Gasper Noe's "Irreversible"

[The Delfonics]

Now that Irreversible is out on home video for the whole world to view, I thought it would be a good time to open a discussion about this film. I viewed a DVD screener 6 months or so ago but did not have subtitles. I will definately watch this as soon as I can but Im interested to know what the people here thought about it? The camera angles, the extreme nature, the disturbing nature, the rape scene, meaning.... anything like that.

[Skysaber]

I have the 2-disc special edition import and have had it for a while. I think this movie is probably one of the best movies I've ever seen. The camera angles and music are absolutely phenominal and unlike anything I've ever seen. The way the camera fell with the victim to the fire extinguisher and didn't move back or forth while he was getting hammered with it was beautiful. As for the rape scene: I felt that with the extreme nature of this movie, it was imperative that they showed this in full effect such as they did. I felt that it made the audience hate the assaulter just as much as the two guys trying to track him down. People criticize this rape scene, saying it's not necessary to have in the movie; however, rape isn't an uncommon thing and I feel showing it such as this way (so violent) gives us a taste of what it's really like. The movie is sad, especially when you hit the end (beginning) and realize just what they had. I recommend anyone who wants to see a true gem of a movie to check it out.

[bowieee]

I loved this movie so much.

Yet I can only watch it once. i've never had a movie hold my emotions hostage like that one... Ever. I think part of the reason it effected me so much was seeing it in the theatre. All the camera effects had me in a tipsy daze. Add on to that the gut wrenching insanity, and a nifty concept, and I was put in awe. Problem is the gut wrenching part. There is no fucking way i could sit through "that scene" again. I just couldn't. But my hats off to the filmamkers for pushing the edge and doing it well.

[CuatroDiablos]

It made me sick to my stomach cause it was so real.
i cant see that movie again just for watching those gay mudafuckas fingering they assholes and shit........DAMN THAT SHIT WAS NOT NECESSARY!!!!!!!

[sharkstank]

just saw it last night courtesy of netflix

Irreversible 8/10 Very Hard To Watch Film About Rape And How It Effects A Man
As bad as it may sound, films like Irreversible need to be made. For every slaher, gore, or murderer movie, there needs to be one that depicts a real life horror. As horrific as the now infamous rape scene is, that really happens. As much as some critics and audiences have dismissed it as being gratuitous and being shocking just for the sake of shocking, those scenes were integral to the story and those scenes may open some peoples eyes. This is one of the scariest movies I have ever scene. Irreversible follows Marcus (Vincent Cassel) and Pierre(Albert Dupontel) around the city in the course of one night seeking a man named The Tenial who violently raped Marcus' girlfriend and Pierre's ex girlfriend, Alex (Monica Bellucci). While Alex is in the hospital in a coma resulting from the beating the man gave her after raping her. The story is told in reverse, scene by scene. The first third of the movie is shown by a moving camera, that is going around, upside down, sideways and never stays still. It frequently goes through dark areas that show nothing, but the dialogue is there. During the second half the camera steadies a bit, as it tells the story of the trio before the night. It is all told within 24 hours, and it is even more effective that way. By telling the story backwards, we see the horrific acts first, then we grow to sympathize with these people. We still feel remorse for the victims, but seeing them before the incidents deepens the impact. We see their happiness, the young love, and carefree and easy going attitude they had just a few hours before. I really liked the foreshadowing also, from the dream, Marcus' banter with Alex in bed, and Pieree telling Alex that it wasn't safe to go home by hereself after the party. In one scene, Pierre beats a man to death with a fire extinguisher, and it will have you wincing and in awe. One scene that is shocking but likely, when Alex is getting raped, you see a silhouette of a man in the distance. When he sees what's going on, he turns and goes in the other direction. After the end sequence (which leaves you with even more remorse and a better understanding of the characters actions) there is a flashing white sequence that could cause epilepsy. I'm not sure why it's there, but it is weird. Although the Pierre character annoyed me sometimes, some of the dialogue was a little pointless, and the camera at the beginning is nearly nauseating, this powerful and intense should be experienced. Irreversible is an extreme tale, that is very hard to sit through, but undeniably gut and heart wrenching.

[Fisting Ackbar]

Seen it twice now. That's probably more than enough, but the overall visual experience of it totally fucked me over and left me very impressed, making it my favorite movie of 2002.

[BadCoverVersion]

Originally posted by CuatroDiablos
It made me sick to my stomach cause it was so real.
i cant see that movie again just for watching those gay mudafuckas fingering they assholes and shit........DAMN THAT SHIT WAS NOT NECESSARY!!!!!!!

Behave yerself...:rolleyes:.


Irreversible is a brutal experience. I've seen it three times now, and I don't honestly intend to ever watch it again...never. It's sad, unflinching, brutal, demanding, evocative, tender and heartbreaking. I love the SUBWAY scenes...

