The saturated colors and incredible cinematography make this beautiful to look at and the soundtrack is rather mesmerizing. It's filled with many stars too (ranging from Bridget Bardot to Jack Palance to the legendary director Fritz Lang). However, the story itself doesn't seem to ever delve deeper than "I don't love you" "Why don't you love me?" "Because I don't"
Pretentious, but not off-putting; Boring, but overall beautiful. More style than substance. Who was it that said the subtleties of film almost always go unnoticed? I can't remember, but it's something Godard should probably take to heart. This is only my second Godard film, after Vivra sa vie (to which I caught a not-so-subtle reference), but I liked that one much more... this one I give a 5/10.
Despite my hate/hate relationship with Jean-Luc Godard, I keep being drawn to his films' synopses. I generally like meta and conceptual film-making, but have real trouble with his execution of those concepts. Le mépris (Contempt) is the first one I feel capable of giving a positive review to. It's a good-looking film! And not just because Brigitte Bardot is in various states of undress. It's well-composed, the Italian locations are beautiful, and Godard represents the growing distance between Bardot and her husband (Michel Piccoli) architecturally in the frame. Sadly, from a technical stand-point, the sound is all over the place, with many conversations recorded in echo chambers, then smothered in loud score. Same old Jean-Luc. But despite some pretentious philosophical dialog, the performances are very naturalistic, and the leads are well-supported by Jack Palance as a slimy American film producer and iconic director Fritz Lang as himself. The latter two are trying to adapt The Odyssey to the big screen and have come to blows, so Piccoli is brought in for a rewrite, his wife seems to be a sweetener for Palance, and she's not too happy about it. Much of the discussion around The Odyssey relates to the couple, though I absolutely don't buy into the men's misogynistic hot takes about Ulysses and Penelope's relationship. The rift that develops means to mirror the distance between the Greek hero and Ithaca. An anti-filmmaker to the end, the last few minutes are as unforgivable as they are inexplicable, but I still came out of this appreciating the visuals, the ambiguity, the metaphorical grounding, and the satirical look at Hollywood.
Poetic masterpiece! Fritz Lang as himself is fantastic. Brigitte Bardot is amazing, some incredible scenes.. Many great references are presented throughout the film.
I was very disappointed. I admit the message is good, and to see Fritz Lang in Godard's movie is cool. But the scene in the house was too long, the lovestory was boring and seriously Brigitte Bardot is the worst actress ever...
All the movie-making parts were boring fluff. But the relationship scenes between the main married couple was fascinating. It portrayed a typical dysfunctional relationship between two adults struggling with their own emotions while trying to hold onto a little happiness they've found with someone else.
Add your comment
Comments 1 - 15 of 15
Dolwphin
In the lead role, Brigitte Bardot's ass. Brilliant casting.Brantastic16
The saturated colors and incredible cinematography make this beautiful to look at and the soundtrack is rather mesmerizing. It's filled with many stars too (ranging from Bridget Bardot to Jack Palance to the legendary director Fritz Lang). However, the story itself doesn't seem to ever delve deeper than "I don't love you" "Why don't you love me?" "Because I don't"Jumping Elephant
Pretentious, but not off-putting; Boring, but overall beautiful. More style than substance. Who was it that said the subtleties of film almost always go unnoticed? I can't remember, but it's something Godard should probably take to heart. This is only my second Godard film, after Vivra sa vie (to which I caught a not-so-subtle reference), but I liked that one much more... this one I give a 5/10.Siskoid
Despite my hate/hate relationship with Jean-Luc Godard, I keep being drawn to his films' synopses. I generally like meta and conceptual film-making, but have real trouble with his execution of those concepts. Le mépris (Contempt) is the first one I feel capable of giving a positive review to. It's a good-looking film! And not just because Brigitte Bardot is in various states of undress. It's well-composed, the Italian locations are beautiful, and Godard represents the growing distance between Bardot and her husband (Michel Piccoli) architecturally in the frame. Sadly, from a technical stand-point, the sound is all over the place, with many conversations recorded in echo chambers, then smothered in loud score. Same old Jean-Luc. But despite some pretentious philosophical dialog, the performances are very naturalistic, and the leads are well-supported by Jack Palance as a slimy American film producer and iconic director Fritz Lang as himself. The latter two are trying to adapt The Odyssey to the big screen and have come to blows, so Piccoli is brought in for a rewrite, his wife seems to be a sweetener for Palance, and she's not too happy about it. Much of the discussion around The Odyssey relates to the couple, though I absolutely don't buy into the men's misogynistic hot takes about Ulysses and Penelope's relationship. The rift that develops means to mirror the distance between the Greek hero and Ithaca. An anti-filmmaker to the end, the last few minutes are as unforgivable as they are inexplicable, but I still came out of this appreciating the visuals, the ambiguity, the metaphorical grounding, and the satirical look at Hollywood.Dieguito
Poetic masterpiece! Fritz Lang as himself is fantastic. Brigitte Bardot is amazing, some incredible scenes.. Many great references are presented throughout the film.Thanh
I was very disappointed. I admit the message is good, and to see Fritz Lang in Godard's movie is cool. But the scene in the house was too long, the lovestory was boring and seriously Brigitte Bardot is the worst actress ever...SpatulaCity
I honestly don't know what critics see in this that I couldn't. Might just be the highest ranked "canon" film I dislike.SpacePauls
That beach house was pretty pimp.greenhorg
I guess the gender-reversed equivalent of this movie is if your girlfriend left you alone for a half-hour with Brigitte Bardot.WHERE DID ALL THE LOVE GO?
WilliamBravin
Ah wow - what a masterpiece.Ivan0716
That themegeorge4mon
bored me to death.krtek
One of the best movies I've ever seenClassicLady
All the movie-making parts were boring fluff. But the relationship scenes between the main married couple was fascinating. It portrayed a typical dysfunctional relationship between two adults struggling with their own emotions while trying to hold onto a little happiness they've found with someone else.fricken
Agree with george4mon!