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| Isabelle Huppert stars in Elle |
Tit for Tat
Rotten Tomatoes Plot: Michèle (Isabelle Huppert) seems indestructible. Head of a successful video game company, she brings the same ruthless attitude to her love life as to business. Being attacked in her home by an unknown assailant changes Michèle's life forever. When she resolutely tracks the man down, they are both drawn into a curious and thrilling game - a game that may, at any moment, spiral out of control. Directed by Paul Verhoeven.
Verhoeven's Elle isn't an easy film to review. It's shot well, and features a sophisticated, spunky performance from Huppert, but takes a surprisingly nonchalant attitude towards (something as serious as) rape. I can live with Michèle's initial reaction to the first rape (yep, there's more than one) but it's quickly excused, along with several other odd circumstances throughout the movie (just wait till you meet her son and his girlfriend.) Michèle's response? "I guess we roll the dice." Sounds like something the daughter of a serial killer would say (don't ask.) Worth watching for Huppert (alone) but not much else.
Grade: C+
