Weekend
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Movie Reviews of Weekend
Movie Review: Grit your teeth and bare it...
Summary: 5 Stars
Jean-Luc Godard is, quite possibly, the greatest director of all time. I know, that is a hefty title to heap on any individual, but every film I see by the master is better than the last and just further cements in my minds eye his staggering genius.
`Weed End' is no exception.
Godard frequently used his artistic approach to elaborate on the political dilemmas facing his country at that given time, and the Parisian 60's were a ripe canvas for Godard's superior sense of cinematic vision. The life of the bourgeois (for an interesting read, check out the Wikipedia page for `bourgeoisie', which will enlighten you on the very culture with which Godard pointed his camera lens) is dissected with brash statements that firmly underscore a point of view towards the political situations they found themselves in, using vivid and ridiculously obscene imagery and dialog to drive home the absurdity of the moment.
One, two, three, four...
The film revolves around a young Parisian couple who is sifting in their own moral callousness, each individual party possessing disturbed ideals and ideas. The two embark on a dreaded weekend with the wife's parents, where they fantasize about the demise of her father so as to reap the benefits of his will. Along the way they are bombarded with events out of their control that only serve to further embellish their misplaced priorities.
When their car is engulfed in flames, the cries for the loss of a handbag place a bold exclamation-point at the end of this couples `description'.
The absurdity of the film engulfs itself, really piling one ridiculous moment on top of the other, but all in a way that thrives within the context of the film. Godard was never a mainstream director, but he also created art pieces that told a story, that elaborated on truths not willingly admitted by those around him. Godard understood that filmmaking was a gift, a gift to be used as a tool to instill something in others. In all of his works, he did that very thing. With exaggerated sequences that uses unending tracking shots to create a feeling of uneasiness in the viewer (the never-ending traffic jam is one of many), Godard splashed visual wizardry on the screen and imprinted his political satire on the minds of the audience. Some have noted that Godard was a distant or cold director, but I find that aspect of his work endearing, for it sharply places a sense of realism in his wildly imaginative take on reality. There is nothing within `Week End' that appears real. In fact, even the protagonists here question their reality. The sequences (which involve, among other things, murder and cannibalism) all wear the stain of the absurd and yet they feel remarkably `honest' thanks to the `cold' approach that Godard takes. By stepping away from the characters and the moments and delivering a nonchalant take, he inserts a frigid sense of reality that makes this pill a lot easier to swallow.
We buy it, every image and every spoken word.
Movie Review: One of the Most Unique Films I've Ever Seen
Summary: 5 Stars
Have you ever seen a movie where, once it's over, you have no idea what you have just seen? Well, that's pretty much what Jean-Luc Godard's movie "Weekend" was like for me. It's the first movie I've seen by Godard; A director, whose work I've been wanting to see for years because I heard he was an inspiration for Quentin Tarantino (my favorite filmmaker). "Weekend" seems to take place in a post-Apocalyptic world or Hell; either way, it's a very unique looking movie. The movie features a series of unbroken shots; Including one in the beginning where Corinne explains to her husband Roland about a sexual experience that she had (maybe only in her dreams). This shot (I didn't time it) is completely unbroken and lasts, at least, five minutes. Corinne and Roland are a despicable couple, who are traveling to their parents house. En route, every bizarre thing that you've never though would happen in a movie happens. There's a traffic jam, which is a shot that also seems to never end. There's burning cars...If I've seen a more unique movie than this; I don't remember what it was. The movie is also very funny;
A scene early in the film (where the couple tries to leave, but encounters a demon-child, his screaming mother, and a man with a gun) was hilarious. Despite all these traits, a lot of people won't like this movie. This certainly isn't a movie you're going to watch with the family and some popcorn. I think if you do like this film (or appreciate it) you will have a desire to see it again immediately. The movie is, essentially, told through images that aren't always explained and rarely make sense. Whether this improves upon each viewing is yet to be seen, but I'm definitely intrigued. As I said, I've never seen a Godard film but I already want to see another one. A lot of movies can be called original and unique; this movie TRULY is unique. I haven't seen anything like it and chances are, you haven't either. I don't know if you'll agree with me or not, but this is what a film buff would refer to as "a cinematic experience." And it's a film one should definitely see again.
GRADE: A
Movie Review: Very nice
Summary: 5 Stars
Don't buy this if you want a "story"- kind of movie, where everything makes sense. Some things in this movie make sense, some don't, and the story plays a minor role. There is nothing pretentious about it, it's just the kind of movie Godard likes to make. I don't agree with his political statements, but still liked the movie. It is full of interesting ideas, images and music. Compared to Godard's "A bout de souffle" (Breathless), "Weekend" left a greater impression on me, because it is not just about the main characters, but about society as a whole. The trip into the country of two main characters (with bad intent) turns into a metaphor for the end of civilization. And if I didn't like anything else about it, the actress would still have captured my eye the entire movie. As with most of Godard movies, afterward I wonder: "Why do I like this?", and Mike Figgis (extra features on the dvd) puts it in words very well, which I find helpful. The comments also point out some of the things that are otherwise easy to miss.Movie Review: Into the Wild
Summary: 5 Stars
Jean-Luc Godard's "Weekend" has reached its four decade milestone. It's a surrealistic cinematic trip into Godard's commentary on then-contemporary French society. It doesn't have a straightforward plot; one assumes Godard didn't mean to have one.
"Weekend" begins with a couple enjoying double entendres in a drive in the country. They find themselves in an endless traffic jam, surrounded by hippies, Marxists, and those living the primitive live. It's a commentary on consumerism--but it's also a commentary on communism as well. Individuals are sacrificed to the community-literally-and the upper-class wife chows down on her husband,while a young woman is garnished with eggs. Communism consumes itself. Godard saw European society degenerating; he was prophetic. He critiques capitalism and communism alike.
"Weekend" is an afternoon trip... for the mind.
Movie Review: Excellent
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm not going to say much about this, just check it out. Godard is always fascinating and even his failures (and this is not one) are more interesting and exciting than 90% of the movies out there. Though you wouldn't know it from some reviewers, Godard moved far beyond "Breathless" (great as it is) in his later films. "Weekend" is one of his best and you should also check out "Tout Va Bien", "Masculin Feminin", "Forever Mozart" and "Notre Musique" to see Godard at his best.