By M
This movie is extraordinary, and I weight my words. It is the kind of movie that confirms the potentiality of cinema as an Art, as a vehicle to reach the essence of imagination.
The movie interlinks narrative surrealism and pure plastic experimentation. It brings together absolutely all cinema genres: comedy, drama, thriller, horror, sci-fi, violence, musical, romance, you name it. Certainly we, the viewers, don’t have the voracious appetite that Carax has, so we might feel uncomfortable with an episode or the other, which might appear to us as “kitsch”.
I am sure many of us watch the movie expecting the moment when the orgy of creativity will become evidently too much: Is it the entry into a video-game world of monsters through a ridiculous costume made of phosphorescent light bulbs? Or is it the musical comedy starring Kylie Minogue? Maybe we are not ready yet, so then… it must be the last scene, in which limousines talk to each other, is that not a cheap flirt with Knight Rider and Cars? Mmmm, think twice, and if you are still not convinced, just trust Leos Carax, because he knows better.
This movie is a collection of astounding performances by the magnificent Denis Lavant, who literally transforms into no less than a dozen characters. His job is to become others (this is the plot line, no kidding), to play a part in the lives of others. And he plays an extremely intimate part, a part that seems crucial in the lives of those he visits, but… just for a few minutes. As a fleeting and priced solace.
The actors who give him the line are also extraordinary. In particular, speechless Eva Mendes is like a painting that was inserted in a cinema screen. The section with Mendes is doubly especial because Lavant interprets a “monster” that we became acquainted with in Tokyo!, a medium-length film Carax directed some five years ago.
The movement in the city (of Paris) should make yell of jealousy and frustration all those who have tried to say something about the city (I am not even going to mention the shorts ON Paris, but think of movies such as “Dans Paris” or the like, that were highly popular a few years ago…). We are given access to the very mysterious SAMARITAINE building, walk under the bridges, run under the sewer and drive out of the ring-road… priceless.
The movie is as indescribable as it is bewitching. Try your hardest to watch it on big screen and make sure you get the best sound system.
cucurbitacee 