Originally Posted by BB_Eye (Post 3537866)

Les Valseuses

This 1974 'road movie' was an early lead role for Gerard Depardieu and is typically French in more ways than one. Two young criminals living out a dangerous 'beyond good and evil' lifestyle, frequent casual nudity and lots of dark comedy. I found the fluctuations between the more comic situations and the more disturbing scenes where the lead rogues sexually assault various women a little bit jarring. It would also be an understatement to say that I haven't seen this sort of stuff before in French movies. Allusions to the movies of Godard are frequent and I found the movie's weakest moments were when it dealt with political themes. A scene towards the end of the movie depicts Depardieu's characters stealing a car from a middle class family and then seducing their daughter. The daughter agreeing to it as an act of rebelliousness towards her parents. This was one among many moments of high implausibility that rob the movie of its ability to suspend your disbelief and shed some insight into the characters.

So all in all, a movie which succeeds as a dark comedy, but fails as a character study. In this respect, Les Valseuses is not in the same league as the great movies of Godard and Truffaut, but it is never the less interesting to see the object-subject' relationship between male and female characters cemented by Breathless all those years prior to new, unsettling extremes. But where that said movie gave us a genuine insight into the mind of a morally blank hero, Les Valseuses gets tied up in overly broad political motifs.

I'd give it a begrudging recommendation, if only for Depardieu's charismatic, believable performance alone.

Originally Posted by BB_Eye (Post 3537866)

Les Valseuses

This 1974 'road movie' was an early lead role for Gerard Depardieu and is typically French in more ways than one. Two young criminals living out a dangerous 'beyond good and evil' lifestyle, frequent casual nudity and lots of dark comedy. I found the fluctuations between the more comic situations and the more disturbing scenes where the lead rogues sexually assault various women a little bit jarring. It would also be an understatement to say that I haven't seen this sort of stuff before in French movies. Allusions to the movies of Godard are frequent and I found the movie's weakest moments were when it dealt with political themes. A scene towards the end of the movie depicts Depardieu's characters stealing a car from a middle class family and then seducing their daughter. The daughter agreeing to it as an act of rebelliousness towards her parents. This was one among many moments of high implausibility that rob the movie of its ability to suspend your disbelief and shed some insight into the characters.

So all in all, a movie which succeeds as a dark comedy, but fails as a character study. In this respect, Les Valseuses is not in the same league as the great movies of Godard and Truffaut, but it is never the less interesting to see the object-subject' relationship between male and female characters cemented by Breathless all those years prior to new, unsettling extremes. But where that said movie gave us a genuine insight into the mind of a morally blank hero, Les Valseuses gets tied up in overly broad political motifs.

I'd give it a begrudging recommendation, if only for Depardieu's charismatic, believable performance alone.

Originally Posted by happyland (Post 3557826)

I thought Tom Hardy who played Bronson was fantastic; I haven't seen him in anything before, but I was impressed.

Originally Posted by IheartBB (Post 3559617)

Arrgh, Tom Hardy was the guy in Inception! I was watching that film thinking "where have I seen him before?", then completely forgot to google it. Thanks for remaining me :joker:

But yes he was brilliant in Bronson - Oscar worthy, really. He's terrific in Inception too. Definitely got a bright future ahead of him.

Originally Posted by setanta (Post 3442206)

Yeah, 5 is shi%3 except for the moments between Kirk, Bones and Spock which I think are just lovely.

Oh, watch Grizzly Man. Brilliance.

Originally Posted by James (Post 3561478)

I've seen this now, a very interesting story and character. I didn't quite know what to make of him actually.

Originally Posted by happyland (Post 3557826)

I watched "Bronson" last night..

It was the true story of Charles Bronson, Britains most mental prisoner ever.. He was sentenced to 7 years for holding up a post office and stealing 40 quid or summat.. and has never left jail, spending over 30 years in solitary confinement..

I thought Tom Hardy who played Bronson was fantastic; I haven't seen him in anything before, but I was impressed.

I found it very funny at bits without obviously being a comedy... I'm going to read one of Bronson's books now

Apparently (and this made me laugh) one of his books is a tutorial style exercise book entiled "Working out in Small Spaces" hahaha

Originally Posted by setanta (Post 3561864)

I watched it Lee, based on your recomendation and the fact that I'd seen Hardy in Star Trek: Nemesis (don't say a word lol) years ago and never understood why he hadn't made a name for himself in film. Really thought he had quite a bit of talent and it became apparent after the first 10 mins of Bronson the extent to which it has blossomed. He's fantastic in the part.

Originally Posted by happyland (Post 3562251)

Erm.. Star Trek sucks :xyxwave:

Yeah.. Hardy has a new fan in me :)

I've been reading about the real Bronson and I know he's an idiout but some of his hostage demands over the years have been really funny!

Originally Posted by setanta (Post 3562276)

Ah, your taste is up your hole. lol. Star Trek is class. Yeah, always thought Hardy could act but never knew he could do what he did in Bronson. Amazing stuff. Why wasn't he nominated for an Oscar?