WaxNWane
Hare puller
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2002
- Posts
- 2,094
Just released - went in knowing nothing other than a friend really wanted to see it. At the theater, there's a sign at the ticket counter that had multiple warnings about gyroscopic camera effects, a couple of the rougher scenes, and a "no refunds" policy. So, I'm wondering if we should go see "City of God" instead...
But, we saw Irreversible...easily the most disturbing movie I've ever seen. The movie is told Memento-style, with 10 or 15 minute segments that are shown in reverse order. It opens with the credits. It starts with a totally disorienting, brutally violent scene, then works its way back to tell you why this just happened. When I say brutal, I mean that I had to look at the floor for about 30 seconds. As the movie progresses, the camera work gets more and more stable...thankfully.
There's one scene that had ended just before I was about to get up and walk out of the theater - which would've been a first for me. Not that the movie was bad at all, just that the scene was so difficult to watch that I was about to go. If you see it, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.
The remarkable thing about the movie is that each of the segments are single takes. Some go as long as 20 minutes, with dialogue and action and extras doing their thing...really impressive work. All the while some cool visual things are done with the subtitles.
I can't say I recommend it - not from a lack of quality, though. The script is good, the acting is excellent, the cinematography is first-rate, and the long takes are something to behold. I know I'll never see it again...but I'm kind of glad I caught it.
Oh, and it's French...don't go if you're bitchy about subtitles.
But, we saw Irreversible...easily the most disturbing movie I've ever seen. The movie is told Memento-style, with 10 or 15 minute segments that are shown in reverse order. It opens with the credits. It starts with a totally disorienting, brutally violent scene, then works its way back to tell you why this just happened. When I say brutal, I mean that I had to look at the floor for about 30 seconds. As the movie progresses, the camera work gets more and more stable...thankfully.
There's one scene that had ended just before I was about to get up and walk out of the theater - which would've been a first for me. Not that the movie was bad at all, just that the scene was so difficult to watch that I was about to go. If you see it, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.
The remarkable thing about the movie is that each of the segments are single takes. Some go as long as 20 minutes, with dialogue and action and extras doing their thing...really impressive work. All the while some cool visual things are done with the subtitles.
I can't say I recommend it - not from a lack of quality, though. The script is good, the acting is excellent, the cinematography is first-rate, and the long takes are something to behold. I know I'll never see it again...but I'm kind of glad I caught it.
Oh, and it's French...don't go if you're bitchy about subtitles.
