mpr3t

I must say that this is one of those films that really stuck with me for weeks after watching it, both for its evocative cinematography as well as its acting and mood. I must take issue with a previous reviewer who called this movie "preachy" or "too liberal". The central moral dilemma in this film is precisely that we cannot understand, much less judge, a human being by a single action. It is true that Auguste commits murder, but what the director then sets up is the largely unspoken debate as to a man's worth to society. One can of course argue both ways, that the law must be enforced no matter what, or that his contributions to the community are worth more than his death. It isn't preachy at all, because the film doesn't tell us what to think, it's up to us to reflect on this. Life isn't black and white, despite what our politicians would like us to believe, it's shades of grey.

I still think of L'Enfer as a great film, rife with psychological torment and anguish. It may not be Chabrol's best (as others have pointed out), but it is nonetheless very good. This is in my opinion also one of Beart's best performances. The cinematography is terrific, with wonderful contrasts between the idyllic, sun-drenched locale and the dark, tormented and claustrophobic emotional dimension. The plot is somewhat predictable, but the "meat" of the movie is on the psychological development of the main characters, not on "what happens next". Overall, I highly recommend this film to any fan of cinema.

Still, after all these years, one of the most transcendent cinematic experience. The usual criticism leveled at 2001 are that it's too long or boring, or that it hasn't aged well. Rubbish! This is the antithesis of a popcorn movie, and as such requires a commitment on the part of the viewer. The effects are still solid, and besides, this isn't a movie that relies on special effects... The ending sequence has always been more suggestive than anything else. A true masterpiece that still echoes in every sci-fi film made today.