Plot:
Irreversible begins with a murder and then works its way backwards Memento style. As the story continues, the audience learns that the murder was not just a random killing, but rather an act of revenge. Earlier in the story (or later in the film depending on how you look at it), a woman named Alex has been brutally raped and beaten. The woman's boyfriend and ex-boyfriend then take justice into their own hands by tracking down Alex's attacker and executing their revenge (which I already alluded to at the beginning of this summary). Unfortunately that's all I can say without giving too much away.
The Story Behind the Story:
The Story Behind the Story:
Irreversible was just included in Rottentomatoes.com's article "Ban Them All! 10 Infamously Controversial Movies" and it definitely earns its rank. After it was screened at the Cannes Film Festival, Newsweek magazine reported "if outraged viewers (mostly women) at the festival are any indication, this will be the most walked-out movie of 2003." In fact, there are reports of viewers walking out, throwing up, and even abusing festival attendees because of this film. Following its debut, many french critics called for a nationwide boycott. Despite its outlandish reception, Irreversible was released theatrically (with highly restrictive ratings). However it showed on only 35 screens here in the United States. Furthermore, the Classification Office urged that all exhibitors post the telephone number of local rape crises centers in cinemas showing the film.
Intensity Rating and Why (on a scale from 1 - 10; 1 being a film containing no blood, gore, or objectionable content whatsoever and 10 being completely unwatchable):
7 for two infamous scenes. The first is a bludgeoning scene which takes place in an underground S&M homosexual club called Rectum. One of the characters uses a fire extinguisher to bash a man's head in. There are no cutaways as the man's face slowly turns into a bloody pulp as he is hit again and again in the face. His mouth even moves at times signaling that he is still alive. It's the most intense bludgeoning scene I've ever seen. If you thought the baseball bat scene in Inglorious Basterds was bad, well, you've seen nothing yet. The second scene, which is even more controversial, is the 9 minute anal rape scene. A woman is graphically raped and then beaten in an underground passageway. This scene is hard to watch simply because there are no cuts (just like the fire extinguisher scene). It's just 9 straight minutes of a woman being raped...and it’s disturbingly realistic. Rape victims should avoid this movie at all costs.
Discussion:
If the goal of this movie were to disturb the viewer, then it succeeds with flying colors. Not only is the content graphic, but the actual filmmaking is disturbing as well. The film purposely employs dizzying camera effects and plays low frequency sounds in the background for the first thirty minutes. These technical devices do nocome across as gimmick, but rather as inventive and effective. This film proves the power of audio and cinematography and if you're a fan of either of the two, then it will probably intrigue you.
At the beginning of the film, two characters discuss their "evil deeds" and how they are not evil. Instead they are just deeds which we humans label as evil. The film then shows us the main character's revenge first, forcing us to think about it during the entire duration of the film. We sympathize with the boyfriend and understand the reasoning behind what he did. Then those emotions are twisted and manipulated when we see what happened before Alex was raped.
However this film suffers from one major problem, its story line. Even though it’s played in reverse, the story is predictable and really not that deep. Memento gained its deserved status because it was intelligent and complicated. The audience had no idea where the film was going and when they found out, everything made sense. But in Irreversible the audience can easily guess what happens before a scene because there's not a whole lot left unanswered. This film suffers from being way too informative way too soon. I hate to say it, but after the rape scene, the film becomes boring and lack-luster.
So who do I recommend this to? Well first I'd recommend this to people who are fans of non-linear film making. Seeing the revenge scene first makes a striking impression and a disturbing set up for the rest of the film. I would also recommend this to filmmakers. It's amazing what kind of mood a director can create by utilizing clever camera techniques and a dramatic soundtrack. The last scene (or should I say the first) of the movie is flat out amazing. It's beautiful, inventive, and I wish the rest of Irreversible showed the same ingenuity that it did.
Besides that I really can't recommend Irreversible to anyone else. The rape scene is awfully disturbing and the unimaginative story doesn't make it worth sitting through. In fact, if the story wasn't in reverse, then it wouldn't have received any publicity at all. Overall this film is hard to love, yet makes a lasting impression on its viewers.
Grade:
Acting: B-
Lighting and Sound: B
Directing: B+
Story and Dialogue: C-
Overall: B-
Discussion:
If the goal of this movie were to disturb the viewer, then it succeeds with flying colors. Not only is the content graphic, but the actual filmmaking is disturbing as well. The film purposely employs dizzying camera effects and plays low frequency sounds in the background for the first thirty minutes. These technical devices do nocome across as gimmick, but rather as inventive and effective. This film proves the power of audio and cinematography and if you're a fan of either of the two, then it will probably intrigue you.
At the beginning of the film, two characters discuss their "evil deeds" and how they are not evil. Instead they are just deeds which we humans label as evil. The film then shows us the main character's revenge first, forcing us to think about it during the entire duration of the film. We sympathize with the boyfriend and understand the reasoning behind what he did. Then those emotions are twisted and manipulated when we see what happened before Alex was raped.
However this film suffers from one major problem, its story line. Even though it’s played in reverse, the story is predictable and really not that deep. Memento gained its deserved status because it was intelligent and complicated. The audience had no idea where the film was going and when they found out, everything made sense. But in Irreversible the audience can easily guess what happens before a scene because there's not a whole lot left unanswered. This film suffers from being way too informative way too soon. I hate to say it, but after the rape scene, the film becomes boring and lack-luster.
So who do I recommend this to? Well first I'd recommend this to people who are fans of non-linear film making. Seeing the revenge scene first makes a striking impression and a disturbing set up for the rest of the film. I would also recommend this to filmmakers. It's amazing what kind of mood a director can create by utilizing clever camera techniques and a dramatic soundtrack. The last scene (or should I say the first) of the movie is flat out amazing. It's beautiful, inventive, and I wish the rest of Irreversible showed the same ingenuity that it did.
Besides that I really can't recommend Irreversible to anyone else. The rape scene is awfully disturbing and the unimaginative story doesn't make it worth sitting through. In fact, if the story wasn't in reverse, then it wouldn't have received any publicity at all. Overall this film is hard to love, yet makes a lasting impression on its viewers.
Grade:
Acting: B-
Lighting and Sound: B
Directing: B+
Story and Dialogue: C-
Overall: B-
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