Quite honestly one of the saddest films I've ever seen.

9/10

[Hannibal21]

One of the most brutal and disturbing films I have ever seen. The camera angles really gave me a headache and to a point I felt like throwing up, the rape scene was just plain disturbing and the violence in the film made me cringe. But those are what makes the film so powerful, I wanted to shut my eyes during several scenes but I can't bear to close them. 9/10

[bob]

Originally posted by CuatroDiablos
It made me sick to my stomach cause it was so real.
i cant see that movie again just for watching those gay mudafuckas fingering they assholes and shit........DAMN THAT SHIT WAS NOT NECESSARY!!!!!!!

Yeah, that was a lot worse than the nine minute rape/beating scene.:rolleyes:

[Psychocandy]

Originally posted by BadCoverVersion
I love the SUBWAY scenes...

Yup. I've been waiting for someone to mention this. I've read so many reviews stating that this movie is entirely cold and heartless and depressing. In it's entirity that may be true but like every movie and indeed life itself it can be broken down into moments. In the subway scenes there was humour and warmth and it was because of this that the rest of the movie cut so deep. Brilliant movie. I've actually only watched it once and I don't know if i'm going to be able to watch it again. I usually watch movies then guage which of my friends it may appeal to then watch it with them to check out how they react. I don't think this movie would appeal to any of my friends and I don't think I would be comfortable watching it with someone anyway.

[Slim]

I believe I'll be in the minority here, since I didn't find the movie to be “brilliant” or any variation of that word. Don't get me wrong, this is a powerful movie. I just don't believe the director's intentions and what he created were all that profound.

The viewer is assaulted with offensive images in an attempt to render a brutal depiction of violence and sexual violation. For the majority of its 99 mins, this movie is rather pointless. Evidence of this is in the repetitive dialogue and the fact that there was only a three page draft before the movie was shot! Remembering that movies should usually have a purpose of some kind, a message that "Time destroys everything" is tacked on at the beginning and end to remind us. Well, that's just super, Mr. Noé.

I wasn't exactly disgusted or offended, but the violent scenes were prolonged in my opinion. Perhaps that lends itself to making the movie all the more realistic since violence doesn’t exactly stop when you want it to. Anyway, in conclusion, I don't like this movie at all. It's audacity does not equal much substance.

[JCR]

Originally posted by SlimX
I believe I'll be in the minority here, since I didn't find the movie to be “brilliant” or any variation of that word. Don't get me wrong, this is a powerful movie. I just don't believe the director's intentions and what he created were all that profound.

The viewer is assaulted with offensive images in an attempt to render a brutal depiction of violence and sexual violation. For the majority of its 99 mins, this movie is rather pointless. Evidence of this is in the repetitive dialogue and the fact that there was only a three page draft before the movie was shot! Remembering that movies should usually have a purpose of some kind, a message that "Time destroys everything" is tacked on at the beginning and end to remind us. Well, that's just super, Mr. Noé.

I wasn't exactly disgusted or offended, but the violent scenes were prolonged in my opinion. Perhaps that lends itself to making the movie all the more realistic since violence doesn’t exactly stop when you want it to. Anyway, in conclusion, I don't like this movie at all. It's audacity does not equal much substance.

I agree completely.

[Reigh Kaufman]

I watched it again last week (fifth time - woo-hoo, I'm a hard-ass) with a friend who had been driven to insanity with my constant 'go on, betcha can't watch it without looking away at least once' type dares. A bona-fide masterpiece and a bravura piece of story-telling that I'll never tire of. I agree with only one of the staements made here: I don't fully accept that that the film-makers intentions were entirely honourable (sorry, but I just don't buy that from Noe. At all).

(She looked away four times, by the way. I won a quid.)

[Psychocandy]

Originally posted by Reigh Kaufman
(She looked away four times, by the way. I won a quid.)

Did she think there was something wrong with you mentally for liking the movie? I get that a lot. I remember talking an ex-girlfriend (when she wasn't an ex) into watching Braindead. I think that night was a turning point in our relationship (not one of those fun turning points).

[Reigh Kaufman]

Nah, Psycho, she agreed with me that when the film reaches it's final third it becomes quite quite beautiful. We also watched City Of God and she liked that, so she is obviously better than most of the girls I know when it comes to 'enduring' difficult subject matter (not a slight on women, just the women I know).

Still, though, Braindead? What kind of establishment are you running around here?:D

[Psychocandy]

Originally posted by Reigh Kaufman
What kind of establishment are you running around here?:D

The words deviant and degenerate spring immediately to mind. :D

[BadCoverVersion]

Originally posted by Psychocandy
I remember talking an ex-girlfriend (when she wasn't an ex) into watching Braindead. I think that night was a turning point in our relationship (not one of those fun turning points).

