I just finished watching Gaspar Noe film Irreversible. I can honestly say that I have never seen anything like that in my life! I really don't know what to say. I am truly at a loss for words. I am going to write a review of this, but there is a good chance that if I watch it again I might have a totally different take on the film.
The film opens with a camera technique like I have never seen. The camera seems to be attached to a gyroscope of some kind. It pans and wipes at 360 degrees without ever cutting. It is fluid and dizzying. The lighting is minimal and mostly natural. Once the story begins it takes place outside a gay S&M club where there has been a murder. The film then proceeds to play out in long, 10-20 minute sequences playing backwards to explain why the murder took place.
The film revolves around a rape that occurs about half way through the film. This rape sequence is about the first time in the film where the camera sits still. It is about a 9 minute un-cut single shot of the most brutal anal rape sequence I have ever seen. I don't know how to feel about this. I kind of feel bad for having watched it. This is not a film that I would ever recomend to anyone without a detailed description of what they would be getting into.
Irreversible is an assault on the senses. It is terrorizing and beautiful. As an example; The opening credits are printed upside down and backwards. They are presented in a strobe light fashion. They also scroll from the bottom of the screen up instead of the usual. Then close to the end of the roll the credits start to slowly rotate counterclockwise. This is not just a gimmick thought. It really prepares you for the film and it's eccentric camera technique. Then, the final shot is another fluid camera movement centering overhead on a water sprinkler. The camera being to spin opposite of the sprinkler. It moves faster and faster as the score grows louder and louder. Then it fades into a whiteout that starts strobing. Through the strobe we get glimpses of outer-space. Then it cuts for the first time and the film is over. Very reminiscent of 2001: A Space Odyssey. The music was done by one half of the band Daft Punk. It is a techno sound scape. This would have definitely made a spot on my favorite score of 2002.
The films stars Monica Bellucci and Vincent Cassel. Bellucci is probably best known for her work in The Matrix, and Cassel would be know from the Oceans 11 franchise or from this years Black Swan. They are unbelieveably good in this movie. I felt so bad for Bellucci having to be subjected to filming that rape scene.
I gave Irreversible a 5/5 stars on Netflix. I think I will hold true to that ranking. I have a rule that I will only watch one David Lynch film a year. I find his work so disturbing that I will only put myself through 1 of his films a year. Even though I own three or four on DVD. I love them that much. I wonder if Gaspar Noe will be another director like that. The closest film I can comapre my feelings to is the Michael Haneke film(s) Funny Games.
I will attach the trailer for Irreversible if YouTube has one. I will also add a link to the credit sequence of his new film Enter the Void. Check out the Trailer Park to see for yourself.
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