Review of Contempt (1963) by Garry J — 08 Jun 2007

Roger Ebert said in his review that Contempt's "real importance is as a failed experiment." I couldn't agree more. Godard's first major commercial film-making venture is not quite his style, and it shows in the film.

Not that it's a bad movie, rather, Godard in my opinion is so much better at communicating a realism more in line with his guerilla-style new wave films. I think the best part of this film is the 2nd act, where there is a seemingly uninterrupted long take of a couple quarreling, in all their domestic ordinariness.

Nothing is contrived or seems scripted. It reminded me of a scene in A Bout de Souffle where the sequence is an extended take of a couple lounging about their bedroom, at time arguing, at times flirting.

Both have such a sense of truth. This film breaks the 4th wall, exposing its own artifice, like many of his films do. But in this one, his frustrations with film-making, especially on such a commercial scale, really come through.

Especially with genius director Fritz Lang's small but important part in the film. To me, this is not Godard's best, but still a very good work in and of itself.