It's worse when you're a laydee pal.

Folks see shite like The War Zone, Irreversible, Nil By Mouth, even Straw Dogs in my collection and they think I'm a bread roll short of a picnic.

I make my sqeamish shag sit thru a ton of shit...he watched Ichi at weekend and dry-heaved when Ichi made his "apology".

Such a bloody wuss.

[Paterfamilias]

OK, i just watched this and I am stunned!! I'm not sure what to rate it. It certainly grabbed me by the nuts and did not let go. i thought Requiem and Traffic left me feeling like someone punched me in the gut, but nothing has ever made me feel like this. Nothing.

I'll have to sleep on it an come to my conclusion. One thing is for sure, I don't think I'll be watching this again.

SPOILER*****SPOILER**********SPOILER********
*********MAJOR F-ING SPOILER ************************************************** ******Seriously, this is a huge spoiler, don't read if you don't want to have the movie ruined!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!****************
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I can't believe they killed the wrong guy!!!!!!!!!!Not that if they would have killed the right guy it would have made it any better for Alex, but damn. Knowing the guy walked away scot free makes it a lot worse. And he was cheering Pierre on as he killed the other guy with the fire extinguisher. He had the Tenial right in front of him and then he goes after the wrong guy.
Did anyone else notice this?

SPOILER ABOVE*****SPOILER**********SPOILER********

[Reigh Kaufman]

You are absolutely right Pater. And if it makes you feel brilliant, I told Lady Version this and she didn't notice until the second time:D

[JCR]

Yeah but people get disgusted at different things I suppose.

I mean I've sat through Ichi, irreversible, visitor Q, straw dogs, all the peter jackson films etc. etc. no fuckin problem.

However at the weekend I saw a film that has a scene half way through which was just too disgusting for words. I had to look away from it. The name of this horrific film:

American pie: the wedding.

(Oh well I guess I'm not a hard ass after all :( :p )

[Paterfamilias]

Originally posted by Reigh Kaufman
You are absolutely right Pater. And if it makes you feel brilliant, I told Lady Version this and she didn't notice until the second time:D

*feels head start to swell* Feelin smarter already, thanks :D

I was glad i was watching it on DVD so I could go back and confirm my suspicions. I would have been frutrated in the theater, not being 100% sure.

[Lazy Boy]

I've seen it twice now, and I could go back for a helping of thirds. It's quite brutal, but it also works because of the final scenes. They're so filled with humor and life, and the young couple are in love...but then the viewer looks back and realizes that the story doesn't turn out so happy. That's the cold, brutal brilliance of the story. Sure, what Gaspar Noe is saying about rape and violence isn't exactly new or shocking, but it sure does get a reaction. I don't find it exploitative in the least bit.

I am scared, however, to show this to anybody in my household.

[Psychocandy]

The thing that sort of renders obsolete anyone's argument about the movie not being a piece of exploitation cinema is that Gaspar Noe has pretty much said in interviews that he prefers to have the movie classified as such.

[Paterfamilias]

Psychocandy,

Do you have any links to interviews with Noe? I would love to read his comments.

Thanks.

[Fisting Ackbar]

http://www.boutiquesweb.com/LeTempsDetruitTout/index.asp?file=page&id=16

Interviews with Noe can be found there.

[Paterfamilias]

Thanks Fisting!!

[EBastard]

Originally posted by BadCoverVersion
It's worse when you're a laydee pal.

Folks see shite like The War Zone, Irreversible, Nil By Mouth, even Straw Dogs in my collection and they think I'm a bread roll short of a picnic.

I make my sqeamish shag sit thru a ton of shit...he watched Ichi at weekend and dry-heaved when Ichi made his "apology".

Such a bloody wuss. Saw Straw Dogs (1971, 9/10)a few nights ago. Around to the last act, it dawned on me that David Fincher's Panic Room (2002, 4/10) HAD to have gotten it's inspiration from this.

About Irreversible...it's quite possibly the most insanely shot, realistically fictional, kill-any-hope-for-a-better-future film i've ever seen.

And mark my words, schmoes: NO AMERICAN FILM NOW, OR IN THE FUTURE WILL EVER BE QUITE LIKE IRREVERSIBLE.

ELBISREVERRI (2002, 10/10)



CAUSE I'M THE KING OF THE ASS...

[notchreturns]

I'd say it definitely does live up the hype of the pure insanity, brutality and so-called harsh nature it was labeled with. That first 25 minutes was unlike anything I've ever seen in film, the camera, music, things you were seeing, the violence, carnage, just plain aggressive and out-of-this world... and then there's the rape scene, which had me in shock, it went on forever and was SO brutal and nasty and hard to watch... yeesh...

