💰 Jo (1971)

📽️ Jean Girault
🎭 Louis de Funès, Claude Gensac, Bernard Blier
💬 A blackmailed writer decides to take matters into his own hands, with disastrous - and hilarious - consequences.

#nowwatching #cinemastodon #FrenchCinema #frenchfilm #jeangirault #louisdefunès #bernardblier

BLUEBEARD (’63): This early Claude Chabrol, in a way a preview of many of his works to come, is his slightly cheeky take on a WWI-era lady killer. Seems to get compared to MONSIEUR VERDOUX. Too bad. That one’s a classic and while this one isn’t, it’s certainly got its charms. Charles Denner’s Landru look is downright comical- though historically accurate!- which does add an air of farce to the proceedings. Loses a little in the courtroom finale, but still an entertaining outing. #frenchfilm

THE GOOD MARRIAGE (’82): Second of Eric Rohmer’s Comedies and Proverbs, your usual highly amusing and endlessly entertaining small scale piece with Beatrice Romand, tired of being married man’s other woman, declaring she will get married, with only the minor complication of not actually having found the guy yet. Rohmer is one of my favorites, and this setup plays to his strengths. Fun to see Arielle Dombasle, the stunner of PAULINE AT THE BEACH, in support here as Beatrice’s bestie. #frenchfilm

FALSE CONFESSIONS (2016): Man, this one has some brutal reviews online (and from critics of the time), but I kinda liked it. Quite a bit, actually. Farcical adaptation of a play from 1737 (!), though set in modern times, with Louis Garrel planted into widow Isabelle Huppert’s house as her new secretary, each person in both of their orbits having motivations for different outcomes from this development. I enjoyed watching it all unfold. Manon Combes a cute standout among the support. #frenchfilm

Quite pleased with the Kino Lorber sale haul this go-round. #oldhollywood #classichollywood #frenchfilm

LA POINTE COURTE (’55): Debut feature from the great Agnès Varda is a quiet, thoughtful piece on a couple escaping Paris to his old hometown, to debate the continuation (or not) of their marriage. These moments are interspersed with scenes of the town locals and their various dilemmas. Thought this was all really well done. Liked the moving camera shots and the stylishly photographed moments of the couple. Philippe Noiret was so young! #frenchfilm

SUCH A PRETTY LITTLE BEACH (’49): Not sure if this is “poetic realism” so much as poetic misery. Man arrives in rainy off-season beach town under mysterious circumstances, immediately attracts attention and suspicion as he takes interest in a war orphan working at the town’s hotel. To paraphrase Arletty, this one is full of atmosphere, atmosphere, atmosphere. Well done with good performances all around, but not exactly what I would call a pick-me-up. #frenchfilm

Based on a true story about a Belgium serial killer called The Butcher of Mons, Megalomaniac follows the family legacy of the unsolved murders.

#DarkStarPictures #TheButcherOfMons #Megalomaniac #2023HorrorMovies #InternationalMovies #FrenchFilm #XYZFilms

https://vanessasnonspoilers.com/archives/51951/megalomaniac-the-butcher-of-mons-2023/

THE DISENCHANTED (1990): Only my second Benoit Jacquot film, and like the first I saw (KEEP IT QUIET), this is a piece of relatively simple moments that add up to something more upon finality and reflection. Although with this one, the moments have a bit more oomph. Here, teenage Judith Godrèche is pressured into sex with her mom’s “sugar daddy” but not before some self-reflection and her communing with (long-dead) poet Arthur Rimbaud. Some interesting themes explored here, quietly. #frenchfilm

On August 13, 1909, A Trip to Jupiter debuted in the United States. Here’s some art inspired by the silent sci-fi classic!
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#ATripToJupiter #SegundoDeChomon #FrenchFIlm #SilentFIlm #ClassicFIlm #SciFiFantasy #ScienceFiction #Fantasy #FanArt #BlackAndWhiteArt #Movies #SciFiArt #FantasyArt #Art #MovieArt #MovieHistory

