465. Week End

Week End
1967
Directed by Jean-Luc Godard

Here we are again with yet another Godard, which in my opinion are getting progressively worse.  Let's see how this one fares.

A husband and a wife are both planning each other's murders with their respective lovers.  They set out by car to visit the wife's dying father in order to secure her inheritance. Um, then some other stuff happens.  See above picture.

This film involves one of the most famous tracking shots in movie history, which even I have to admit was pretty fantastic.  For seven minutes, the camera follows a traffic jam in one long shot that is an absolute beautiful piece of filmmaking.   There, I was nice.

I am getting bored with my own complaints, but unfortunately for all of us, The Book is obsessed with this guy.  I like plot and character development and those two things are very rarely present in Godard's films.  We get a bit of a plot here but absolutely no explanation on why these characters are seemingly losing their minds.  I suppose since this is kind of a screwball comedy, no one really deemed explanations necessary.

You know I never give away movie endings, but what the hell was with the last five minutes?  Dear God-ard, are we done with this guy yet?  I have to go cleanse my palate.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

One of Premiere's 25 Most Dangerous Movies.

458. 2 ou 3 choses que je sais d'elle

2 ou 3 choses que je sais d'elle
Two or Three Things I Know About Her
1967
Directed by Jean-Luc Godard

This is our seventh Godard film on The List and I feel as though as the years have progressed, Godard has cared less and less about plots and characters.  Instead, his films have simply become platforms where he can complain about society.  I enjoy subtle commentary, but this is getting a tad ridiculous.

The film is about (that might be too specific a term for this movie) Juliette Jeanson, a married mother who spends her days prostituting herself, seemingly to make ends meet.  Occasionally the characters will break the fourth wall and ramble about this and that directly to the camera.

With Bell de Jour coming up, I can't help compare this film to other movies that address prostitution in somewhat casual, and not at all erotic, terms.  It falls completely short of anything I have seen.  I found the narrative structure to be annoying and pretentious, without revealing any cultural truths of interest.

I am liking Godard less and less.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Screenshot of Vivre Sa Vie can be seen on the wall.

456. Masculin-Feminin

Masculin-Feminin
Masculine Feminine
1966
Directed by Jean-Luc Godard

I have been receiving a lot of bad news lately, so I was really eager to get lost in a good movie.  Well this wasn't exactly the movie for escapism, it was still a good film and Godard continues to impress.

Paul, a romantic revolutionary, becomes infatuated (obsessed) with the girl pictured above and proceeds to pursue her (stalk her).  Maybe she doesn't like him because the best compliment he can come up with is "you have classy breasts"?  Just a theory.

Anyway, the film is interspersed with title cards that are difficult to connect to the plot along with pseudo interviews imitating the cinema verite style.

This is one of those movies that was made for a very specific time and place.  The translation to today is a little bit spotty, but it is still an interesting watch.  There was, however, plenty of dead time that I wish Godard would have eliminated.

Great songs and a decent movie.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Meant for an audience of under 18 according to Godard.

Sorry for the somewhat short and vague review.  Busy day.

443. Pierrot le fou

Pierrot le fou
Pierrot The Madman
1965
Directed by Jean-Luc Godard

I am sorry I haven't posted in awhile.  It has been a combination of an insane amount of work and not being able to find a version of this film with English subtitles.  However, I finally tracked down a copy and was able to watch it while cleaning my chinchilla's cage.  Was my experience colored by the fact that I was scrubbing urine off the walls while I was watching it?  Read on!

Ferdinand is in an unhappy marriage so decides to run off with his ex-girlfriend Marianne.  Of course, bitches be crazy so he soon finds himself on the run from a group of gangsters.

I actually started out loving this movie.  The film starts with Ferdinand attending a party full of extremely shallow people with his wife.  I love stories that deal with death by monotony.   However, this story quickly went off the rails after that fantastic scene.

This is still a spoiler free site, but I have to talk about the ending a bit.  It seemed almost cartoonish, but when you think of the reality of the situation, it is really quite horrifying.  So were we supposed to take it seriously (in which case, that's highly disturbing) or was it supposed to viewed in the same way kids view Wile the Coyote cartoons?

In the end, I thought the plot would be a more entertaining and it was a bit too surreal for my taste.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

What are everyone's thoughts on the coming Oscars?  I only saw American Hustle and was not a fan.

Godard claimed this was not a film, but an attempt at cinema.  Did anyone get through that sentence without rolling their eyes?

439. Alphaville

Alphaville
1965
Directed by Jean-Luc Godard

I am actually a huge science fiction fan; there is something about such blatant cheesiness that is appealing to me.  I totally understand if this genre isn't for everyone which is a shame if you are attempting the 1001 journey since you have to sit through so many of those movies anyway.  Science fiction haters actually might find some redeeming qualities in it since so many elements from different genres are present here.

Alphaville is a futuristic society that has outlawed emotion, love, and any other form of free thought.  A Sam Spade-esque character named Caution vows to destroy Alpha 60, which is a computer that controls all of Alphaville.  There are actually so many similarities between this and 1984 that I almost thought I should protest.