But behind all of that, I did actually see some top-notch acting, very inventive direction and story, it had a very human, realistic level and was unlike anything I've ever seen and I could at least relate to the characters or understand their thinking...

Not a film to be forgotten, does live up to the hype and is my 2nd best of 2003, 9/10.

[Del]

A highly disturbing movie, and I mean disturbing in the most literal sense..

First off all I was sick withing three minutes. Not because of the disturbing footage but because of the camaramovements and the SOUND!! The sound was a key player in this picture.. something about it disturbed me really bad.. I really had to shake that feeling while watching it.. Something was bothering me, I mean, I don't just get nausea from watching images, I rarely do, so I looked it up..:
The movie uses a background noise below 28Hz, people hardly hear it, but it does cause nausea when affected to it for a longer period of time. This, combined with the circling movements of the camera, is an almost sure thing to affect nausea and vertigo effects on your audience. A very bold and daring move as a director, to intendfully set up for your viewers to get sick...! Wow.

Which brings me to the way it was presented on screen. I'm not really into that "reverse way of telling a story", but I found it to be generally easy to follow.. Hands down to the three actors, no four actors, for their performances in this movie, especially Monica Bellucci and the actor who featured as her rapist Both parts can't possibly be easy to play.. I mean think about it; which part would you choose if you hád to make a choice: the victim or the perpetrador? Difficult huh?

There were some jewels of other scenes, and I agree on some of the specific comments here. Especially about the scene in the subway, a very honest discussion about relationships and sexuality.. A scene that seemes to be ripped out of normal life, just like the rape scene.. Sometimes things just happen in life, like wonderfull conversations and horrible invading experiences, and it was presented more than aduquately. There were some very nice long shots, quite complicating, and very suiting in the theme and feel of the movie.

Hard, In your face, brutal, very confronting, extreme, but also a very animal-like honest film. It got me thinking about it all day..

[Jimmy"The Gent"]

I thought this movie was done in a brilliant fashion that keeps a viewer glued to the screen and thinking about the film for days after. I love how the camera and its angles/motions reflect the turmoil/tranquility that the characters are going through. When the movie begins, the camera is moving in every which way for about the first half hour of the film; this is exactly how images and thoughts would be going through Pierre's and Marcus's heads after having found Alex beaten and raped to a bloody pulp. When the movie backtracks to before the rape, we notice that the camera stops being "crazy" and settles into a steady gaze that shows the friends in normal life settings(ala The Party, the subway, Alex's Flat). And then at the end of the movie (beginning), we learn of Alex's personal discovery and the camera starts to go spinning again exactly targeting her feelings reflecting her life-changing test. Brilliantly done, but it can be quite nausiating at times.

As for the extreme nature of some of the scenes, I think you really need to witness them as they are presented to achieve the full emotional effect that the movie intends. For instance, at the time of the rape scene, we know practically nothing about Alex, so we are basically watching the rape of a stranger. It doen't make it any easier to watch, but just imagine if the movie was presented in chronological order. We would already know and care about Alex enough to see that she is a good person which would make that rape scene almost impossible to sit through in its fullness. By not letting us know Alex until after the rape, I think the director at least spares us a little trauma.

Anyway, very deep and powerful movie not for the faint of heart, but definitely worth a view. Rating 8.5/10

[esrefb]

IMO, Irreversible is very overrated. This movie could have been much better, if Gaspar Noe's choices were right.

There's no need for reverse narrating in this movie other than it's somehow "cool" because of the movie's name. It works incredibly well in Memento because Guy Pearce "has a condition" and as a viewer you're trying to put the pieces of the puzzle like he does. In this case, reverse narrating is TOTALLY unnecessary and it's just a gimmick which hurts the movie really bad.

Yes, the rape scene was powerful but I could not feel much more than a newspaper article, or TV news about somebody getting raped. Why? Because we did not know anything about her when that scene took place, she's just an ordinary woman who becomes a victim of a horrible act, and that's all. What if we all knew her better with character development, see her relationship etc. and then see this event. Then it would be really powerful.

Think of Requiem For A Dream, woud you care like you do for Jennifer Connelly if you saw her doing ass to ass at the beginning of the movie as opposed to at the end? Would it be as remotely powerful? Of couse not, because you would not know anything about her, what's she's going throgh, etc. That's exactly the problem with Irreversible.

If I were the director, I would start with Vincent Cassell entering the gay club and trying to find the guy etc, but just before the guy is killed, I would cut to the beginning of the movie (in the chronological order), and then go all the way to the rape scene in again in the chronological order, finally, at the end, put the scene where the guy is killed. Then it would be a good movie for me.

6/10.

[Psychocandy]

Originally posted by esrefb
IMO, Irreversible is very overrated. This movie could have been much better, if Gaspar Noe's choices were right.

