Elle (2016)
First screened in October 2016
Director: Paul Verhoeven. Cast: Isabelle Huppert, Laurent Lafitte, Anne Consigny, Charles Berling, Judith Magre, Virginie Efira, Christian Berkel, Jonas Bloquet, Lucas Prisor, Stéphane Bak, Alice Isaaz, Vimala Pons, Raphaël Lenglet, Arthur Mazet, Hugo Conzelmann, Anne Loiret, Eric Savin, Olivia Gotanègre. Screenplay: David Birke (based on the novel Oh... by Philippe Dijan).

 Twitter Capsule: A combustion engine. Pure bad taste is its fossil fuel, but it's hard to be angry because it produces such unexpected art.

Second Capsule: First, I'm gonna need Verhoeven to remake all his movies with Huppert: Isabelle as Catherine Trammell. As head starship trooper. As RoboCop.

VOR: ⑤  Folks have every reason to harbor divided, even outraged reactions, but this crafty, determined, fearless movie earns and means its provocations.


Photo © 2016 Sony Pictures Classics/SBS Productions/Twenty Twenty Vision
Filmproduktion GmbH/France 2 Cinéma/Entre Chien et Loup

Not yet reviewed in full. Grade: A–

Academy Award Nominations:
Best Actress: Isabelle Huppert

Golden Globe Nominations and Winners:
★Best Actress (Drama): Isabelle Huppert
★Best Foreign Language Film

Other Awards:
Independent Spirit Awards: Best Actress (Huppert)
New York Film Critics Circle: Best Actress (Huppert; also cited for Things to Come)
Los Angeles Film Critics Association: Best Actress (Huppert; also cited for Things to Come)
National Society of Film Critics: Best Actress (Huppert; also cited for Things to Come)
Boston Society of Film Critics: Best Actress (Huppert; also cited for Things to Come)
César Awards (French Oscars): Best Picture; Best Actress (Huppert)
Permalink Home 2016 ABC Blog E-Mail