Elle - Official Movie Review

Elle starring Isabelle Huppert, Laurent Lafitte, Anne Consigny is reviewed by Alonso Duralde (TheWrap and Linoleum Knife podcast), Matt Atchity (www.RottenTomatoes.com), and Christy Lemire (www.ChristyLemire.com).
Read what other critics had to say: www.rottentomatoes.com/m/elle...
Michèle 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.
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[@ZeppelinBigFan]

Definitely the funniest film I've seen that has started with a woman getting raped. Paul Verhoeven has to be at least somewhat crazy, but he's a very good filmmaker, and Isabelle Huppert might well be the best actor working today.

[@akgaafar7291]

*actress

[@fong03]

Actor is also correct because the term can be gender neutral. In fact some style guides (The Observer and The Guardian) call for the use of actor when referring to male or female actors.

[@ZeppelinBigFan]

Also, I didn't mean that she's the best "actress" working today. Can't really think of many male actors who are better at the moment.

[@cemtanatas9469]

Ellе full mоviе herе => twitter.com/0b6c4732adf184761/status/792184495453548544 Ellе Оfficciаl Mоviе Rеviеw

[@oisinfriel7962]

Тhis mооoviе is now avаilaаaablе tо waаatсh hеre => twitter.com/aa7e494b3f8ea36e3/status/822759911859765251 Еlle ОOОfficcсciаaal Mоviе Rеviеw

[@adagiobreeze8493]

This movie would have tanked if it were an american production with American actors

[@Stonehengoo]

but american producers refused to do it bec it was too much for them.

[@brajeshsingh2391]

actually I was thinking the same. even if USA is a very liberal country and is open minded to do this kind of film which has so many physical transgressions would require courage in Hollywood. And in a politically correct time this was next to impossible.

[@AngeAlexiel]

great movie, love every verhoeven movie and i love a lot of foreign actors. Isabelle Hupert is one of the best .

[@ambientmusic8401]

Hollywood missed their chance to work with the brilliant Paul Verhoeven.!!

[@frenchyontravel]

Yes big time. Many US actresses have refused the role then I guess it was too unethical script. Pity, when you know what Trump claimed years ago in a locker room talk. Or that might explain its success at the last GG.

[@El_oh7199]

Paul Verhoeven's films are almost always trashy, but I love a good Isabelle Huppert performance. No popular American actress could get away with being as unlikeable as the characters she portrays

[@cnote3598]

Thanks for not reviewing a film and giving a lot of it away Christy.

[@KainErrow]

Have to say that I am glad to hear both that critics like our Fab 3 are liking this (Ben who?), but also that they ENJOY discussing it. It feels to me like it's been awhile since we've had a good film from Paul Verhoeven that both critics and audiences liked and aadmired, so I'm looking forward to watching this. Just not sure if I want to see this in the same week as _'Nocturnal Animals.'_

[@ZeppelinBigFan]

Part of the reason why I really liked this film is that it's so willing to provoke and leave the audience wanting to discuss it.

[@Dancerama6]

I just watched this and wow. Emma Stone needs to mail her Oscar to France pronto.

[@2nd3rd1st]

1:05 Al? As in Bundy?

[@amphitheatre]

when is wide release?! really want to see this.

[@BIGTENFanatic]

rss313 probably never :(

[@psycane8462]

It's already available for a physical copy on Amazon, that's how I'm getting it ;)

[@gregoryfilms9405]

Beard face should let the lady speak, he can't resist butting in. Kind of misses the point of the film.

[@27fevilien]

the best part is the delevery room 😊😊😂😂😂😂😋

[@MIchelle4reel]

Alain Brice lie detector test said that's a lie 😂

[@SENATORPAIN1]

was that kid yours?

[@harrietbond3595]

second best part is the ashes!

[@Onmysheet]

How do you pronounce Elle? Is it the standard Elly or L?

[@hongquiao]

L

[@Onmysheet]

hongquiao Thanks

[@raymondterry1937]

Black Book (Zwartboek), yes!!!

[@Stonehengoo]

I watched it yesterday. She should get the Oscar!

[@therealloose]

Matt looks GREAT! Wow. That's some inspirational shit!

[@Randilz1970]

I wish he would tell how he did it and how long it took him

[@1945melva]

She is beautiful and talented. I love her!

[@marysanchez2981]

so it's kinda like Terminator but French

[@temshasanaie2478]

Great movie, I didn't expect it to be as good as it was.

[@ultramage1]

this shit was soooo fucking weird....definitely leaves you with more questions than answers, especially that last act

[@su5119]

Does she ever breathe and stop talking? I enjoy the New Yorker's reviews. To the point and less "excess".

[@alexconn6149]

Matt looks weird clean shaven

[@SENATORPAIN1]

activision would never publish the game they develop in this movie.

[@jacobmorales323]

You guys give out spoilers like nothing! Jesus not what I wanted

[@habbogigi]

you guys NEED to start doing spoiler reviews.

[@bursty2464]

Yeah, funny.

[@thePANDEMlC]

Quite a different movie than I ever expected. Not at all what I wanted though and told in a way that I don't feel did the core idea justice. Unlikable characters, predictable reveals and an overall mediocre slog. Sure things happen you don't predict, but nothing is really shocking, I was never invested in anyone or cared about anyone to make the surprises interesting. A simple concept I feel applies to most things, if the characters don't care, why should I? And the character's in this, really really don't fucking care.