There's no need for reverse narrating in this movie other than it's somehow "cool" because of the movie's name. It works incredibly well in Memento because Guy Pearce "has a condition" and as a viewer you're trying to put the pieces of the puzzle like he does. In this case, reverse narrating is TOTALLY unnecessary and it's just a gimmick which hurts the movie really bad.

Yes, the rape scene was powerful but I could not feel much more than a newspaper article, or TV news about somebody getting raped. Why? Because we did not know anything about her when that scene took place, she's just an ordinary woman who becomes a victim of a horrible act, and that's all. What if we all knew her better with character development, see her relationship etc. and then see this event. Then it would be really powerful.

Think of Requiem For A Dream, woud you care like you do for Jennifer Connelly if you saw her doing ass to ass at the beginning of the movie as opposed to at the end? Would it be as remotely powerful? Of couse not, because you would not know anything about her, what's she's going throgh, etc. That's exactly the problem with Irreversible.

If I were the director, I would start with Vincent Cassell entering the gay club and trying to find the guy etc, but just before the guy is killed, I would cut to the beginning of the movie (in the chronological order), and then go all the way to the rape scene in again in the chronological order, finally, at the end, put the scene where the guy is killed. Then it would be a good movie for me.

6/10.

You make a point about not feeling anything for Monica Belluci's character because you don't know her. Sorry to disagree with you but I can empathise totally with her as a victim of a terrible, inforgivable crime in spite of not know very much about her. As for the reverse chronology of events. The revelation at the end (beginning) the movie would not have been as much of a punch to the gut if it had occured in a chonologically correct version of the movie. My heart sank and my stomach flipped over a couple of dozen times when I finally understood fully the entire nature of the tragedy. And the opening claim that "time destroys everything" would have less weight. Irreversible is one of the most numbing and powerful movies i've ever seen. I've only watched it once because of the effect it had on me the first time. It was days before I could get it out of my head.

[Golden Badtz]

I think I can proudly say I was traumatized that day... couldn't sleep the night.. was dead scared that a cock would pop up of nowhere and right into my ass... that scene in the "Rectum" :s freaked me out.

Why a gay club ? You could do anything.. but it had to be a gay bar.. why ? Do gay people and cocks excite our friend Gaspard Noe ?

I mean... the only reason I saw the film was because 3/4 of Belluci's on screen time she is either fully naked or half naked (the rape scene being half naked)

Now... there were soo many cocks in this movie.. it's scary.. for an actor like Vincet Cassel that I respect seeing him naked in the end.. was.. disturbing.

For the violence, now, this film is ultra violent, not Kill Bill style, but real life violence, like the rape scene.. the 10 mins scene that ends up with the guy smashing Belluci's face againt the ground.
And what can revenge lead to.. in the end.. it's not even her husband that kills the rapist but his friend.. smashes his face with a fire extinguisher (sp?) that.. traumatized me.

The opening scene with the old people in the room... I was out... didn't get shit there.

Noe's filming.. awfull.. although some people liked it.. I hated it, my head hurt.. etc... too much spinning.. I guess he wanted the film to be revesible (sounds wrong in english.. in french it would sound better)

Ahm... oh, and another thing that killed me was "Guillermo" the shemal... yep... god dammit... Noe is a fuckin homo, I'm sure of it.

5/10

[Psychocandy]

Golden Badtz joins the Cock Fearing Club. ;)

This is just not something I particularly understand no matter how hard I try. Why is it that some guys are offended by the sight of something that the vast majority of us have swinging between our own legs. Perhaps this is the reason why some guys can't help but piss all over the floor in the toilet...perhaps they are so offended by the sight of a shlong that they can't even bear to look at their own and as a result miss the mark. No? Ok...i'll fuck off now.

[JCR]

Originally posted by Psychocandy
Golden Badtz joins the Cock Fearing Club. ;)

This is just not something I particularly understand no matter how hard I try. Why is it that some guys are offended by the sight of something that the vast majority of us have swinging between our own legs. Perhaps this is the reason why some guys can't help but piss all over the floor in the toilet...perhaps they are so offended by the sight of a shlong that they can't even bear to look at their own and as a result miss the mark. No? Ok...i'll fuck off now.

LOL!

The thing that annoys me most about irreversible is actually irrelevant to irreversible, but I do wonder why Noe had to have the butcher in the first scene saying he slept with his daughter. It wasn't clear in I stand alone, and that did kinda spoil I stand alone for me, a film I liked a lot.

[BakeTheMooCow]

I enjoyed Irreversible, but I don't get why every review of the film says its hard to watch. I sat through both the fire extinguisher scene and the rape scene, (while eating fruit) without ever becoming nauseous or being compelled to look away. Is it so hard to disconnect fiction from reality? Beautifully directed by Noe, although obviously pretentious at times. I loved the acting from Cassel and Bellucci, but the guy who played Pierre was wooden. Oh, speaking of that, I managed to sit through the entire 9 or 10 minute rape scene without popping wood, against all my expectations, so I'm extremely proud of myself that I'm not demented. However, the scenes that followed with Bellucci in bed and the shower - schwing! I thought the film ran out of steam after the rape scene, but redeemed itself with a great ending. Its nice to replay a film like this in your head in chronological order.

