|
|
This is a bit of a fable, with darkish undertones. If I said this movie was transcendental, a sort of metaphysical morality play with deeply unconscious architypes, it would sound way too planned. All of that is certainly powerfully present, but those themes are masterfully invisible. All we see is an engrossing and thrilling and entertaining movie. The 'lessons', if any, only emerge as a tantalizing aftertaste of an exciting night at the movies.
I dislike horror movies, and slasher movies such as 'Seven', 'Copycat', and 'The Cell', etc. I was a little afraid this one would stray into that territory. But I trusted Tom Tykwer's directorial talents, and went anyway. I am glad I did! Yes, there is murder (duh... it's in the title), but the descent into human depravity was fascinating. It did NOT make me feel like a bath afterwards. It's almost like a metaphor for all kinds of human endeavors on this earth.
This movie had a lyrical, melodic quality to it--- superficially like Roman Polanski's 'The Ninth Gate', but without the silly attempt to artificially give it meaning. The historical vibe was incredible as well--- Obviously, I wasn't in France in the 1730s-1760s, when the movie takes place. But nonetheless for me, the evocation of that time was superb. I suspect you could watch this without any sound at all, and still be entertained (well, sort of).
I enjoyed the feast for the eyes, while my emotions were fully engaged, and my sense of wonder as well as my sense of mystery and that kind of excitement were all lit up. What a great, deeply satisfying movie! And by the end, you are actually thinking about things a bit--- contemplating more than the movie itself.
score 10/10
bopdog 26 December 2006
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw1554316/ |
|
29-11-2019 16:32:54