Elle

Kept hoping itd get better, but no.

Its lovely and talented Isabelle Huppert that keeps this rather dismal and violent movie afloat. Huppert is poetry in motion even though she play the less than likable Michele Leblanc. ELLE opens with a shocker as Michele is being violently raped. Its an unnerving scene. Whats even more unnerving is that she doesnt go to the police and basically returns to her life almost as if nothing had happened. Michele and her partner run a video game business--video games that are especially violent against women? Could her assailant be one of her employees? What makes ELLE even more of a dismal film is that Michele is not a likable person. Shes tough on her employees and on her son. She has disdain for her elderly mother and her fling with a handsome (and seemingly nice) young stallion. She is especially unkind to her ex-husband Richard who seems to spend his time trying to make amends with Michele. Micheles assailant is stalking her and it was clear to me quickly who he was. The psychological factor kicks in as it seems that Michele has a need for this invasive violence. Its a not too deep journey into Micheles psyche as we learn her father is a notorious criminal up for parole. Its his horrific crime and the then 10-year-old Micheles role (innocent or not) that forms the backbone of Micheles life. Unfortunately, a chance was missed to tell an engrossing psychological thriller her. It is stylistic as are many French films. Add in a famous Dutch director, Paul Verhoeven, and this could explain the uneven level of styles. The main reason to watch ELLE is to see Isabelle Huppert in motion.

Hands down, the most peculiar film Ive ever seen. Perhaps the comedy is lost in the cultural translation from French to American but it was not to my taste! The subject matter is distasteful and if this is what the French define as comedy, well, its all just wrong in my opinion. The main characters disregard for not only herself but those around her is startling and disturbing. Do, I regret spending time on this film, no. But would I ever recommend someone take time out of their life to view it, absolutely not.

Ends just like a typical French movie, if you know about them, youll know.

Huppert is what earns two stars for this bloated, pretentious mess of a movie! I loved her character in Piano Teacher, and the character she portrays in this one is cut from the same cloth. She is born to play these roles. She looks good too! For a Verhoeven film, this is crap! The film isnt shocking at all. It doesnt have to be shocking, but it could at least be a good film. It didnt resonate with me. Verhoevens films usually gut punch on a social satire level, but this movie is merely your typical, predictable, Hollywood crap with a little rape thrown in. Big deal! Some say that the story telling, and character development is what elevates this film over many others. I call shananigans on that too! Youll notice that every conflict the film throws at you, (and its a lot of them!) is nicely resolved at the end. A perfect little fit. Not one loose end or question will linger by the end credits. I guess its a satire of typical, lame Hollywood dramas. Sadly the movie only succeeds in being the very thing it attempts to lampoon. In conclusion, I highly recommend this to Huppert fans. Verhoeven fans should avoid this!

Excellent acting but a very dark cinema.

What the...?! This film is sick. Its a bunch of dribble showing the twisted fantasies of its creators. Women mastyubate about their rapists? NO, JUST NO!!! Absolutely abhorrent film, and despicable message to put out into the world. How could Isabelle Huppert even be involved in such a film?! She must hate herself and women in general. Im appalled that Hollywood chose to celebrate her with an Oscar nod for her performance in this piece of crap. If she had at least been able to pull off nuances of conflict, it could have made the film somewhat palatable. She just went right along with the sick fantasy of some very sick people who made this film. In a time that violence against women is so prevalent, to make a film that is about a woman who is not only unfettered by being raped, but actually enjoys it, is reprehensible. The makers of the film should be under close watch, because it seems that they may very well be sexual predators. I wish I could give it zero stays, because it is the absolute worst film ever created! People who think its good because its a French film with Oscar nods are just pretentious and stupid.

very good story, keeps you guessing

Its not meant to be a fun movie so if thats what youre looking for then search on. If youre looking for an incredibly well acted, artistic work that probes the psyche of a powerful and troubled woman then this is the movie for you. Totally brilliant, loved it even though it is, at times, disturbing.

This is a decent movie although its provocative and not entirely believable when it comes to women, trauma, and sex. Isabelle Huppert is a strong female lead who has a casual attitude toward affairs and sexual fantasies, seemingly as a result of a traumatic event in childhood, but her character never really rings true. She plays the role well, though, and is appealingly enigmatic to the end. The different parts of the movie dont quite cohere: the perfunctory childhood tragedy feels forced into the script and Hupperts character is too unwaveringly blank and detached. That appealing laissez faire attitude that she has turns out to be disappointing in the end, which is way too predictable.