Querelle
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Movie Reviews of Querelle
Movie Review: Just to go against everybody....
Summary: 5 Stars
This is not Fassbinder's best - but still one of his great imperfect films. The ideas behind this film are profound - and Fassbinder has a very good understanding of the Jean Genet book - you will not find another adaptation of Genet as consistent as this at displaying all of the artificiality, the theme of the double, and the theme of sex and death. Fassbinder was very sly in his control over dialogue and almost comic monotone used to a startling effect here - at times it sounds like an emotionless reading of lines - but this is always done to contrast the other elements of the film and the general theme of the story - Fassbinder had always had a similar approach with dialogue and sountrack in his movies. His use of color and lighting is also rather poignant in this one (not as great as Lola - but still striking) and Xaver Schwarzenberger is one of the great cinematographers of all time. My final decision about this one - is that the viewer should already have some knowledge of Genet - preferably having read the book already - before viewing this film - which like his even greater adaptations - 'Effi Briest' and 'Berlin Alexanderplatz' - has a unique and completely respectfull aproach to the literature. It is a pity that Fassbinder did not live to make more films.Movie Review: Brad Davis as never seen before!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is Rainer Fassbinder's last film before he was murdered in Italy by male hustlers. Brad Davis plays a sailor who gets into a murderous situation. The sets look like stage settings and there are phallic symbols throughout, penis shaped peaks on roofs and on stained glass going into a bar, etc., etc. And yes, he gets into anal sex too. Well it may or may not have been real. The star of MIDNIGHT EXPRESS died of AIDS. Some say he had AIDS while filming this picture. "QUERELLE" is now out of print. Again I "loaned" my copy to a couple of guys who seem to forget that it was a loan. So, I spent weeks on the Internet trying to locate a DVD. There were some offered between $70-$100. Some people are just crazy, I guess. But, eventually, I found three on Amazon and at a reasonable cost. I should have bought all three, as it may never be released again by Sony Home Entertainment.Movie Review: Awful picture quality, get VHS instead
Summary: 5 Stars
What a shame that the distributors are so cynical to release this great film under such poor conditions. The subtle oranges and pinks have been thrown together by a quick and presumably cheap transfer to DVD that they all now merge into some garish red. It's almost unwatchable compared to the VHS copy I own. I thought DVD was supposed to be the ultimate in picture quality... forget it, don't be conned. It's just another way to get us to buy the things we've already got. One more thing: get this - they say that, as a special feature of the DVD, it comes with theatrical trailers - THE TRAILERS ARE FOR OTHER FILMS! AAuuughghghhh!What a [bad deal]... keep your money... you have been warned.The people who released this DVD should be in jail.
Movie Review: Jean Genet lives on film.
Summary: 5 Stars
The imperfections of this film--slow pacing (by American standards), choppy transitions, complex and convoluted plot, unpredictable outcomes hidden from the viewer until the last moment then released with insufficient force--are truly irrelevent when the experience of the essence of Genet's novel and its leading character are so effectively brought to the screen in its form, color, casting and concept. Brad Davis is awesome in his portrayal of Querelle--enormous emotional and physical risk, awkward to watch at times because of its truth and openness. If you love Genet, as I do, there is no finer interpreter of his sensibilities than Fassbinder. I am not an expert on Fassbinder, but I love this film.Movie Review: Each Man Kills the Thing He Loves
Summary: 5 Stars
There is no doubt that this is an unusual film, but one that contains several layers of meaning. Most of the content is symbolic and philosophic, but it is an interesting attempt at dealing with subjects such as narcissism, sibling rivalry, homosexual desire, jealousy and violence. Brad Davis' Querelle is a cipher, and he plays him as such, but his acting is quite remarkable. It is a shame he did not live long enough to give us the benefit of seeing him develop more as an actor. Jeanne Moreau is, of course, a formidable presence. This is a film that will only work for some people: being gay certainly helps. Rent it first and see.