Les Enfants Terribles (FR, 1950)

I read Les Enfants Terribles some time in the mid 90's, probably thinking myself quite the clever boy for buying it...(in my defence, it had an attractively aged and dried monochrome cover). A difficult 'literary' read it was however; arty, overly mannered, figurative, and centered around the claustrophobic carry-on between a brother and sister.

Notwithstanding this, I came to the film primarily as a fan of JP Melville, whose work is often cited as a precursor to, and influence on, the nouvelle vague, arguably outdoing some of its directors, particularly the grossly overrated and achingly pretentious JL Godard.

Although somewhat 'easier' than the book, the film remains faithful to it in its difficultness, presenting it with what are probably very French emoting and melodramatics.

There's some vaguely interesting photography (the seaside shot, and towards the end) but the film does not stand up to Melville's later, far superior work.

Editor's Note: Another worthless, gonzoid review...which no-one's gonna be reading anyway.

Le Trou (FR, 1960)

Lengthy, fascinating prison drama, which begins with a 'fourth wall' intro from one of the real-life prisoners who took part in events which inspired the novel and its eventual filming.

Le Havre (2011, FR/FI)

An aging shoe-shining gentleman takes a young male refugee under his wing in the port town of Le Havre.

Every inch the bourgeois marxist romance: inter-ethnic proletarian unity against the faceless, aggressive "system", our shoe-shiner's past as a successful artist in bohemian Paris - and guess what? His name is Marcel Marx!

Despite the predictable, politically-correct storyline, the film does impress; lead actor André Wilm's quiet earnestness is endearing, and the director's instinctive eye for characterful downbeat locales is undiminished. Above all it's the the clear and distinctive kitschy tone-poem photography which wins the day here.

Headhunters / Hodejegerne (NO, 2011)

Unprepossessing recruitment whiz "Roger Brown" funds his lavish lifestyle with a bit o' the ol' art-theft on the side, but soon meets his match in a Norwegian-Dutch nemesis...

The various subplots soon spiral but are ultimately controlled. Entertaining enough, but not to be taken too seriously.

Drive (US, 2011)

Excellently photographed, atmospheric and, in places, the trigger for hysterically shrieking laughter.

Probably this year's best DVD rental so far - just wish I'd seen it at the cinema last year...

The first film I've ever seen that's deserving of the description neo-noir.

Enter the Void (FR/JP, 2009)

Con-tro-ver-sial French-based Argentine director Gasper Noé's most recent feature is largely related "as seen from above" through an omniscient "spirit out of body" which surveys the past and growing present misfortunes of brother Oscar and his attractive sister Linda who soon hooks up with him in Tokyo. The already unlikely premise of middle-class Anglophone gaijin living, using and dealing in JP is compounded by a fluid, gloomy storyline and some squeamish, screamy moments, all of which could/did isolate older, non-adapted audiences.

The film and the action isn't bad; the camerawork is experimental without being pretentious; where it succeeds most is in its often stylish capturing of the lurid hues of a nocturnal Tokyo netherworld.