Elle

**** 4-Stars **** Elle is simply she or her in French - and sometimes it. Paul Verhoeven, one of my favorite directors, teams up with Isabelle Huppert, one of my favorite actors, to make a film that is surprising, often shocking, and wholly fascinating. I will watch it again. Warning: this is one of the least politically correct flicks you will ever see - multiple rapes (which our heroine suffers stoically, and perhaps with some curiosity), lots of bed-hopping, and a handful of other things likely to annoy some viewers. But the real question is, can you accept a 63-year-old woman as sexy, strong-willed and a bit of a femme-fatale? French audiences clearly had no problem (Huppert is universally adored, and besides, Catherine Deneuve, a decade older than Huppert, already busted this glass ceiling a few times) - but Im not so sure Americans will be as comfortable with this. Go ahead, watch Elle - I dare ya. Vive la France!

Agreed. Its dark and the second half of the movie will be very uncomfortable. At some points its almost comical - the gale force Parisian winds, the boiler room, and the black cat.

I couldnt even finish the last 15 minutes. No idea why professional reviewers liked it so much. What am I missing? The acting was great, but the story line was repugnant. SPOILER: When you are injured , vulnerable in a remote area, and need a ride, Im pretty damn sure you dont call your rapist for help. And thats not even the most hideous aspect of the plot.

This is a decent movie although its provocative and not entirely believable when it comes to women, trauma, and sex. Isabelle Huppert is a strong female lead who has a casual attitude toward affairs and sexual fantasies, seemingly as a result of a traumatic event in childhood, but her character never really rings true. She plays the role well, though, and is appealingly enigmatic to the end. The different parts of the movie dont quite cohere: the perfunctory childhood tragedy feels forced into the script and Hupperts character is too unwaveringly blank and detached. That appealing laissez faire attitude that she has turns out to be disappointing in the end, which is way too predictable.

Its lovely and talented Isabelle Huppert that keeps this rather dismal and violent movie afloat. Huppert is poetry in motion even though she play the less than likable Michele Leblanc. ELLE opens with a shocker as Michele is being violently raped. Its an unnerving scene. Whats even more unnerving is that she doesnt go to the police and basically returns to her life almost as if nothing had happened. Michele and her partner run a video game business--video games that are especially violent against women? Could her assailant be one of her employees? What makes ELLE even more of a dismal film is that Michele is not a likable person. Shes tough on her employees and on her son. She has disdain for her elderly mother and her fling with a handsome (and seemingly nice) young stallion. She is especially unkind to her ex-husband Richard who seems to spend his time trying to make amends with Michele. Micheles assailant is stalking her and it was clear to me quickly who he was. The psychological factor kicks in as it seems that Michele has a need for this invasive violence. Its a not too deep journey into Micheles psyche as we learn her father is a notorious criminal up for parole. Its his horrific crime and the then 10-year-old Micheles role (innocent or not) that forms the backbone of Micheles life. Unfortunately, a chance was missed to tell an engrossing psychological thriller her. It is stylistic as are many French films. Add in a famous Dutch director, Paul Verhoeven, and this could explain the uneven level of styles. The main reason to watch ELLE is to see Isabelle Huppert in motion.

It was entertaining although very strange actions by all of the characters - the ending just left me blank waiting on something to happen- my husband thought it was good everything was tied up for ending - he liked it better than I but I found it difficult to believe the craziness of the characters actions- even though he bought from my account I wouldnt advise anyone to rent for 5.99 maybe when it drops to 2.98

Such a good movie. The lead access is a doll .

I like Paul.Verhoeven movies but I really like his commentaries. It helps me understand the weird choices he makes in his films. I was very disappointed to find that this bluray does not have director commentary. The story is weird and kind of freaky for the normal US viewer. If you are a Verhoeven fan rent this instead of buying with the lack of special features its not worth the bluray price.

Great movie and Huppert is an incredible actress who does a lot with her character. Made me want to move to France.

no doubt, isabelle huppert is always good at playing a soured woman, or an insubstantial woman, or an overexcitable woman. and this film gives her the opportunity to be all three at once, as a volatile and rather shallow software executive (made money in literature, bought the software company to tell stories) who is soured by her backstory, sleeping with her best friends lover, cruel to her mother and a very poor parent to her son. shes raped right at the beginning, so the plot is focused on unmasking the perpetrator, but all along i never really cared who it was. shes not a sympathetic character, her frigid and manipulative behavior is distasteful, and the whole thing reeks of the most foreign aspects of french esthetic and moral sensibilities. certainly not an oscar worthy performance.