Well, this is a great film.  I love films that combine genres and this one pulled that off perfectly.  Okay, so the concept is a bit cliche and the technology obviously has dated.  Still, a great movie and, of course because it is Godard, beautifully done.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Germans and Americans were shown as those most ready to assimilate.  Thanks, man.

Trailer:

402. Le Mepris

Le Mepris
Contempt
1963
Directed by Jean-Luc Godard

This is a film that I dreaded watching mostly because I was under the impression that it would be another pretentious French New Wave drama that would have me either falling asleep or searching for the nearest ledge.  However, while I can't say it was a favorite, there were certain components of this film that make it a must see.

First of all, the film was absolutely gorgeous.  The scenes showing the ocean and the mountains were of course beautiful but I am also taking about interior sets, such as Paul and Camille's apartment.  I don't know if it was the dazzling colors or the European architecture but I just wanted to keep staring at the screen; I didn't even care what was happening plot wise.

This was actually a good thing, since not a whole lot happened here.  A film producer hires Paul to rework the script of a movie that he originally gave to Fritz Lang (played by himself).  After Paul's wife, Camille, meets the producer she becomes remarkably cold towards her husband.  Or maybe cold isn't the right word; bitchy would be more correct since she calls him an asshole for no apparent reasons amidst ordinary conversation.  I was actually feeling sorry for the guy until he slapped her.  Then I was just kind of annoyed with both of them.

All right, let's get me criticisms over with, shall we?  First of all, the scene at their apartment after their meeting with Jeremy was ridiculously long and mostly consisted of Paul asking Camille if she wanted to go to Capri and Camille giving noncommittal answers.  By the end of the scene I just wanted to yell at the screen "someone make a fucking decision about Capri or I will!" Granted that threat is much pretty nonsense, but I meant it at the time.

Additionally, I started out thinking the music was very beautiful but then I ended up getting sick of it playing off and on every four seconds.  It was a nice score, I just wish that it was used more sparingly.

I am rambling on, aren't I?  It's funny, a fellow blogger just complimented me on my blog by saying I never ramble.  Kind of dropped the ball on that one.

I will wrap it up by saying that it was a gorgeous movie with lots of film references which is always fun for a 1001er.  Still, I think it could have been trimmed down a bit (probably what you are thinking right now about my review).

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Lang was virtually blind at the time this film was made.

Godard hated making this film.

394. Vivre Sa Vie: Film en Douze Tableaux

Vivre Sa Vie: Film en Douze Tableaux
My Life to Live
1962
Directed by Jean-Luc Godard

We are getting closer and closer to the 400 milestone!  I know 6 is a weird time to start a countdown…but screw it, start the countdown!

This is the story of Nana (does every woman named Nana have to be a prostitute? Cross that off the baby name list) who decides to leave her husband and son to become an actress.  Her plans go awry and she ends up being a hooker.  So it goes.

I love a good story when someone who lives a completely ordinary existence comes completely out of their shell.  Of course, there are the Disney versions of that story and The Purple Rose of Cairo versions of those stories.  This one falls into the more unfortunate category and it is actually quite sad.

Well, I should say that it is meant to be sad.  It was hard for me to feel anything but contempt for the selfish Nana who leaves her infant son without a mother because she did not plan her life better.  Bitch.

I have my usual complaint here with Godard; he just is not great at keeping me entertained, even if he has a good story.  I was bored for a lot of this movie and even the action packed ending had me yawning.

Overall, I could have skipped this one but we have certainly seen worse.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Divided into 12 "episodes".

Referenced in Pulp Fiction.

References The Searchers, The Hustler, Jules et Jim, and Spartacus.

Trailer:

348. A bout de souffle

A bout de souffle
Breathless
1959
Directed by Jean-Luc Godard

We have been on a streak of films lately that I have not been particularly excited about.  Unfortunately, that streak did not end here because Breathless failed to entertain me in the slightest.

Let me start by saying I tried really hard to like this film.  I had heard so many good things about it that I almost felt as if it was my obligation to enjoy the movie, sort like how I felt when I saw The Godfather for the first time.  Ultimately, however, I failed in liking this film and once again, I cannot be the cultural snob that I aspire to be.

First of all, the main characters are super annoying.  The man is petty criminal turned murderer who is basically obsessed with money and sex (insert joke about how that applies to all men).  The woman is a slightly crazy hypocrite who enjoys feeling misunderstood.  Together, they make quite a pair!

This film has been lauded for its dialogue, but frankly, I wasn't too impressed.  Actually, I was a bit creeped out by some of the things that the man said, like that he would strangle her if she didn't smile.  I have been told I don't smile enough but I have never received any death threats about it.  And for that, I am thankful.

This movie is also acclaimed for its innovative use of jump cuts.  So…I guess thanks for that, Godard?

Overall, just a film that I could not enjoy and I can only hope I won't receive comments about how ignorant I am.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Godard could not afford a dolly so he pushed his cinematographer around in a wheelchair.

Godard had to shorten the film but was reluctant to cut out any scenes.  Instead, he trimmed scenes here and there, the result being the jump cuts we see.  So, it was a lucky accident?  I take back my thank you.