I’m not the world’s biggest fan of Claude Chabrol’s L’enfer (1994). His heart was probably in the right place: he was resuming an unfinished project begun twenty years earlier by Henri-Georges Clouzot, one with ties to Fritz Lang’s Scarlet Street and the noir staple of a horny schlub getting put through the wringer by a conniving femme fatale. But Chabrol gets bored easily with conventional setups, so when his protagonist (François Cluzet) goes off the deep end, there’s very little reason to feel for him. We’re just watching an actor floundering. I will give Chabrol props for casting Emmanuelle Béart, however: she looks smashing.
In Clouzot’s 1964 version, Romy Schneider was the sultry wife. The clip here is probably dream imagery Clouzot was going to use to drive the husband bonkers. To me, it looks like a Kenneth Anger movie. I’m sure people will be talking about the Slinky for years to come (nice touch, Henri-Georges!), and if anyone knows what the superb music track is, be sure to drop me a line.
Update: Bruno Alexiu composed the music for this clip from L'Enfer d'Henri-Georges Clouzot, a new documentary by Serge Bromberg and Ruxandra Medrea on the making of Clouzot's unfinished film.
I feel pretty much the same about the Chabrol movie, which is disappointingly prosaic and conventional. But Emmanuelle Beart is stunning and a lot of fun to watch; her performance elevates the film a bit.
That Clouzot clip looks amazing, though. I never thought a slinky could make me feel so dirty.
I'll be seeing that slinky in action this Thursday as I'm catching a screening of this film at the opening night of the Toronto Film Festival. I haven't seen Chabrol's "L'Enfer", but I do love Clouzot's films and that trailer hooked me easily.
As for the music, I'll try to remember to keep my eyes peeled for any details during the credits.
I wanted to let you know about the James Bond-O-Thon I'm planning for the second week of November. Until then, I'll be reviewing all Bond films in chronological order. Enjoy, and please visit from time to time to see how the Old boy is doing over at www.filmsquish.com. And of course, you're invited to the November 'Thon.
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I know that music! I do! I just can't place it for the life of me but I love it. And how in the hell did the slinky know exactly where to go?!
I feel pretty much the same about the Chabrol movie, which is disappointingly prosaic and conventional. But Emmanuelle Beart is stunning and a lot of fun to watch; her performance elevates the film a bit.
That Clouzot clip looks amazing, though. I never thought a slinky could make me feel so dirty.
I'll be seeing that slinky in action this Thursday as I'm catching a screening of this film at the opening night of the Toronto Film Festival. I haven't seen Chabrol's "L'Enfer", but I do love Clouzot's films and that trailer hooked me easily.
As for the music, I'll try to remember to keep my eyes peeled for any details during the credits.
I envy you, Bob: I'd love to see it myself! Have a good time at Toronto!
Flickster,
I wanted to let you know about the James Bond-O-Thon I'm planning for the second week of November. Until then, I'll be reviewing all Bond films in chronological order. Enjoy, and please visit from time to time to see how the Old boy is doing over at www.filmsquish.com.
And of course, you're invited to the November 'Thon.
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