7/10

[CoastGuard]

i hated this movie it wasn't what i thought. the main thing that turned me off wasMinor spoiler. the bar scene made me sick. it was original tho.

[bob]

A couple of SPOILERIFIC Questions....

1. Are you sure they killed the wrong dude? The two guys looked almost exactly the same, and they both were sniffing glue or whatever before the fight. I think it's up for argument.

2. Is it the "private investigators" yelling at Marcus and Pierre as they exit the club? Because if so....ouch.

3. Am I the only one who finds it interesting that Marcus didn't actually do anything illegal, so he will forseeably be able to return to Alex after he's out of the hospital, whereas Pierre will probably be in jail for years?

[Damned Martian]

Originally posted by bob
A couple of SPOILERIFIC Questions....

1. Are you sure they killed the wrong dude? The two guys looked almost exactly the same, and they both were sniffing glue or whatever before the fight. I think it's up for argument.

2. Is it the "private investigators" yelling at Marcus and Pierre as they exit the club? Because if so....ouch.

3. Am I the only one who finds it interesting that Marcus didn't actually do anything illegal, so he will forseeably be able to return to Alex after he's out of the hospital, whereas Pierre will probably be in jail for years?
1. Look the attachment

2. Yes

3. No

[Damned Martian]

And now, a pic of the two of them. The one that gets killed is the guy in the black shirt. Notica the nose and the white shirt to distinguish who's Tenia.

PS: sorry for the poor quality, i tried to readjust the image so it could be more visible.

[bob]

Well, thanks for depressing me, Damned Martian, but I suppose, as long as Marcus thinks the Tenia is dead, it basically has the same effect.

[PsycoPat]

An absolutely superb example of movie making...

I cannot say enough good things about this film...

I will neber forget this film...

I will NEVER watch it again..

[CheekyShepherd]

**SPOILERS**


What can one say? It's a truly dazzling, terrifying spectacle which takes you through all emotions one can truly feel. A fantastic experiment in the medium of cinema. Gasper Noe is a visual genius!

I was dubious of watching Irreversible, but after a years worth of verbal pressure from my friends, hired it last Friday. I was aware of it's content beforehand, but was completely overwhelmed by it's unflinching depiction of violence. Yes, I'll admit it! I was dry-heaving through "those" two scenes, which is unlike me who'll chortle through a gratuitous murder scene in any Hollywood slasher flick, but this was different; so emotional, so vivid, so convincing. It probed my mind that such heinous acts take place, somewhere in the world on a nightly basis. After watching, I called up my Mother, Sisters, all and any woman I have stored in my address book and pleaded them to never walk alone late at night, especially in subways!!

The film itself is a marvel to gawp at: From the opening scene where two men sit in an apartment having a conversation about how time destroys everything (what a truthful statement!), to a dizzying one-shot thru the dark halls of a seedy nightclub where Marcus has his arm broken (merely the sound of the cracking bone itself made me wince!) and Pierre exacts revenge on the man who he believes to be "The Tenia", caving the man's face in with a fire extinguisher, the man's face deteriorating with each and every pummel until his face is a featureless stump! Ugh! It makes me wince even now as I visualise it in my head. The music in the scene heightened the tension, and the dizzying camerawork provoked nausea. A completely unforgetable cinematic moment.

Then "that" scene itself: A beautiful woman raped and beaten unconscious simply for being a beautiful woman, in the wrong place at the wrong time. It made me flinch throughout, feeling hatred for the perverted perpertrator, crying a river of tears for Alex. I felt so violated as I watched, obviously how Alex's character herself would be feeling. A silhouette of a man in the background, walking in the other direction, not wanting to get involved when he sees what's happening. Is that how we, the viewers, are meant to feel? To see a woman being abducted so brutally and not do anything about it, for fear of being powerless to stop such acts?

The following scene of Alex and Marcus lying in bed are also on an emotional par with the brutality that precedes it. A beautiful relationship destroyed by a heartless criminal. It was clever having her to wake up from a symbolic dream of being in a "red tunnel" that divides in two, and of Marcus' dead arm. A prediction of what's to come for them. Amazing!

I've never cried so much in my life after watching it, it's a beautiful love story torn apart by tragedy. Ironically, it's a happy ending. And wouldn't life be two, if we could transgress back to the whom, instead of dying?

