Review of Love (2015) by T S — 18 Aug 2016

Maybe the most awaited film for me all year. Gaspar Noé's fourth full-lenght and a very debated film even before it premiered. I don't know if the 3D-version makes it a better or poorer movie - I saw the 2D-version. I have not seen "Irreversable", but had it in my shelf for nearly 10 years - waiting for that perfect moment. Every Gaspar film is an experience, "Enter The Void" may be the best experience for me ever - a solid top five at least.

Anyhow, this is made to shock since - I'm guessing - 1/3 of the film are sex-scenes. It felt that way at least. Sometimes it's good or fitting scenes, other times they feel unplaced or too long. They are fairly varied though, that's good. There's drugs involved, there are anger and frustration, but surprizingly little violence or gore. The story is all right, meeting the frustrated Murphy madly in love with a girl, still a fresh father to a kid with another girl - a short flirt opened up after a threesome with the mentioned girl he truly loves.

Mostly a flashback film with a very subtle or doped up voiceover - much alike "Enter The Void". The very pleasant fades - they feel like eyes closing, are also bringing memories back to "ETV".

It looks great, it's fairly shocking but there is just sex, really. Watch a random porno film and you will be up for way heavier stuff. A problem here is that there is too much of it. I got a feeling like Gaspar thinking: "Hey, I must to something to shock people. Let's throw in some authentic, unsimulated sex-scenes." This is repeated at least ten times. Without the sex this would be a rather flat film, so it's needed, but I miss something else that could carry the film. Pluses are given for the music choices, that need's a mention. Nice connections with other films and real life trivias and hints towards the director himself. I don't belive it's a too much of a biography, but surely there are elements of it here.

The typical "love plot" is strong but never too original, it's never much else too the film than this matter. I can relate to the jealousy, the uncertainity, the anxiety - a strong feature. A powerful portrayal of a troubled young man indeed.

So, I'm party pleased, partly disappointed. I knew that this never would be a fantastic film, but it worked out quite OK. It's probably his absolute poorest effort, but he made a point and he never made the "poorest film of the year" that many critics claim. He made a mediocre film plus for me, not the disaster I feared.

6 out of 10 bed sheets.