Tanya’s Score: Good-and-a-half*
Rated: R (there is extremely graphic and unforgettable violence)
Starring: the beautiful and voluptuous Monica Bellucci; the strangely goat-eyed Vincent Cassel
Plot: Starting from the end and working backwards, this movie focusses on one particular Parisian night with a brutal crime at its centre.
Tanya’s Verdict: I was warned. Before watching Irreversible, plenty of my movie-loving brethren warned me that there are certain images you just can’t unsee. And now I know. The violent acts in this film (there are two) are difficult to watch and probably impossible to forget. I had a hard time sleeping the night I watched Irreversible. Consider yourself sufficiently warned.
When I first started this movie, I honestly considered shutting it off after about 20 minutes. The filming was unsteady and shaky – even downright discombobulating. This, along with the siren-esque music and the reddish hue of the initial scenes turned my stomach. I had no idea what was happening – and felt that perhaps this was one of those over-rated indie movies you so often hear about in certain circles. But I soldiered on.
I discovered a story, slowly revealed through the parsing of selective details told in a reverse fashion. The story behind Irreversible unfolds over the course of one evening and explores ideas of revenge, responsibility, accountability, friendship and love. And of course the devastating impact of senseless and horrific violence.
The details are what make this movie for me. One such detail that still haunts me: as the violence unfolds front and centre – and I can’t stress this enough – it is awful to watch – almost impossible to stomach – a blurred figure steps forward in the shot’s background – a shadowed bystander. This figure stops – as if deciding whether or not to intervene – and then silently retreats back the way they came.
Horrific acts and haunting details are what make Irreversible a compelling story – and a pretty good movie to boot.
*Four score descriptions: Sh**; Okay; Good; Great