832. La belle noiseuse

La belle noiseuse
The Beautiful Troublemaker
1991
Directed by Jacques Rivette

Our streak of drawn out films continues with La belle noiseuse, which clocks in at four hours.  I guess the intention of this one is to portray every mind numbing moment of the artistic process to illustrate how exhausting it is.  Point taken, I suppose, although as a writer, I am painfully aware of this already.

Frenhofer is a retired artist living a quiet existence with his wife, who used to be a model.  They are visited by a young couple, Nicolas and Marianne.  Nicolas is an aspiring artist and offers Marianne up as a model for Frenhofer's unfinished painting, La belle noiseuse.  Slowly, Frenhofer creates his painting, unsure whether he still has what it takes to make something beautiful.  Slowly.  Very slowly.

I know it would have been totally cliche, but I was hoping for more of a passionate love story between Frenhofer and Marianne.  I guess their connection was more artistic and intellectual than sexual.  How dull of them.  At the very least, it would have been a bit more exciting; as I said, this movie moves at a snail's pace.

It is, undoubtedly, quite beautiful but I was ultimately disappointed a bit with the story.  It seemed reluctant to move in a significant direction, at least until the end.  I never thought I would say that about something inspired by Balzac!

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

One of Kurosawa's favorite films.

585. Celine and Julie Go Boating

Celine and Julie Go Boating
1974
Directed by Jacques Rivette

I have been recovering from strep throat for the past week and it seems that my head and nose were feeling left out.  Yesterday, they decided to join the party and now it feels like my head is going to explode any minute.  Thankfully, today I can stay home, rest, and watch more inexcusably long films.

The movie starts with a girl named Julie reading a spell book in a park.  Fair enough.  A woman passes, dropping things as she goes.  Julie tries to catch up and follows the woman all over Paris.  Then I guess they become friends and move in together?  And keep visiting a house that may or may not exist?  Honestly, I was confused for the duration of this movie.  I suppose it is similar to Alice in Wonderland. But as frequent readers know, I am not fond of psychedelic stories, particularly those that last approximately a hundred hours.

Obviously, there is a lot to digest with this movie.  It seems like either these girls were on heavy amounts of drugs or Celine was a figment of Julie's imagination.  I don't find either theory particularly intriguing.  There were definitely moments of beauty in this film, but decidedly not my cup of tea.  I can say that now because I am in England!

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

References Alice in Wonderland, Remembrance of Things Past, and Les Vampires.