MovieChat Forums > Les bas-fonds (1937) Discussion > Jean Renoir - Genuine Bull_hit

Jean Renoir - Genuine Bull_hit


I saw the movie hailed by critics as "The Best Movie Ever Made" i.e. La Règle du Jeu...Over the years, since Renoir re-released the movie in the 50s, there have been many attempts to, I won't say copy, relive the feudal ambience portrayed in this movie...Remains of the Day, Gosford Park etc. etc. but that really doesn't qualify La Règle du Jeu as the greatest movie ever made...its not even a great movie...quite ordinary in fact...I do speak French fluently and I have seen the orignal version and its as banal as at gets...nothing against French movies or continental cinema in particualr....I love Luis Bunuel's surreals...Truffat, Chabrol and Rhomer are all excellent moviemakers but this gross overappreciation and overrating of Renoir and La Règle du Jeu enrages me...

Same is the case with Toni and Les Bas Fonds...Banality to the hilt...nothing extra ordinary at all...in fact nothing at all...perhaps they have been copying his style in France for so long now that the original thing has become out-dated and perhaps this is the reason for which the American/British (Anglophones) become fascinated more by the novelty of his movies than the fact that the movie or direction as such are extraordinary or astounding...

Renoir has never failed to disappoint me...Perhaps Francophones should not watch his movies because they are prone to fathom the superfaciality of his content that in turn would render them disgusted...Highly recommended for people who want to add the "Oh so enigmatically and surrealistically classy French Cinema" to their checklists...

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no

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^^ what he said

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Did you even see this film?

You recommend this for people who want enigmatic or surreal? This film is neither. It is almost the opposite. While I only have eight Renoir films, none of them could really be labeled as enigmatic or surreal.

As for superficiality of content...have you ever thought about the possibility that humanity is itself superficial? Martians likely do not ponder the plight of humanity that often. Why would we need to hide in every film? Renoir's films do not try to hide the human in humanity. It shows is for what we are. Other filmmakers do this and I wonder if they do not disappoint you as well.

People have different taste in any art, including film. Since you are a Martian, it is useless for me to argue your points about The Rules of the Game.
Though, after reading your post it seems you have no real familiarity with The Lower Depths.

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I suppose any film would have trouble living up to the hype created by the critics when it comes to Renoir's The Rules of The Game. It never really amazed me as much as it was supposed to. Guess I didn't respond to it in the same way as the people who rated it so highly on the acclaimed TSPDT list.

Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose.

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I have found Le Regle du Jeu to be the weakest of the 7 Renoir films I've seen... or perhaps I should just say least appealing. However, just because the near-constant chatter is banal (and mostly annoying), does not make the movie itself so. Now, The Lower Depths, on the other hand... quite beyond the expectations I had for it - quirky, witty, unpredictable and sort of anarchic. Manages to be both funny and, ultimately, oddly poignant as the undercurrent of seriousness at last materializes towards by end of affairs. Much enjoyable.



"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

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Enigmatic? Surrealist? Superficial? Huh?

And you seem to be under the impression that people who understand French don't like Renoir. That's, as you so eloquently put it, "Genuine Bull_hit." You're of course perfectly entitled to your opinion of his work, but don't try to project that opinion onto everyone else.

In my book, Renoir is one of the most poetic and humane of filmmakers. His style isn't as flashy as many other beloved filmmakers, but I absolutely love the warmth and compassion that most of his films exude. Sometimes I'm inclined to think of him as the greatest filmmaker of all time. You're free to disagree with that.

With that said, I actually would agree that The Rules of the Game is a bit of a let down - Renoir made many better films before and after.

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