Aeon Flux

Aeon Flux
Karyn Kusama :: USA :: 2004 :: 1h33

In a garden of eden city, the last remaining human beings after a virus epidemic live under a scientific dictatorship. We follow our heroine Aoen Flux as she rebels against the all knowing elite. The overly simple story is wrapped up in visually extravagant costumes, luscious French gardens and original architecture. Some beautiful photography alternates some original action scenes, although it must be said that the powers of our heroine way out do that of her enemies, and her limits are completely unclear (a lot of gravity defying stunts). For science fiction lovers, this one is probably too simple and not inspired enough, but if you can appreciate merely an aesthetic look into a design future this will surely stimulate you. I quite enjoyed my trip to the future.

www.aeonflux.com

Le Diner de Cons

Le Diner de Cons
Fraçois Veber :: France :: 1997 ::1h20

At a Parisian publisher's dinner party, every guest is cordially invited to take along the best schmuck they can find. One guest manages to find the schmuck to beat all schmucks but unfortunately is housebound through injury. The catastrofic effects of spending an evening with the king-schmuck are not to be underestimated... as he will learn the hard way. Cleaning up the schmuck-generated mess in his life just gets him in deeper. With dialogues linked together with mathematical precision, this is funniest movie to have been made to date by my knowledge. If you have yet to see it, what is holding you back?

Le Placard

Le Placard
François Veber :: France :: 2000 :: 1h24

Loser accountant is set to lose his job at a factory pushing him into desperation, when he is aided by his neighbor in changing the way he is perceived by the others. Through a stroke of genius, they plan to convince the others that he is gay, obliging them -in the twisted wave of political correctness- to keep him on. As a result, being out-ed helps his whole life to take a turn for the better. Original story-lines which are well worked out in the humorous general plot in which it is drenched. Full of humor and psychological mind games making this fully matured comedy ripe for the serving.

Déjà mort

Déjà mort
Olivier Dahan :: France :: 1997 :: 1h48

Boy in love with girl naively introduces girl into the decadent world of erotica and pornography in the beautiful, sunny French Riviera with unlikely black clouds on the horizon. Very watch-able sliding-into-catastrophy-type film, which holds one of my favorite scenes: alarm clock goes off at 13:12. A sweaty hung over face knocks back a few aspirins with the bright sun light coming into the room. Drives off in his father's cabriolet into the residential Nice. Arrives on a chic sea side terrace where his father is waiting for lunch, He father has ordered him a salad. Father talks. Son lights a cigarette. Father talks. Drinks water. Extinguishes cigarette. Can hardly see father. Takes off sunglasses. Does not help, father is out of focus. Father asks something about his studies. Son replies something. Drinks more water. The scene is not only very funny, but the brief conversation and style captures the movie in its essence. Youthful mindlessness covered in a veil of inherited character and light sophistication. Well worked out credible characters in a cult youth thriller.

L'Appartement

L'Appartement
Gilles Mimouni :: France :: 1996 :: 1h52

Max is about to get married, when suddenly he hears the voice of his first love Lisa, whom he traumatically has lost sight of. In a desperate, obsessive attempt to find her, a reckless romantic tale unfolds in the span of but a few days. An incredible plot ensues which curiously enough can be followed as we are flung from the past into the present and back again. The originality of the story, the impeccable cast, excellent photography, and masterfully put together make this without doubt one of the best emotional thrillers to have been made. Highly recomended.

The Machinist

The Machinist

Brad Anderson :: USA :: 2003 :: 1h42

Seemingly starved and paranoid insomniac tries to come to terms with the surreal world as it is projected on him. With the mark of Kafka scratched all over it, we are taken down the path where everything is dirty, where human kindness is the pause-button sanctuary and sanity is the aberration provoked by a blind ignorance of reality. Hardly the object of envy, our helpless sympathy awakens for this lonely creature in the nighttime, so close to a human life yet impossibly removed. Best served late at night, alone, or in quiet company. Unstables abstain.

www.themachinistthemovie.com

Caligula

Caligula
Tinto Brass :: USA/ Italy :: 1979 :: 2h28

The young Roman Caius Caligula Caesar ascends the throne as its heir, and makes a mockery of the Senate and Republic of Rome by taking absolute power. In executing his birth right, Caligula, as a thankfully rare (but not rare enough) example in human history, becomes completely corrupt and paranoid as the product of supreme power in an already morally bankrupt bloodline and empire. He taunts the government and the people to the breaking point, wondering when and where that will come. An exceptionally impressive and disturbing movie to rival Passolini's 120 days of Sodom as the most perverse piece of film made.

[NB Completely unsuitable for children, even in a violence reduced edited version]