Should we use the thread for reviews?
9/10
The debut film from Alain Robbe-Grillet, after the success of his screenplay for
Last Year at Marienbad. This film liberally appropriates the previous Resnais film's veneer of non-linear montage, opaque symbolism and a focus on the gulf between artifice and intimacy. It takes a bit of adjusting before the film allows itself to stand on its own feet, out of this shadow. Adding to the intrigue, the film chooses only French subtitles, leaving all of the film's Greek and Turkish dialogue indecipherable, which is off-putting at first until it becomes clear that it's something of a running gag for the protagonist. There's a very interesting theory that
Marienbad was a strong influence on Kubrick's
Shining in such a way that can reevaluate both films. I think it's potentially interesting to see a similar influence between
L'Immortelle and
Eyes Wide Shut.
6.5/10
The earliest Jean Rollin film I've yet to see, many of his signatures are evident but with rougher (even for him) edges and much less polish. The subject matter is intact, it might even be his strongest plot, as is his penchant for hallucinatory images and sleepy pace, but his feel for atmosphere and rhythm isn't quite developed yet. Too many of the cruder elements (ala some very cheap gun stunts) that accompany films of this budget are less forgivable without the intoxicating command of the camera that make later Rollin films so distinctive.
7.5/10
Here's a Bava I haven't seen, his 1971 sex comedy. Obviously have to adjust expectations for his technical skills accordingly, but the film does pop with the colors, style and breeze expected of a late-60s Rome. It's also quite funny, sometimes in very unexpected ways, and undeniably sexy in fairly expected ways. I suppose a useful short-hand could be
Pepe Le Pew's Rashomon, but even that gets complicated. For an 82 minute film, it's too bad that it wears out its welcome though, by the time we have some prof come on at the end to beat the theme over our heads. Now, I just have to watch Bava's westerns....