I'm impressed by him as each film is, experimentally, sufficiently different though there is a similar style and certain themes (like brutality.)
I do quite like Irreversible. Sometimes I see it more as being about the really early scene where the boyfriend kills that guy in the club; it works backwards from that to show the events that lead to it (I'm unsure, but chronologically it might be the last event of the film?
).
I think with the disorientating soundtrack/ camera movements and things at the beginning its trying to really aggravate the viewer to make *that* scene where the camera's planted more aggravating (and to source it as the location of all that chaotic activity.) We're getting a feel for the rage which creates that atrocity at the start, which is maybe present to validate Noe's more pessimistic view of humanity.
I'm unsure of the overall messages of the film, but technically I thought it worked well.
Which film do you think has done that scene before? (I think I know the one you're referring to.)
And unsure if Holy Mountain has come up, but I brought up some of Jodorowsky's other stuff.
For sure, I agree with everything you said about "Irreversible" like it working backwards
ect. I guess maybe I thought it was going to be more visceral or something then it was. Like take that fire extinguisher scene; most reviews I read droned on and on about how brutal it was, but it didn't have that impact on me really. I guess spending many many hours spent seeking out the most depraved disgusting films will do that to ya!
(and of course I'm not saying that's what this movie is entirely about. Though,,, the title of the movie,,, I'd say Noe is giving a clue as to his intentions)
To answer your question, what movie do I think has done that before? why "I spit on your grave" is the classic one (1978). Though there's a few, one movie that is really not well known, even inside groups that seek out these exploitation films like "cannibal holocaust" is called (appropriately) "island of death" and did that thing too but used it in a context that made it even sicker. I know; your wondering how could it be worse than that? Well it is, and we should probably leave it at that.
There was a period when all these different labels were being thrown around and used almost as a spring board to create with
Sexploitation
Nazi-ploitation
All the mondo films
The cannibal films "cannibal holocaust" being the most well known and probably "best"
(the story surrounding the making of this film and the aftermath when it was released is enough to make people fascinated to watch it that would normally steer clear of this type of thing)
Anyway, whether or not these are "good" movies is up to whoever is watching I guess.
I'd love to discuss "the holy mountain" its been a while since I've seen it but there are scenes from that movie burnt into my mind. Jesus cake anyone?
Have you or anyone reading watched the "120 days of Sodom"?
I've never read De Sade so I have no idea how much/well anything was adapted.
From IMDB:
"Set in the Nazi-controlled, northern Italian state of Salo in 1944, four dignitaries round up sixteen perfect specimens of youth and take them together with guards, servants and studs to a palace near Marzabotto. In addition, there are four middle-aged women: three of whom recount arousing stories whilst the fourth accompanies on the piano. The story is largely taken up with their recounting the stories of Dante and De Sade: the Circle of Manias, the Circle of Shit and the Circle of Blood. Following this, the youths are executed whilst each libertine takes his turn as voyeur"
)... I look forward to seeing the others you've listed...
