Irréversible (2002)

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Alex	Monica Bellucci
Marcus	Vincent Cassell	½
Pierre	Albert Dupontel
Le Tenia	Jo Prestia	½

Review

Renowned for being narratively structured similarly to Christopher Nolan's two years senior, Memento, this French film has frequently been compared to its American predecessor. However, except for their mutual approach to timeline, they are films from different universes. Sure, both films are dealing with criminal underworlds and characters in frenetic situations, but the thematic approach is completely different. Whereas Memento uses its structure to build a mystery, Irréversible, actually, has little to hide.  

And that is where the instinctive, courageous French filmmaker, Gaspar Noé makes his biggest accomplishment with his film - daring to examine human emotions and instincts to greater lengths than most filmmakers have before him (Bernardo Bertolucci possibly excluded). If there's one doubtless thing about this film, it is that it stirs up emotion. Whether you'll be intrigued, disgusted, excited, pissed off, or turned on (for that matter), Irréversible will get to you. Despite claiming to have been the one film that most people have walked out on in the history of the Cannes Festival, it still received several prizes at festivals throughout the world. That is an indication that Noé isn't only fearless, he's also shamelessly creative, challenging the borders of known filmatic methods. The lighting and colour filters have an interesting (albeit obvious) thematic effect, the camerawork is astounding - ranging from one extremity (wildly chaotic) to another (daringly dwelling), and - above all - the absolutely groundbreaking use of sound, including almost inaudible, low-frequence sounds to physically nauseate the viewer. A film that will make an impact on anyone who sees it, and that will activate both mind and emotion.