L’ARGENT (’83): Well, I’ll be darn sure to inspect all my money carefully from now on. A demonstration of the butterfly effect it seems, as one kid passing a counterfeit bill destroys an innocent man’s life and turns him into a murderer. I’ve really come around to Robert Bresson and admire him greatly. This is as good an example as any of his ability to produce sprawling but economical pieces that are highly engaging. Not a bad way to wrap up a career, that’s for sure. #frenchfilm

CECILE IS DEAD! (’44): Another Maigret mystery from Continental Films during the War, with Albert Prejean back as the famed detective, seeking the murderer of… well, you can probably guess. One of the last films directed by the great Maurice Tourneur. Solidly entertaining, in many ways due to the quirky cast of characters Maigret is surrounded with. Nearly everyone is an oddball of some sort, and the resulting comedy/charm keeps you from getting too lost in the dense murder plot. #frenchfilm

Random but highly intriguing book store find during my recent jaunt to the Hamptons (don’t mean to sound so pretentious, had never been, and frankly it ain’t all that, but that’s a story for another day…)

A quick perusal reminded me what an underappreciated talent Sandrine Bonnaire seems to be. In two movies covered here, plus the all time banger LA CEREMONIE… quite a run. #frenchfilm #classicfilm

THE BRIDE WORE BLACK (’68): Delightfully dark revenge thriller with Jeanne Moreau, the bride of the title, offing one by one the men responsible for killing her husband on their wedding day. There isn’t much more to it than that, and frankly there’s no need for more. Moreau plays the obsessive to perfection. Love her various costume changes for each murder setup; crushing big on those bob wigs. And that ending is just the best, especially once you figure out where it’s going. #frenchfilm

LE JOUR SE LEVE (’39): Legendary example of poetic realism, with Jean Gabin holed up after a murder, revealing how he got there thru series of flashbacks. Gabin breaks the cool scale. Tough life, passing on Arletty to pine for Jacqueline Laurent, who couldn’t be more ethereal. No shortage of atmosphere. That last scene is incredible, and really sticks with you. (Bonus: naked Arletty! How dare you censor that, Vichy government.) #frenchfilm #30sfilms #poeticrealism

🇫🇷 French crime Tuesday 🕵🏻‍♀️

🎞️ Série Noire (1979)

🎥 Alain Corneau
🎭 Patrick Dewaere, Marie Trintignant, Bernard Blier
💬 A restless salesman wants to turn his life around and save another lost soul - but makes a drastic decision…

#nowwatching #FrenchCinema #frenchfilm #cinemastodon

Sometimes Spotify comes up with a gem while randomly offering 'songs you might like'.

https://open.spotify.com/track/0pHAURj0irfaobdPdjbZZl?si=rbNKZlmzQjmtjhKwYmmWOg

#film #cinema #FrenchFilm #ThemeSongs #Spotify #LaurentAknin

Sometimes Spotify comes up with a gem while randomly offering 'songs you might like'.

https://open.spotify.com/track/0pHAURj0irfaobdPdjbZZl?si=rbNKZlmzQjmtjhKwYmmWOg

#film #cinema #FrenchFilm #ThemeSongs #Spotify

🇫🇷 French crime Tuesday

🎞️ Le Fauve Est Lâché / The Tiger Attacks (1959)

📽️ Maurice Labro
🎭 Lino Ventura, Paul Frankeur, Estella Blain
💬 An ex-mobster reluctantly returns to his old activities - but with some new complications…

#nowwatching #FrenchCinema #frenchfilm #linoventura

@a0dbxza 😊

On July 6, 2001, Amelie was screened at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Here’s some Audrey Tautou art to celebrate!
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#Amelie #AudreyTautou #RomanticComedy #RomCom #CultMovies #FrenchFilm #MagicalRealism #MagicalRealistFilm #FanArt #Drawing #MovieArt #Drawing #MovieArt #MovieHistory