Moustroll Good movie but grossly overrated

Dotbankey A lot of fun.

Stoutor It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

Cristal The movie really just wants to entertain people.

MartinHafer Sometimes when I watch a film, I say to myself later "why did I even bother finishing that film?"--this is exactly what happened when I finished watching Les Amants Criminels. Despite some excellent moments and a couple decent plot twists, I felt dirty and uneasy about having watched this mess through to the end. It wasn't just because the film was so sexually graphic or violent--though these are big turnoffs for me and many other viewers. It was these factors PLUS the fact that certain things just don't need to be shown on film and I worry about people who WANT to see this in films. For example, the two young and totally annoying "lovers" are kidnapped by a guy who lives in the woods. The girl is kept locked in a dungeon with a rotting corpse and the guy is brought upstairs to be anally raped and fed the leg of the rotting corpse in the basement. I just didn't need to see this. Why it was shown is possibly because some directors and writers include awful scenes like this because they don't believe in the power of the film and toss in sick stuff to try to either generate controversy or appeal to prurient interests. As a result, I just can't see recommending this film to anyone.It does get a score of three because there is the germ of a really good film there--it just gets lost among all the crap. The notion of a killing and the odd motivation behind it (that doesn't become apparent until later) is interesting. Plus, her boyfriend who seems to have some serious problems with his latent homosexual desires is interesting as well. BUT, having him raped and then enjoy it is just sick and unnecessary--and socially irresponsible. I would have really thought it interesting if they had further explored this character's latent homosexuality--it WAS apparent several times throughout the film.Additionally, the film is actually a very twisted take on Hansel and Gretel. A modern retelling of the tale is a great idea--just not when it is combined with a touches from THE Texas CHAINSAW MASSACRE and DELIVERANCE! The people who made this mess should be ashamed, but I'm sure they went on to make money and more sick stuff like this.

fertilecelluloid It all looks simple, but what is going on in CRIMINAL LOVERS is complex. Ozon is adept at conveying the shifts in our emotions and clearly enjoys exploring our conflicted natures.Sexy Alice (Natacha Regnier), a manipulator of men, coerces the sexually uncertain Luc (Jeremie Renier) into murdering the handsome Said (Salim Kechiouche). Although getting rid of the body proves problematic, the couple's real problems begin when they take refuge in an old cottage in the forest.The owner of the cottage is Karim (Yasmine Belmadi), an odd fellow who develops a fondness for Luc and a hatred for Alice. Perhaps Alice is his competition? The film explores fascinating sexual territory, and even reminded me, tonally, of Japanese pink films such as WIFE TO BE SACRIFICED and CAPTURED FOR SEX 2.Ozon embraces the provocative subject matter with supreme confidence and never recoils from its inherent darkness. The erotic tension remains taut throughout and the performances are beautifully balanced.The photography is subdued but stylish and the forest setting echoes "Hansel and Gretel".There is great intelligence behind this adult fairytale and a willingness to explore sexuality and desire that is never hampered by the stench of political correctness that handicaps so much "edgy" material these days.

graham clarke Ozon has cooked up an intriguing exercise. Drawing from eclectic sources ranging from Grimm's fairy tales, through Walt Disney to Bonnie and Clyde, (just to name a few), it becomes a curious amalgam.The problem is, as interesting as it may well be, Ozon lacks the artistry to utilize all the elements towards an overall vision. He seems much more interested in the bits rather than the whole. This over indulgence with the ideas themselves weakens the effect of the film as a whole.There's much room for interpretation (as with all fairy tales), but owing to the general lack of cohesiveness of this work, one cannot take this all too seriously, since ultimately this is not a movie worthy of serious consideration, despite it's ambitious pretensions. Jeremie Renier has the most interesting and difficult part to play, being both sexually and morally conflicted. It's a well controlled and powerful performance."Criminal Lovers" has the makings of a fascinating movie but Ozon lacks the skill in weaving the elements together. It's the craft that separates the good from the great film makers.

Rogue-32 If you haven't yet discovered France's new infant terrible, François Ozon, this would be a most excellent place to start: Les Amants Criminels is perhaps his best feature-length film thus far, a supremely accomplished work of incredible daring and depth. The story isn't linear - it jumps back and forth from past to present, revealing details slowly, very Scorpionic - and by the end of it, your feelings towards the two main characters have changed tremendously. And as in all Ozon films, the casting is impeccable, particularly the two leads: Jérémie Rénier as Luc, and Natacha Régnier as Alice. You can get the DVD online - make sure you get the Strand Releasing version, with the subtitles.