Irreversible

Pros: Great cast, fabulous camera work.
Cons: Probably too intense for a lot of people.

"Time destroys everything".--Philippe Nahon, Irreversible I first discovered the work of French filmmaker Gaspar Noe after reading about his film I Stand Alone. This bleak, violent, and depressing picture about a down-on-his-luck ...

Pros: interesting themes
Cons: emphasis on gratuitous violence rather than on supporting the theme

Ah, the French. What we, Americans, think we know about these people could use an update - or two, or six, or fifty. They helped us win independence, but only to smite the British. They gave us the Statue of Liberty, but liberty itself was something ...

Pros: Bellucci; trippy visuals; extremely provocative
Cons: A to B story; poor final half.

Maybe it's something the Wachowski's put in the water. It might be a conscious effort to move away from mainstream cinema. Hell, it's quite likely that working with Keanu Reeves has left them craving for a little stimulation. You can't rule out pure ...

Pros: Well scripted, well acted.
Cons: Portions of the film are very dark.

Irreversible first came to my attention while reading the review for another movie. Now I have long been a fan of the beautiful, talented, and under-rated Italian actress Monica Bellucci, and I have seen most of her most noteworthy body of work, ...

Pros: Outstanding technique and performances
Cons: Brutal violence

To reveal any details about the plot would significantly alter the experience, however, it explores the tragic consequences of revenge and retaliation. It depicts rape and violence in unnerving detail. The film is: 97 minutes long ...

Pros: A gripping, masterfully made film experience.
Cons: In places, almost unwatchable.

I must begin this review with an admission that my knowledge of French cinema is not extensive. I've watched and enjoyed Patrice Leconte's L'Homme Du Train, and the sequence of Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources, all of which I ...

Pros: Monica Bellucci and cast, score, reverse narrative, tone.
Cons: Extremely disturbing at times.

Go on a forum and find a thread entitled “most disturbing films you’ve ever seen” and you’re likely to find Gaspar Noé’s 2002 Irreversible mentioned several times.  The controversy surrounding it, and more ...

Pros: A searing performance by Monica Bellucci.
Cons: Overdone visuals and two extremely disturbing scenes.

Hard to believe I haven't written a review since October. Hmmm... To say I've been busy would be an understatement but I'm glad I finally have found some time to sit down and watch something new. Once again, I really need to stay away from Best ...

Pros: Excellent portrayal of unstoppable human emotion.
Cons: Graphic violence

I rarely get a chance to write a film review due to what I perceive as the complexity of the task. My usual music reviews are done on a musical and lyrical level, whereas with films we remove the lyrical, replace it with the dialogue and add menu ...

Pros: Very effective; Bellucci and Cassel; the beautiful ending; story structure
Cons: Horrific; nightmarish; graphic and will upset many

I write this review in defense of Argentine born director Gaspar Noe's subversive and deeply affecting look and violence and love, "Irreversible". Here is a film that is likely to be the most controversial film in easily a decade, which is no small feat...

Pros: Packs a punch.
Cons: Can be too gruesome for some people.

This movie created quite a buzz when it was shown at Cannes. It was reported that some viewers walked out shortly after it began. And for good reason too. The first half of this movie is not easy to stomach. Taking a leaf out of the movie Momento, ...

Pros: Dramatic,shocking,stimulating and intriguing.
Cons: At times grotesque and horrific.Challenging to the eye and senses.

From the opening credits 'Irreversible' is a bleak depiction of how life can change forever within 24 hours.

I found the first 20 minutes visually annoying which almost led me to leave the Cinema. The continuous movement of the camera in a...

Pros: Scenes of high visceral impact
Cons: No signs of intelligent life

A film review by
BlackEye

With the American Congress childishly changing the names of all things Francais, from fries to toast, it’s probably not the best of times for the distributor to leave une crotte on this side of the...

Pros: Story, style, acting. Everything, really.
Cons: None.

Many films that I end up seeing and loving, I found out about long before I ever actually saw them. This is one of these movies. I had heard about it quite a lot, and how intense it was, and I figured, if it upset some people it's my kind of movie. ...

Pros: The whole story is mesmerizing to watch. Movie stays with you afterwards.
Cons: It is disturbing and grotesque in the beginning. HAve a strong stomach!

The movie takes it's trick from Memento, a good movie that used it's reverse timeline as more visual trickery than as an integrated plotline. Here, Gaspar Noe does a better job and the movie Irrevisible would not work nearly as well if it moved ...