing? Every scene is filmed in one edit. Its supposed to be raw and unsettling. No frills, just pure emotions. It's an amazing film.
I admit, this isn't a movie that I would care to own or watch repeatedly... but I can't deny it's force and its amazing direction.
Movie Review: A brilliant work of art.
Summary: 5 Stars
There are two sides to "Irreversible". The first one is violent and disturbing, the second one beautiful and romantic. Since all reviewers from this forum chose the first one, I shall write about the second part of the film, which is beyond greatness. There is a party scene and a subway one that would make any film buff more than happy. And then there is a beautiful and tender love scene between Bellucci and Cassel.The film is told backwards, ergo, the audience knows the characters' destiny. It's so sad to see them having such a great time together -- laughing and dancing, not knowing how their lives will be forever altered. This is great cinema. Monica Bellucci's performance is incredible -- I can't think of any actress (especially one from Hollywood) who would have accepted to play such a difficult part. Vincent Cassel (he did the voice of Robin Hood in Shrek) and Albert Duponteil are equally good. The whole movie is shot in single-take scenes, most of the dialogue being improvised by these great actors. The film has been directed by Gaspar Noe (Seul Contre Tous) and he brings us his unique vision to the material. The sountrack and the special effects are excellent, too.
If you haven't yet seen "Irreversible" and you have reservations regarding the violent content -- here's a tip for you: watch the second half of the film (where the party scene begins) and then judge for yourself if you want to see what's left out of this complex tragedy. Everybody knows that good and bad co-exist together. "Irreversible" has such a fresh and realistic look to life that in less than a year will probably become a classic.
Movie Review: The Violence of Life....
Summary: 5 Stars
First I want to say that Monica Belluci is a goddess. Seriously this is a good movie, besides the first 10 mins with the insane music and camera spinning. After that the backwards plot starts to fold out and Noe does an excellent job of presenting the story to us. The ending (or beginning) was as much a shock to me as the extremely violent scenes in the movie.
Once that is shown you playback in your mind everything you just witnessed in this rollercoaster of a movie and it all makes sense. What would you do if that happened to your loved one?
Would you just go to church and pray? Would you rely on cops who most likely sees this type of thing all too often and go about it as business as usual? Or would you take matters into your own hands? Noe and the actors did their job and made you think. Noe throws this ultra realistic violence in your face...then he gonna presents to you why this chain of events happened. Now you decide what was right and what was wrong.
With that said I know for a fact that I can never watch that rape scene again. I saw this movie for the first time in March this year and everytime I watch it with friends I have to skip the rape scene or leave the room. The killing in the beginning isn't that bad for me but for others it was like watching Faces of Death or something. For me its the victims, the guy killed in the beginning got what was coming to him. Pure karma. The girl was just an innocent victim and a feeling of helplessness overwhelms me when I watch that scene.
Overall besides those two scenes this was and still is a great movie.