I have to admit, I didn't realise that they got the wrong guy in the opening scene. It wasn't until a friend pointed out and I gave it a second viewing. It makes his crime worse. The fact they got the wrong guy, who stands watching another getting their face pummelled, smiling and cheering Pierre on.

I would implore school's to show this film to teenage girls, so they know the dangers of walking alone, especially in a closed location.

"I believe in the dream that we will one day live in a world where tragedies depicted in Irreversible never occur. I believe in the beauty of that dream..."

[MrScissorhands]

I 'love' Irreversible ! (I have trouble using the word)

I saw it in the theater and that truly was a one of a kind experience. Seeing the first third in a completely darkened room on the big screen is frikkin nauseating. 15 out of 35 people left the theater before the end (including some old dirty bastards that left right after the rape scene and a young couple of which the girl actually threw up....).
The most disturbing thing about this movie to me was my reaction to the rape scene. It didn't do as much to me as I knew it should. I knew I was supposed to be horrified and hurting, but I wasn't and it took me a while to figure out why that was. During the entire first third the camera is flying around, half the time you don't know what you're looking at, a guy's head is beaten to pulp, everyone is frenetically screaming all the time and it literally makes you sick to your stomach. With the rape scene however the camera is steady for the first time of the film and the entire 9 minute rape scene is shown from a single unmoved perspective. When you want the camera to turn away, it doesn't, and it shows the whole thing without 'blinking', but at the same time, the sickness leaves your stomach and you're almost happy to be watching this.

Horrible images meets viewing pleasure... this movie is sick !

9/10

[SaintOfKillers]

Mmmm.

- "Moving" people by actually making them nautious through wild camera movements and pounding background noises.

- "Confronting" people with pain, tragedy and filth by grabbing them by the neck and rubbing their faces in it.

- Driving home your point by telling the story backwards and repeating the "message" that is being conveyed for those who are still not getting it.

To me, these things are signs of weak and uninspired directing, the use of cheap tricks. "I have a point and the only way I can get it across is by hitting everyone in the face with it."

Exploitation indeed. Well, perhaps arty-farty pretentious exploitation. But still exploitation.

[willem84]

I just bought this and watched it for a second time the other day!!! :)

My dad started watching it with me and walked out after um...the second scene lol


SPOILERS

he walked out after the guy's head got crushed in
then my mom walked in on the rape scene and watched it all with me and then walked out


END SPOILERS

I think my parent's think there's something wrong with me.
I Don't care! I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!

Especially the last two scenes--Gorgeous!!!

My no. 6 of 2003--right above "Finding Nemo" at 7 lol
No. 1 foreign film of 2003
and my no. 22 of the decade so far;
and no. 2 foreign film of the decade so far (underneath Amores Perros)

[Scorpio24]

I watched this film ages ago. My friends are more into White Chicks. So I wasn't exactly screaming for them to give it a try you understand. But I really wish someone I know would watch this film. It's stunning and brutal in equal measures.

The camera angles when it was swirlling did nothing for me. In fact it annoyed me. But in saying that I understand why it was done. I honestly didn't realise that they had the wrong guy in the end. Man that makes me feel kind of sick.

The violence in this film is unflinching. I've been in a few scrapes in my time and I come from a place where there are dead babies being found in the lofts of houses. People in the UK will probably know where this is. My town is as violent a place as there is in the UK only last wednesday after the Liverpool Euro final I seen a boy get half his year bitten off and didn't blink an eye lid. Yet I flinched and looked away over and over in this film. It has incredible power to hold the audiance.

The rape scene needed to be that intense. Like has been mentioned rape is so common now that people read it in the papers or see it on TV and forget the ordeal and savageness involved for victim. It shows it has it is. And that can only be applauded.

A film that i'm glad I watched. But one I would have trouble watching again.

[Skellington]

7/10

It didn't need to be backward, I thought it was useless. I've done some editing on it (from the end to the begenning) I've shown it to people, they all thought it was better. I think Gaspar Noe missed his point here, we get it, but I'm not convinced. His first movie was way better.

[Psychocandy]

Originally posted by Skellington
7/10

It didn't need to be backward, I thought it was useless. I've done some editing on it (from the end to the begenning) I've shown it to people, they all thought it was better. I think Gaspar Noe missed his point here, we get it, but I'm not convinced. His first movie was way better.

I disagree. I think that the emotional impact of the final scenes (first scenes) was magnified as a result of the decision to play the movie backwards. At least that's how it played for me. I was devestated by the time it finished (began).

[Lazy Boy]

*SPOILERS*




By starting with her body being carried out on a stretcher, and ending (or beginning, if you put it in order) with her in a state of bliss, the movie becomes much more powerful -- it didn't leave me feeling any happier, but more horrified since I knew it wouldn't last long for her.

[MidnightAngel]

Irreversible is so mindfucking and disturbing. One of the french films i've seen. Anyway have anyone seen I Stand Alone? It's also directed by Gaspar Noe.

