Geraldine
The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.
adventurer_ci
The meaning is in the eye of a perceiver. I liked this movie. The acting was superb, which is expected from french actors. Louis Garrel is a very talented actor. I disagree with the reviewer from Oklahoma in regards to "actors dress and personal hygiene " and "The woman in the film regarded as an outstanding beauty would not be so to most American viewers". I am not French, but have European upbringing and I find this opinion as arrogant and stuck-up. There is nothing in this movie suggests that the actor"s hygiene is poor and they dress like slobs. Hollywood movies actors are so fake, so polished , so unrealistic and talentless, that I stopped watching it long time ago. As for the Monica Bellucci's beauty, once again, American standards are fake beauty of over-groomed people, while Monica Bellucci is a classic beauty. I can't name one single modern American actress that is a real, classic beauty. There are few young Hollywood actresses that are natural beauties, but they are not born American (Natalie Portman,Kate Beckinsale,Charlize Theron).
jotix100
As this story begins, we watch Frederic, a young French painter, accelerating his car and crashing into a tree. We have no clue as to what appears to be a state of mind that drove this man into doing such a terrible act. In flashbacks we are introduced to Paul, a fried of the painter, who serves as the narrator of the story. Paul, a bit player in movies, met Frederic as a mutual friend took him to the painter's place, where a painting catches the eye of the actor. Paul, who by now is living with Elisabeth, an actress he met on location, is invited to go to Rome to see first hand the works of Frederic.Frederic, who is married to Angele, an actress, whose work is finally being recognized, spends his summer in a magnificent house where he works. Angele, is an unhappy woman. She reveals to Elisabeth the state of her relationship with Frederic. She confesses to her friend her husband's fondness for visiting prostitutes. She, herself, has no problems in her involvement with men, something that her husband senses, but never questions Angele. Angele, working on a new film is involved with the director, Rolande, a friend of her husband's. She has come into the conclusion her marriage is a sham and must leave him. Thus, the state of mind of Frederic when we met him.Philippe Garrel, the director of "Un ete brulant", must have had his son Louis in his heart to lead this project, as it becomes apparent it was a vehicle for his son. Written by M. Garrel in collaboration with Caroline Deruas-Garrel and Marc Cholodenko. It is based on the life on a friend of the director, a painter, whose life served as the basis for the scenario. Paul, the actor friend, is a revolutionary, but alas, he likes the worry free life his friend Frederic gives him in a beautiful surrounding without any care in the world, or much less, worries about money he obviously does not have. Paul makes statements as far as how a revolution must happen, sooner or later, and his complete abhorrence for the then French president, Nicolas Sarkozy.Best thing in the film is Celine Sallette, Paul's lover and future wife. She watches quietly how her hosts' lives unravel and end badly. Louis Garrel has handsome looks with an unruly mop of black curls. His Frederic is a study in despair, in spite of having fame, he is miserable because of the way Angele drifts apart. Monica Belucci, a gorgeous woman, does not show anything in this film with her flat performance, something that surprised this viewer. Her appearance in the film is a puzzle, the way her role was conceived. Maurice Garrel, the father of the director, shows up briefly as the dead grandfather.
Robert G. Small, MD
The actors in this French movie with English titles work hard. They act as if they feel everything intensely. The film may be enjoyed if the viewer is French and familiar with the French language and customs. I was unable to feel what the actors obviously wanted to get across to viewers. I was unable to suspend disbelief. The actors dress and personal hygiene does not correspond to what I see every day in America. This may not be a negative to French audiences. The woman in the film regarded as an outstanding beauty would not be so to most American viewers. This criticism may be unfair if viewers expect most young women to be beauty-contest gorgeous. The French woman's persona and actions may make her beautiful to a French person. French audiences may appreciate the realism in dress and actions. If I was asked to recommend this film I would say that French audiences may find the movie entertaining. However American audiences are likely to have difficulty appreciating the French appearance, emotions and behavior.
gioskel
This is one of the most boring movies I have seen in a very long time. There were only a couple of scenes worth watching and the rest was same old same old. The only redeeming parts were toward the beginning of the film, and they didn't really tie in to the rest of the movie. It was all downhill from there. Uninspiring camera angles, OK acting, and a plot which leaves a lot to be desired. Louis did a great job, however, and I was surprised that Monica's acting is improving slightly. We all know that Monica is a beautiful lady, but focusing on this aspect of her is starting to get old. She actually did a decent job acting, so it would have been nice if the director had focused more on this than on her physical beauty. Was expecting much better work out of Philippe Garrel. Better luck next time.
