Cinematic iconoclast Jean-Luc Godard returns to the front ranks of contemporary filmmaking while embracing the digital video revolution (no great surprise, given his eager and early embrace of video technology in the 1970s) with this drama. In the first part of the film, shot on 35 mm black-and-white film, a filmmaker named Edgar (Bruno Putzulu) is in the midst of a casting session with his producers, looking for the leading lady for his next film. More interested in discussing philosophy than
in the nuts and bolts of the character, Edgar speaks with a number of actresses before he encounters Elle (Cecile Camp); he's fascinated by her, and is certain he's met her somewhere before, but can't tell where or when. Eventually, Edgar decides Elle is the right person for the role, but he then discovers she has died. In the second part of the film, produced using color digital video equipment, Edgar flashes back to the moment when he first met Elle -- he's meeting with an elderly couple who survived the Holocaust and have sold their life story to a Hollywood movie producer. While meeting the couple as a guest of an old friend and historian (Jean Lacouture) interested in their story, he's introduced to the couple's granddaughter, a law student who has offered to take a look at their contract -- Elle. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
The trick when watching Godard is to catch the pitch of his poetics, savor the pleasure of his sounds and images, and ponder the historical, philosophical, and ethical issues that intersect with them.
Ultimately, though, In Praise of Love is about themes, about the anti-Hollywood sentiment that Godard feels so passionately about, and this is where the film begins to crumble.
The usage of challenging montage and hews aren't an important advantage of this Godard flick.Le dialogue probablement to semi-quote another movie.Naturally,incorporating novels/poetry in the midst of affection and ashes of past loves brings new reactions from both critics and investigating audiences.Condemning the U.S.
on past events isn't our problem as well.It's repetition.Godard's films are so clever,it's impossible to rate them fewer than this (unless they're heavily experimental?),I just felt he was cockier than before.
August 31, 2008
Dimitris Springer
Super Reviewer
Visually stunning but dull and pretentious. Godard has lost it.
No quotes approved yet for In Praise Of Love (Éloge de l'amour). Logged in users can submit quotes.
Submit a Quote from 'In Praise Of Love (Éloge de l'amour)'
A quote can be a single line from one character or a memorable dialog between several characters. Please make your quotes accurate. Quotes will be submitted for approval by the RT staff.
Example:
Luke: Alright. I'll give it a try. Yoda: No. Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.
Top Critic
