Jean-Luc Godard Collection Vol.2 on DVD

Zamy from London [Highly rated reviewer] , 11/10/2005

If cinema can be considered an art then this film is about the fullest expression that you are likely to find of an artist working in the medium of film. Forget the story and immerse yourself in a visual and aural experience that is pretty unique in my estimation. This film forms a bridge between the early personal works like 'A Bout de Souffle' and 'Vivre sa Vie' and the more political works to follow such as 'Weekend' and 'Tout va Bien'. I suppose the film it most resembles is 'Mepris', but that is to oversimplify things. Godard has made the scenes up as he went along and yet somehow it all fits to give us, if not a coherent movie, a work of cinema as perceived by its creator. Not a film for everyone, perhaps, but one that will leave a lasting impression as long as there are lovers of cinema prepared to give Godard their attention.

  5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

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Zamy from London [Highly rated reviewer] , 30/06/2005

Jean-Luc Godard's third feature and first studio production is a bit like a musical for actors who can't sing or dance(Jean-Paul Belmondo, Anna Karina, and Jean-Claude Brialy). As in all his films for Godard, Raoul Coutard has excelled in the visuals department(it's Godard's first film in both color and cinemascope) and Michel Legrand did the wonderful score. As usual Godard liberally spreads a variety of references to other movies. The slender plot and its development(stripper Karina wants a baby and turns to Belmondo when her boyfriend Brialy won't oblige her) actually paints a rather dark view of male/female relationships and the extent to which men and women are often at odds. This reading of the film seems to undercut the bright primary colours and the musical high spirits. Whatever, the acting from the three principals is superb and my view may be coloured by my antipathy to the 'menage a trois' format. There is much to enjoy here; not least Godard's love affair with film and his complete enthusiasm for the art of cinema.

  5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

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Claire Gontier from Potters Bar, Herts. , 12/01/2007

Horribly disappointing. The story was going nowhere, ever! I usually love French films, but this one did not hold my attention - it took a lot of will-power to watch to the end.

  4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

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McClennan from St Helens , 01/03/2006

Man, this was like Bonnie And Clyde two years before and on CIA stash lol. Some great surreal images and ideas seemed at odds with how well the film was shot, but nothing felt out of place. Loved it. If you're not into Godard's style you won't like this one either, it's wild.

  4 out of 5 people found this review helpful

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