Review of Irreversible (2002) by Melanie B — 26 Feb 2011

Theoretically, Irreversible is a brilliantly made film that must be analysed and studied very closely to appreciate. But this proves to be quite difficult when all you can focus on is the uncomfortable gay sex brothel and the gut twisting, 9 minute long rape scene.

Told in reverse chronological order, Irreversible begins with a brutal murder, then leads up to the events that lead up to the murder. This story is as hard to appreciate as it is to watch without vomiting a little, but the movie's theme has to be remembered in order to see this movie's purpose. "Time destroys everything". That is the theme. The future is set and it cannot be changed. We see these violent and evil acts happen before our eyes, then we see what happened before and not just how the events could have changed, but how it should have changed. When (if) you watch this movie from beginning to end you realize just how contradictory and unreasonable the character's actions are, that everything could have been avoided, but wasn't. The choice of reversing the order of the story is also important because we don't see a big climatic rise, the worst happens first hand, then we get to know why and begin to see a side of the characters which ultimately wouldn't give us the same opinion if the movie were to be in order.

Gaspar Noe is a very visionary and experimental director. Having written, directed, framed and edited the movie himself, he shows the audience exactly what he planned of showing. Seemlessly mixed together to look like one cut, but there are many scenes that are taken to the extreme and filmed in many long singular takes. Noe pushes these cinematic boundaries with force and accomplishes a look that is incredably original. (even though the first half hour of the constant twirling camera is very distracting) But how these shots were accomplished is incredably impressive. Other cool scenes with CG makes the movie even more gruesome. The choice to use infrasound during the first third of the movie creates an even more distorting and unnerving mood. But like I said before, the choices made in this movie, from the order of the scenes, the desturbing content of the story and the length of the scenes, these elements are for shock value. But this is shock value that is creativly and expertly made not only to be as shocking as possible, but to make us think about what we just watched.

I'll say it straight. This isn't an enjoyable movie. It's hard to watch (in more ways than one) it's desturbing, brutal, heavily dramatic and unforgiving. It might not be the most brilliantly written movie ever made, but it is a story with a theme that gets across, from a filmmakers point of view, a beautiful way. But you can have respect in the thought that the actors (especially Monica Bellucci) give it their all for this movie with preformances that are incredable powerful. Irreversible might be far from likable, and the story isn't creative genius, but it's the way this movie is made that adds so much to the purpose of the story that earns my respect, and forgiveness.