[shifty]

POSSIBLE SPOILERS

well i have just watched this movie for the first time today,and agree with quite a lot that has been said already (except B.C V.,...you ENJOYED the rape scene),..JESUS :) I like watching movies that make you think a bit,..like REQUIEM,..like MULHOLLAND DRIVE,..shit,.even FIGHT CLUB . The fire extinguisher scene was cool,.very gross,.the way his face just disappears is cool,.without the camera cutting away ( it was done a bit better than a similair scene in Braveheart when someone gets their face panned in,.if you pause it at the right moment ,.you can see that his face changes from a face to a skull,.and back again),.anyway i'm digressing, the rape scene though,.that was fuckin bad to watch,.i did watch it,..of course i did,.but as another schmooe pointed out "bad things don't stop when you want them too",.. and i think that is the point of the movie. When Alex is being raped,and we see the guy walking in from behind the crime,.i was thinking " right he is going to help her",.then i thought " he is going to join in",..then the fucker,... fucked off???!!?,..Man ,..that just made it worse. I asked myself,.What would i do??,..What would you do??? BRRRRRR scary thoughts,..anywho,..the camera movements did put me off a little,..but the soundtrack was awesome,..that heaving ,..loud/quiet monotonous sound as Marcus is going through (pardon the pun) the Rectum is quite simply excellant,..i was fearful for him the full time he was in there,..now,.i am not homophobic,..trust me,..but that club,.fuck going there for a beer,..can you imagine,.. " Right lads,.The Rectum,..this should be good for a laugh",.and when he did ,..or didn't find the right man,..The Tenia..(Means a group of tapeworms for fucks sake??!??) you just knew that he was getting the message,..and as his sore arm proves he did:rolleyes:

Anyway overall 8/10,.you cant go through life NOTwatching movies like this,.a few questions though


1. What the fuck were the 2 guys at the start all about,.dont get it?

2.Would anyone really be that cool about someone stealing their girlfriend,.and then talking about why he never made her come,....IN FRONT OF THE GUY THAT JUST TOOK HER AWAY FROM YOU??

3.I'm married ,.right,.I would never let the love of my life walk out of a party without me,.as marcus did,...and pierre,..he loved her more than marcus did,..he let her go,..i suppose pierre shows a bit more remorse though

[JCR]

Originally posted by shifty
POSSIBLE SPOILERS
1. What the fuck were the 2 guys at the start all about,.dont get it?

Watch gaspar noe's 1st movie I stand alone (Seul contre tous)- one of them is the main character in that film and they are talking about stuff that happened in it.

Also, it is a MUCH better film than irreversible.

[shifty]

thanks JCR,.i will try and get to watch that ,..its on dvd,..right??

[JCR]

Originally posted by shifty
thanks JCR,.i will try and get to watch that ,..its on dvd,..right??

Dunno, though the UK version is spoiled by an annoying bbfc cut anyway- the bbfc wanted to tone down a real, hardcore sex scene, but the makers didn't want to cut the movie so there was a compromise where the scene is pixellated. It just looks silly.

There is a R1 dvd.

[Psychocandy]

Originally posted by JCR
Dunno, though the UK version is spoiled by an annoying bbfc cut anyway- the bbfc wanted to tone down a real, hardcore sex scene, but the makers didn't want to cut the movie so there was a compromise where the scene is pixellated. It just looks silly.

There is a R1 dvd.

What scene? I've seen the movie twice but haven't noticed any pixellation.

[JCR]

The cinema scene. In the uncut version the couple on screen are well, you know.....

Edit: well maybe blured is a better word than pixellated, but it still looks stupid, in my humble opinion.

[TylerDurden182]

10/10

[ChemicalRomance]

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00009W0U4.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

Thinking about the movie makes me feel kinda naked. It really shakes you to the core. Props to Noe's camera work...the thing never cuts! Even if you hate the film you have to respect the artistic ability that went into some of these lengthy and pretty complex takes. This also includes kudos to the actors who were able to flow through the dialogue, and improvise a lot of it perfectly. It gave the film an even more real feel.

That is where IRREVERSIBLE really strikes a chord. It feels real. The beginning scenes in 'the Rectum' evoke total chaos amidst handheld camera work, a foreboding soundtrack and some seriously trippy lighting. Many scenes, especially when the three main characters talk on the train felt like I was watching 3 real people simply talk. Not act, but talk amongst themselves.

The rape scene, which was built up quite a bit really was insane. That's the only word I can think of to describe it. Words don't do the scene justice, I'm beginning to wonder why people even try to describe its brutality in words for it is an impossible task. I have random nitpicks here and there about the film holding it back from being perfect, but in terms of painful films and ones that really linger with you, Irreversible is a good pick.

Rating: 8.5/10