[@habbogigi]

I don't think the twists were really the 'point' of the movie. It's more of a journey.

[@CarSVernon]

i feel like it's marketed very differently than what it turns out to be, to its detriment.

[@MrChomskyist]

+dopeskies

[@emillion4470]

You can't fault Huppert's great performance - it's unimpeachable. BUT... The film is engaging and engrossing but ultimately unconvincing. I get it, it IS a movie and not a documentary. A male fantasy of a very real, violent and deeply consequential event in a woman's life. Yet, as a cinematic fantasy, the character goes about her glamorous life looking outwardly unscathed from repeated violations to her body with minimal bruising, swelling, contusions- looking perfectly coifed, styled and fabulously fit. Look everyone, rape/sadomasochism is just another "lifestyle choice" for the modern woman with little physical consequence. She can take it. She's a superhero! ( Ghurl...just don't crash your car into a tree). Paul Verhoeven has always been a fetishist of the female body and sexuality on screen. For all the talk of female empowerment and agency surrounding "Elle", Its intentions are insidiously cruel and suspect - glossy exploitation flick - with subtitles!....Just right for the Starbucks crowd.

[@lafrikone]

I liked it in a so bad it's good way. Most of the acting was terrible and the video game scenes were all but believable. Still enjoyed the ride.

[@ALCH2112]

I just saw it today- I'm a guy and I thought it was kind of demeaning to women...what woman in her right mind(unless she was pretty crazy) would've responded to being raped like she did?? Very unrealistic- regardless of the culture its depicted in..seems like the writer and/or director was looking for "shocking" publicity..

[@joshuam.desouza3036]

I think it has a lot to do with what happened to her in the past. Her mind is already fucked up bc she kinda saw what her dad did. It damaged her morality. I think the Director took a psychological approach. People that have been through traumatic events tend to React differently than other people. I disagree with Being demeaning. At the end she got what she wanted.

[@tubinho79]

"At the end she got what she wanted." Definitely...when she says "Nutjobs are my specialty", it was obvious that we were seeing someone uncommon - that she was going to deal with him in her own way.

[@JE-yre]

me1522 She's a psychopath. Many signs show that

[@harrietbond3595]

100 percent, and she must have always been that way. This was pretty good film I thought!

[@giorgiamichelin6817]

Yes, it's not realistic, and it doesn't need to be. It's a movie that goes for a symbolic choice

[@USA-qm2bk]

Wow they bring up trump in the first three mins #tds

[@talkingeclectic4540]

I know I am in the minority here but I morally detested the film and I found the reveal utterly predictable. It wasn't the message of the film but how they tried to tell it as morally irreprehensible.

[@moonshinesublime]

Written by three men. Ugh.

[@PhantasmagoricSplend]

This movie was the emotional equivalent of setting kittens on fire. It's awful. Also I predicted every second of it.

[@janfranszuidema8512]

Sounds great!

[@harrietbond3595]

I liked this film a lot. The character she plays IMO is a psychopath, hence her unusual responses. She even says this about herself.

[@qqrk1372]

Just for the sake of the TRUTH... Trump did NOT brag about grabbing women. He was explaining how a celebrity could get away with doing things because he is a celebrity. Unfortunately, he used an EXTREMELY distasteful hyperbole. Whether you like him or not is irrelevant to what was actually said and done.

[@jonathangreen3712]

This is crap, pal. There was a huge element of egotism in what trump said and how he said it. It was "This is what I, the great trump, can get away with because they're so bedazzled by my incredible celebrity wonderfulness."

[@qqrk1372]

Jonathan Green A) I'm NOT your "pal" and don't appreciate that CONDESCENDING tone. B) Trump did NOT say that HE was the ONLY one that could get away with it. He was making a statement about how women can be awestruck by celebrity and male celebs (INCLUDING TRUMP) can get away with such behavior.

[@ZombieWerePrechaunPire]

Yes he was bragging about his status. Yes he was bragging about how much women loves him. Was he admitting sexual assault? Absolutely not. He used the most extreme example of what he can get away with. He was being a pig but he joked around with another bloke in private.

[@iamthewizardwhoknocks2845]

tio borracho exactly, he was actually incredulous that women would demean themselves because of celebrity, but anti Trumpers interprete in the worst way possible.

[@Avioto]

One of the most overhyped movies ever. Notice how the reviewers barely even touch on the story, that's because it's laughably bad, just like most of the characters. Also has an awful portrayal of videogames and the business in general. Stay far away from this.

[@Jon-br2db]

most disgusting meaningless movie i have ever seen...waste of time!

[@zolibako4816]

I just wanted to hear the review of a film I liked. Then Christy started the Trump talk. No thank you.

[@JAContes]

This looks good, but I will never watch it because of my hatred of the French language.

[@nostalgicbliss5547]

Lol

[@Derl30]

Agreed.

[@TheSpiritOfTheTimes]

Shame, French is beautiful.

[@Derl30]

I'm just kidding.

[@Stonehengoo]

French is so beautiful. what are you talking about?

[@SENATORPAIN1]

awful awful movie.

[@LatinMatrixCrew]

I can't believe Kristy went political with her comments. This alone gives me a reason not to subscribe...