Irreversible

I was it was make clearer that this disc isn’t in the ntsc format.

Not for weak stomachs, but very powerful picture. I watched the most recent update at the theater which puts the movie scenes in chronological order. Amazing what pops out from the contrast!

Of course I cannot say, and would never say that I 'loved' the tragedy portrayed. What I loved about this film foremost are the intellectual, artistic, and emotional courage of Noe and of all of the actors in creating a look at the human story, horrible as this one is. My emotions were hijacked from the first moments, of course, and I felt terrified, helpless, dismayed and aghast at what was unfolding --- or I should say what had unfolded. The experience was a terrific challenge for me personally, but as a writer myself, I had to stay with it and not look away or find a reason to disembark.(I have to confess, though, that as a screenwriter, I couldn't completely stop thinking "how (or why) did he choose to do that?" This is a reaction I have given up trying to block or battle. I'll never lose myself in a film the way I did before I wrote my first script. I'm amazed, though not surprised, to learn that the shooting script was three pages long!)The human story --- not only the violent part of it --- is what seized me, and that is really why the film is a success. I loved the trio of young, impulsive, affectionate people, unaware of what was bearing down on them. I certainly don't judge them for leading a "shallow" life, as some have. They are born into this life and trying to make the most of it. The bitter truth at the center of this film is that the arrow of time in our physical universe commands, without any possiblity of appeal, that we must forever live in ignorance of the future. We cannot foresee the looming consequences --- moments away --- of an often minor decision: a turn left or right; a look or a failure to look; the microscopic flaw deep in the machinery of the aircraft, and so forth. We can only transcend the laws of physics through art. (I am not a believer in the supernatural in any way.)This film reveals the story of these particular three people, but countless events are happening at every moment, to us and to everyone else, and always have, and always will. So the beauty of this film is Noe's ability to narrow on one tragic story among the infinite many, and then expand it to bring us within, so powerfully and grippingly that we can barely endure it.The vertigo effects I stuck with as well; to me, they represent Noe's efforts to destroy any illusion that we are in control of our fates: that our own perception is the actuality, the reality. The sickness, physical nausea and mental disorientation are the effect on us of that truth. How powerless we are to interrupt or control or change reality. We are on the ride, like it or not. We can walk out of the theater, we can be furious; we can dismiss and disparage, but reality doesn't care. It spins away and away and away.Irreversible intensified my deep sadness at how every living thing uniquely suffers its fate. I don't read or see films for entertainment, although I am usually vastly entertained, and I love humor and satire, which keep me happy and as sane, as I will ever be. But I'm inspired and also envious of this work. I thank the actors and everyone who dedicated themselves to it.

Yes, Irreversible is a monster of a movie, brutal and sickening in all the worst ways. It's also a magnificent piece of storytelling, a finely crafted film and something everyone (who loves film) should see once.I have a question though, regarding the impact scene at the Club. Two major surprises unfold here, firstly that it is gentle, cerebral Pierre and not raging, coke-fuelled Marcus that commits the murder (one of the most horribly realistic murder scenes I've ever seen, and so long, it gets to the point where you want the guy to just die already and let it be over) and secondly that 'The Tapeworm' is not the man killed, but his colleague/friend. (The scene of Tapeworm looking down on the dead body and smiling was a knife to the heart (at least it will be the second time you watch the movie and realise he escaped))I wonder, though, if the movie had been played scene for scene normally, from true beginning to true end, what the impact of these two "twists" would have been. Playing the movie backwards, you just don't get it. You don't know Pierre's character yet. You don't know what the rapist looks like. Hmmmm....Although working in reverse does have it's benefits. The scene with Marcus and Alex waking up to the telephone in particular, where Alex has had a dream of a long, red tunnel (the underpass) and Marcus can't feel his arm (the one that get's so disgustingly snapped in the club)And of course, the first scene (aka the last scene) of Alex in her summer dress laying in the park with the kids playing on a gorgeous sunny day, it wouldn't mean anything if the movie played forwards, I guess. Same with the party scene. It hits harder backwards.I also have to mention the soundtrack - the music is alright, but it's the throbbing, repeated blows to the head of the ambient noise that makes the movies sound. Especially the noise in the club. Just a horrible experience, especially with the camera all tilt-a-whirl and out of control, just showing (very explicit!) glimpses of the depravity that is going on.On the DVD, the extras are slim but interesting. One guy breaks down how they did the special effects (and trust me, it does make the murder scene a little easier to take) and the digital penis is just...funny weird. I think the best part of the extras are the original French teasers. One of them is simply Alex's view as she is being raped, you can't get more simple or effective than that.Oh yeah - the DVD says it has deleted scenes, but I couldn't find any....???

Picture quality not good, the bumpiness of the camera gave me a sore head but it's hard to understand it's going to have to be a twice watch film to 'get it' ending was bizzare as the wrong man arrested and no outcome what happened to his fiancé did she die?live? What about the baby? So many things not understood

This is the Frankensteins monster of cinema in my opinion. The first time I saw this film I sat with my mouth open (and tears) til the credits ran, not sure whether to have a whiskey or a cleansing shower. For anyone who doesn't know, it features some truly terrible on screen violence which is what helped to create it's reputation but is more crucially the epicentre of the films theme. This story, is a grotesque and yet deeply moving portrayal of the fact that violence begets violence. Shot in reverse, the film starts at the end with a grisly comeuppance being metered out to an unknown character in an ultra violent attack. As the story unfolds, revealing relationships and hearts disintegrated by tragedy, the random events and choices made are magnified to a quietly horrific completion. One of those movies you can't unwatch and will not likely view a second time, but will raise your eyebrows to and note mentally as a game changer in revenge thrillers.

Dark but really human flick. Absolutely stunning in it's outcome. The way how Noe puts his actors perform is disturbing and yet most human way to act. I can recommend this film to all the people who have seen the darker side of life and want to understand more about human condition in the era of narcissism and abuse.

Hyped up, tedious and mediocre film. Only very marginally better than Climax and Love.

Decent film but some realy hard bits to watch!