October 10, 2003
Swimming Pool (2003) ****
This isn't exactly a lesbian film, but the erotic chemistry between Charlotte Rampling and Ludivine Saigner is palpable in this terrific movie directed by Francois Ozon ("8 Women", "5X2"). It actually comes as a surprise that these two actresses don't sleep together. Actually - and this is a spoiler, so don't read if you haven't yet seen "The Swimming Pool" - they cannot sleep together, because, if the final scene is to make any sense, Rampling and Saigner are playing the SAME character. Or - to be more precise - two different aspects of the same character - Saigner being Rampling's erotic id, a complete slut who will sleep with any man, no matter how ugly, old or unappealing. In other words, she is actually doing what Rampling is only fantasizing about doing - getting as much sex as possible, no matter from where. Needless to say, Ludivine Saigner gets naked often in this film. Is Rampling playing a sex addict ? Maybe not. Maybe it's just her upbringing and her cultural values that are at odds with her sexual urges. Therefore, to remain sane, she has to invent a different character (yes, it is a form of schizophrenia) and make her do everything she wants to do. But unlike the hero of "Fight Club", Rampling is actually fully aware of her fantasy life. This reading of the film is the only one that fully explains the final scene, when Rampling meets the real daughter of her publisher and doesn't react in any way - if you've seen the film you'll understand what it means.
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September 9, 2003
Freddy Vs Jason (2003) ***
Open Water (2003) ***
A yuppie couple (Blanchard Ryan and Daniel Travis) goes on vacation to the Caribbean. The two are overworked, and looking forward to some scuba diving. But due to a faulty head count, the couple is left behind in the middle of the open sea. They find themselves drifting endlessly for hours on end, facing dehydration, jellyfish stings, saltwater sickness, and hungry sharks. That’s the premise of ''Open Water'', a low-budget thriller directed by Chris Kentis, and based on a true story. As they gradually realize the seriousness of their predicament, the couple goes through a gamut of the various emotional reactions. They scream, despair, freak out, and even joke (usually sarcastically). The film is structured in such a way that the situation doesn’t seem tragic at first, but then slowly deteriorates. As the day passes, they see more and more splashing around them. Dorsal fins slice quickly through the water. They can only see what’s on the surface, so when a fish bumps against their legs, their panic seems real. It’s terrifying because we can only guess what’s going on near their feet. It's far more scary to imagine what could be happening underwater than actually seeing it.
Zero Day (2003) ***
Less known than "Elephant", but an equally impressive film inspired by the Colombine massacre.
August 8, 2003
July 7, 2003
June 6, 2003
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