My review of Irreversible

After a severe dissapointment with one of BF's recommendations (Cannibal Holocaust) I decided to try the other one called Irreversible. I had heard of this film before, about how it's ultraviolent and shit like that. And wel it is all true, the film has an extremely vicious 9-minute rape scene that eventually transcends into a hard beating Yes, we’re taken into a lewd gay S&M club (appropriately named “Rectum”) where hand-jobs, fisting (sick ****s !)and blow jobs are all over the place.

This is one the films that has shocked me the most because what are the odds of being stuck in Texas and having a maniac with a chainsaw and a human skin chase you ? Well basically zero, but what are the odds of you're girlfriend being raped in a dark alley ? Unfortunately rape is a very common thing and it happens all over the world.

The flick follows “Memento’s” footsteps and plays everything backwards. Taking that route definitely gave the film an extra dimension, elevating the simple script to a higher level. It drove the theme of life’s fragile and unpredictable nature home. Leaving the theatre, thoughts like these raced through my mind: We might not see the nightmare coming around the corner. An everyday, happy couple CAN be destroyed by our violent society. A pragmatic and peaceful man CAN be turned into a primal, aggressive animal by a tragic event. We never think it will happen to us, until it does! Having the flick play in reverse reinforced those aspects and made me think even more. ! I also particularly dug the attention the film put on classic and sad human behavioral patterns. Notice how Marcus didn’t care that somebody got raped until he found out that it was his girl. Notice how that dude walking in the tunnel turned back the other way once he saw the rape taking place, sad but true.

I did have some probles with the film though, the smaller one would be how the film dragged its ending out a bit too much. I understood why the movie went so far back and actually relished many of its more “softer” scenes, but I felt it should’ve ended a tad earlier to retain the momentum of what took place. But my main beef has to do with some of the directing choices. Since the story begins with the gruesome ending, to go back to the happier beginning, the opening shots are all over the place, with the camera traveling off walls and never seemingly finding a point of focus. I understood what the director was trying to do, he was basically echoing the chaos of the situation and the characters jumbled state of mind through his visuals, but I got very frustrated due to the zany camera shots. I wanted to get involved in the story so bad, but the epileptic cam would never stop shaking long enough to let me in. I even started to feel woozy at some points. In my opinion, the man overdoes it and managed to alienate me on some occasions, but overall, there’s no denying Irreversible’s power and artistic worth.

"on a scale of 1 to ten, one being the lowest, 10 being the highest, i would give it a NINE"

Pablo, good review.

I agree with alot of your points, I had small problems with the overuse of the jittery camera, although it did help to portray the pure insanity going on at the beginning of the film. But I didn't have any problem getting into the storyline because of the camera shots. I thought for the most part the way the film was shot was very strong and one of the strong points of the film.

Also, I believe he also had the camera so jittery at the beginning of the film so that when the rape scene came along, the contrast between that scene and the earlier scenes would be much more noticeable. If we had seen more then just jumbled images at the beginning, then the blunt, rapce scene wouldn't have been quite as powerful in my eyes.

I suggest you watch it again though, it's a movie that requires a couple of viewings to fully apreciate. Glad you enjoyed it though.

I still can't find this movie anywhere.

me either..???

its getting banned in Aus so i wont get to see it either

Originally posted by Evil Dead
I still can't find this movie anywhere.

I in the same boat that your in ED

I saw it for rent at a few smaller rental chains. And it's available for purchase at Best Buy.

I bought it on bestbuy.com like 3 days ago, i'm waiting for it to show up on my door step from Mr. UPS himself.

It sounds like a really interesting movie.

Originally posted by BackFire
Pablo, good review.

I agree with alot of your points, I had small problems with the overuse of the jittery camera, although it did help to portray the pure insanity going on at the beginning of the film. But I didn't have any problem getting into the storyline because of the camera shots. I thought for the most part the way the film was shot was very strong and one of the strong points of the film.

Also, I believe he also had the camera so jittery at the beginning of the film so that when the rape scene came along, the contrast between that scene and the earlier scenes would be much more noticeable. If we had seen more then just jumbled images at the beginning, then the blunt, rapce scene wouldn't have been quite as powerful in my eyes.

I suggest you watch it again though, it's a movie that requires a couple of viewings to fully apreciate. Glad you enjoyed it though.

Pablo G>I dont think it should have ended sooner because the end is the beginning and you would see that kind of stuff at the beginning if the movie had been done normally.

Haven't seen it. Want 2 though.

Originally posted by tabby999
its getting banned in Aus so i wont get to see it either

It didn't end up getting banned. 😄

I've seen it about twice now, its great.

their appealing the decision, and theres only a few cinemas playing it in melb

1 to be exact. Lumiere

A little curiosity!
BF did you know she is married to Vicent Cassel? The guy that plays Marcus in Irreversible? Their gonna have a baby.
I had no idea! They've been married for 5 years!

Yeah, I know Kes.

I'd like to recomend that everyone who enjoyed Irreversible go and watch Gasper Noe's first film, I Stand Alone. It's deals with similar, taboo subjects and is equally powerful. Think of Taxi Driver but even darker and more sinister.

Originally posted by BackFire
Yeah, I know Kes.
[...]

^ was that from Irreversible?

I heard that noise because my whole house was completely silent....it freaked me out at first, but then it zoned me into the movie...

Yup its from the movie.

Yeah, I heard about that noise freaking people out. Guess it was just another way of adding to the insanity and the sick images on screen.