Man Bites Dog
1992
Directed by Remy Belvaux, Andre Bonzel, and Benoit Poelvoorde
Ugh. Here we are again. Yet another film with a brutal rape sequence, not to mention all the other scenes that feature horrific acts of violence. I will briefly try to see if there was any credible reason for this film's existence, then hopefully, move on and forget about it quickly.
A crew of filmmakers follow around a serial killer for the purposes of a documentary. At first, they just record his crimes but gradually, the entire crew begins participating in the murders. I guess the point is that society views violence as a sick form of entertainment? How about people stop making films like this then?
Anyway, we all know I hate seeing sexual violence on screen. It almost never has a viable purpose, other than to show a naked woman or demonstrate that we are dealing with a "bad" guy. Or, I suppose, to give our male hero something to avenge. Of course, it is sometimes used for humor, but I can't even talk about that.
Once again, I have to use one of my favorite Roger Ebert quotes: "the star rating is unsuited to this film. It is what it is and occupies a world where the stars don't shine."
RATING: -----
Interesting Facts:
Received a NC17 rating for its American release.
I love the quote from Roger Ebert! So very fitting!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I love it too. I think I have used it more than once.
DeleteAmanda, please lie to me. Tell me this is the last heinous film on the List. I feel sick. :(
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry Alex! Irreversible is still looming ahead...
DeleteHe he .. Sorry I missed reading this before now (Thanks to Alex for commenting and bringing it to my attention)
ReplyDeleteYes, that Ebart quote is priceless...
Well, I guess I'm 90% with you all.. I'd argue that the film has something to say, (as you say Amanda, about society and violence as thrills / news / entertainment), but, as you all feel, fails. And yes, mostly because of the strange contradiction that is uses the things it wants to condemn to (try and) make the point.
It's not the first film to fall up these rocks..
I didn't like this one, and was mostly bored. Which you could count as, in some strange way, a success for the makers? (As in "we oppose using violence, sexual assault for entertainment, so we will make this deliberately not entertaining"?)
Agreed Ray. You can always tell with these kind of films that they are having way too much fun making them. And then they try to claim that their creation is some sort of grim necessity...yeah right.
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