Elle

One can't help but note the decidedly brusque tone and pacing with which this operates, pointedly matching the strident personality of the title character, and the uncomfortable curtness of every social interaction. Between these two facets, the picture sits at a peculiar place of seeming to fly past while it's actually moving quite slowly - I was altogether surprised to look at the digital timer at one point to see that I was only halfway through the runtime. All the while, it's hard to get an exact beat on what 'Elle' is doing. It definitely carries itself in some measure as a psychological drama, or at least a character study, with major thriller airs; Michèle Leblanc is plainly fascinating, and the character writing generally is without question the sharpest aspect of these 130 minutes. The scene writing is ferocious and downright ugly, and the narrative at large is as indescribable as it is compelling. Only: what is it that I should be taking away from the viewing experience, especially in regards to dynamics between men and women? That I surely don't know, but it's safe to say that one way or another I'll be thinking about this for a long time.

I'm not familiar with Philippe Djian's novel, and I can't say I've seen other films that David Birke wrote - excepting 2021's superb 'Benedetta' that he co-wrote with director Paul Verhoeven. Wherever the credit belongs, the screenplay is tremendous: a maelstrom of strong emotions, very complicated characters, and horrid violence (a content warning is obviously extremely necessary for depictions of rape), with additional tidbits including not just those gender dynamics but also how we experience and react to violence at different times or in different ways, parent-child relationships, and more. As to any Big Ideas or themes that Djian, Birke, and/or Verhoeven were hoping to communicate, well, I'll need to turn this over in my head a bit more to discover what's hidden within. Even without such considerations, however, the movie is a stark, vivid ride, roundly absorbing and well worth exploring for the sheer excellence it represents. Beyond the writing, that absolutely includes Verhoeven's direction, steady and reliable as it's always been. For as forceful as the proceedings here are in many ways, he nonetheless demonstrates a dexterous, delicate hand in orchestrating shots and scenes that lets them sink in their claws instead of just landing with blunt impact; I shudder to think how poorly this material may have been treated in the hands of anyone less capable.

Everyone behind the scenes turned in great work, too, including fetching production design, costume design, hair, and makeup, and finely executed stunts and effects that are jarring as they present. Yet it's the folks in front of the camera who might be most readily striking of all. It's certainly noteworthy that star Isabelle Huppert received many nominations and awards for her portrayal of Michèle. Yet even in her case, it's not that any of the acting is singular and revelatory, specifically making a huge impression. Rather, it's more that like the broad tenor of 'Elle,' there's an unmistakably fierce, terse edge to the performances (Huppert's above all, by all means) that does much to harness and maintain the vibrant, harsh energy of the feature, propel the plot, and keep we viewers locked in. And really, all these elements work in tandem to achieve that vivid spark, which surely means Verhoeven deserves commendations once again for maintaining such a tight, dark vision over the whole affair, if not also producers Saïd Ben Saïd and Michel Merkt.

Even setting aside the important content warnings this won't necessarily appeal to everyone, least of all for some of the ideas that it plays with and the dire atmosphere. Even for a filmmaker who gleefully dances across extremities and taboos this is a bit of an oddity for his oeuvre, hard to particularly pin down. One way or another, however, the fact remains that 'Elle' is pretty fantastic all around, benefiting from the substantial skill and intelligence of all involved. Whether you're a diehard fan of someone involved or just looking for something good to watch this is well worth checking out. Be aware of the nature of the content, but otherwise just strap yourself in and watch the fireworks.