-Irreversible- is not a movie that likes to be watched; the director deliberately repulses the audience for 90 minutes, before capping it off with a beautiful avant-garde-style end to accentuate the contrast between "before" and "after." And so, it has an odd effect: it is repulsive to the sense, but more satisfying on a reflective level. That said, I don't intend on watching it again. As everyone knows, the technical style is as off-putting and hard to stomach as the content. If this is really as brilliant as all the supporters claim it is, maybe Gaspar can put his brilliance to work creating a work of an integrated beauty, that invites repeat viewings. With all the presumed hommages to Kubrick therein, maybe he can take some cues from -Barry Lyndon- (or Tarkovsky, if he wants to stick with a more avant-garde approach) . . . .
Review of Irreversible
