Swimming Pool Reviews

A Guilty Pleasure - Like Peeing In The Pool......

There are three reasons why you should watch this film - Ludivine Sagnier in a swimsuit, Ludivine Sagnier topless and finally Ludivine Sagnier in the buff. Sexist? Possibly. Harsh? Not really considering the amount of time Ozon allocates towards examining every angle of her curvaceous young body. Now don?t get me wrong the plot is initially intriguing, the characters fairly well defined and the acting from both Rampling and Sagnier is assured. But for me the film never really ignites and after watching ?Water Drops on Burning Rocks? it felt too ?safe? and somewhat lacklustre in effort.

Arguably the cinematography is crisp but lacks any real imagination and whilst Ozon?s direction is confident, it is rather bland and more orientated, I felt, towards the mainstream elements of cinema. On the positive side, both actresses capture the stereotypical caricatures perfectly, with Rampling playing the dowdy but manipulative English woman and Sagnier the seductive but emotionally insecure young tearaway. However, I found the actual relationship between the two unconvincing and this unfortunately allowed me to pre-empt where the script was going.

Overall this is a solid if rather uninspiring film and is certainly worth a rent for the sultry pouting of Sagnier alone. However, if you are looking for a good thriller then I would advise you to look elsewhere and for a more risqu? example of French cinema try ?Water Drops on Burning Rocks?. 3 out of 5.

Extras ? Interviews (Charlotte Rampling ? 8m & Ludivine Sagnier ? 11m), Cannes Film Festival 2003 (3m), Stills Galleries, Trailer, Promo Reel and French Teaser.

Subtitles ? Only available during the French dialogue but these are clear to read.

[Highly rated reviewer]

A triumph of style over substance

This a wonderfully chic film: great production values, excellent acting, beautiful settings. In fact, quite operatic: but, alas, one of those operas that are essentially pointless.

If ever you seek an example of arty French filmmaking which is ultimately shallow and entirely unsatisfying, this is it: a tremendous waste of the spectacular acting talents that are part of it. Why anyone would bother making a film like this -- let alone making people sit through it -- is a conundrum. Paint-by-numbers cleverness.

Simply stylish

This is classic French Cinema (and I'm generally not one to rave about it)! Unlike most movies from across the Channel, this is not about adultery! Swimming Pool is a cleverly written tale about a sexually frustrated British crime writer, fabulously portrayed by one of the great actresses of our time Charlotte Rampling, who goes to France to her publisher's house to write her next novel. However, all hell brakes loose when her publisher's daughter arrives and stirs things up. If you missed it on the big screen make sure you see it at home, it's classic Sunday afternoon entertainment.

A slick, and beutifully observed drama. Charlotte Rampling is fantastic. This is a slick well observed movie, no fast cars, serial killers or big explosions. The film explores the characters and draws them out beautifully. We the audience care for the characters and there is an unexpected twist at the end that keeps you thinking long after the credits. This is a film noir feel movie. Worthy of a rental.

Subtle, clever and disturbing

This is one of those films some people don't get - they drift off down the alley-way of plot and the story-lines of normal thrillers.

Ludivine Saignier is indeed sultry in this film, and Ozon, the Director, deliberately lingers on her body; we're invited to lust after her too, so as to lead us towards the crux of the story - Julie's fractured identity and her need for love.

In this, she ressembles the dowdy English author as Rampling portrays her, although her history is very different - and it's this which enables the two outwardly conflicting characters to meet. Each sees herself in the other.

The oddity of the film is that it lacks a moral core, and some may find it incomplete because of that. Although uncertainties about right and wrong are the stuff of everyday life, we expect films to do more that simply reflect that fact. I found myself thinking of 'Last Supper' with Cameron Diaz et al, but there the amorality was a satirical device, an ironic key. Here, it's as if Ozon deliberately leaves us high and dry so that we're forced to make the judgment ourselves.

This is a very clever and perceptive film, with fine performances all round and some sparkling dialogue.

Very watchable; this isn't genius, but it's very good!

No direction and no intrest!!

This has to be one of the worst films i have ever seen!...It has no real story and i spent the whole film waiting for something to happen.I eventually missed the end because i fell asleep.

The only reason it gets 1 star from me and not any is for Ludivine Sagnier taking her kit off!...might sound a bit shallow that which im not but im just being honest-that was the only part of the film i enjoyed!!

Outstanding

Francois OZon finally comes of age in this movie. It is a complex character driven story, which sucks you in at the start and spits you out at the end. If you like a slow burner you'd love this.

The riddle of the pool

Having seen other reviews of this film, one key question seems to be: Does it make sense? My answer is yes.

Sarah Morton (Charlotte Rampling) is a crime novelist with writer's block. Her publisher offers her a holiday in his house in the south of France. She accepts. Shortly after she gets there, she discovers that his daughter Julie (Ludivine Sagnier) is staying there too.

The two women fire sparks off each other, but soon Sarah realises that C's dissolute and promiscuous lifestyle could be the basis for a new piece of fiction. Surreptitiously she studies the girl, spies on her and uses her as a fictional base.

There is then a bit of trouble, a crime is committed by the swimming pool. Trouble is smoothed over, time passes, and Sarah finishes her book.

It is when she returns to London (towards the end of the film) with a typescript which would surely upset her publisher friend that events occur which cause us to re-evaluate everything that has happened. There have been no cinematic illusions, no dreams, and no fantasies. I can't tell you more without revealing the plot, but most (not all) of the awkward questions you will want to ask at the end, can be answered.

The acting is first class, and the film is well made. Although French, it has largely English dialogue.

Well worth watching.

This is classic French Cinema (and I'm generally not one to rave about it)! Unlike most movies from across the Channel, this is not about adultery! Swimming Pool is a cleverly written tale about a sexually frustrated British crime writer, fabulously portrayed by one of the great actresses of our time Charlotte Rampling, who goes to France to her publisher's house to write her next novel. However, all hell brakes loose when her publisher's daughter arrives and stirs things up. If you missed it on the big screen make sure you see it at home, it's classic Sunday afternoon entertainment.

Well Acted Drama

It's great to see quality British actors and actresses in action and Swimming Pool serves up a considered performance from our very own Charlotte Rampling. She is superb as the writer who takes a working holiday to find inspiration only to find it in the form of the highly sexed daughter of her publisher, played wonderfully by Ludivine Sagnier. The film takes on a darker tone as it progresses and I'm not sure it quite works as it seems a tad unbelievable (plus the twist will not be to everyone's tastes) but I'll let this film off as it's qualities far outstrips it's flaws.