What a piece of garbage! - Femme Fatale (2002) Discussion

[–] illusionoffreewill 19 years ago

This is one of the worst movies I have ever seen, perhaps the worst. I saw it on video and I felt robbed on my two hours. Words cannot express how utterly appalling every moment of this film was, so...aaaaaarrrrrrggggghhhhh!

reply

[–] ecidnac 18 years ago

Yes, absolutely. I second that aaarrrggghhh!

I watched it on television around 3 am because I had nothing better to do. I think I would rather have plucked each hair from my legs and arms, one at a time...

As far as the worst films of all time, well, I haven't seen that many blatantly horrible films, but this one would rank somewhere up there with "Birth."

"You don't so much speak the language as chew it up and spit it out!"

reply

[–] o9 18 years ago

"As far as the worst films of all time, well, I haven't seen that many blatantly horrible films, but this one would rank somewhere up there with "Birth.""

I agree about both movies.

That's pretty pathetic.

reply

[–] AssetsonFire 15 years ago

So weird! I watched both of these films last night, and both I gave a 7/10; flawed films with much going for them.

I know you are, you said you are, but what am I?

reply

[–] swamp_fox 19 years ago

Damn straight, I wholeheartedly agree. I watched this movie on HBO a while ago, and not only was it incomprehensible, it was just plain stupid, to say nothing of the horrifying performances.

The choice between doing 10 years, and taking out some stupid motherfu__er, aint no choice at all.

reply

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] illusionoffreewill 19 years ago

Horny teenage boys are notorious for bad judgement.

:)

reply

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] King_Kool 19 years ago

Yeah I'm glad Uma got pregnant too because this was one of DePalma's movies I didnt like too much. All though if Uma were in it she might have made it slightly better but you can only do some much with a flawed story like this. It would have been cool to see Uma having sex with everyone in the movie. (Sorry, just my fantasy)

"So say goodnight to the bad guy." -Tony Montana, Scarface

reply

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] kcla 18 years ago

No doubt the film is stylish, and yes the plotholes are forgivable in this kind of film...but the characters' actions/motivations should still make sense for the characters and their situations. Ex. the scene in the bar where Lily/Lauren gives that guy a lap dance....exactly what was the point of that, how did that further her plan? It's not even consistent with her personality since she's a lesbian. In this kind of film we have to have a character that we can root for amid the glamour shots. Sure they might be 'evil' but we're too impressed by how kickass they are too care...this film didn't provide that. The only reason we're given to root for Laure is apparently that she's hot. She doesn't seem particularly intelligent given the dozens of ways she could have executed her plan better, nor are we shown how charming she supposedly is. The actress's performance isn't bad but it isn't charismatic. The character is basically robotic, even her sexiness is forced. And de palma's script doesn't give her anything to work with. I think that's the main problem with this movie, if the character was likable then we might be happy that she got a second chance. But since she's not we just end up feeling cheated by such an easy cop out for a happy ending...really it was all a dream??? A good plot twist in this kind of film is one where the CHARACTER(writer) seems to outthinks the audience but still sticks within the confines of the original plot (they just saw conections we didn't see); we should be shocked by how the character got away with it but then realize how really simple it was if only we had been paying attention. This whole 'it was a dream' plot doesn't challenge the audience. I'll admit having the model being Laure's girlfriend was a bit shocking but it was overshadowed by the ridiculous it's a dream twist.

reply

[–] RugGuy 13 years ago

I'm replying 5 years after your post of "the scene in the bar where Lily/Lauren gives that guy a lap dance....exactly what was the point of that, how did that further her plan? It's not even consistent with her personality since she's a lesbian."

The point was Lily was going to use the guy's boat to fake her death. She's bi-sexual if that what it takes to meet her goal. She married the billionaire right?

reply

[–] soumise 19 years ago

A fascinating twist???

I'm reminded of my daughter's 8th-grade English teacher who fought the good fight against clichéd writing—and told her students that any story ending "And it was all a dream" would automatically receive an "F".

reply

[–] Mechanical 15 years ago

Haha, I remember being told that at school as well. And it did come to mind when I was watching this, but I dismissed it because I thought it worked quite well.

reply

[–] RugGuy 13 years ago

It's safe to say that Brian De Palma knows more about writing and breaking the rules of writing than your daughter's 8th-grade English teacher.

reply

[–] manusdoudou 19 years ago

Yep ! I totally agree with you... for everything you wrote ! this movie ROCKS

reply

[–] HeySteve 19 years ago

What specifically do you not like about this movie? Cuz I won't take "I don't like seeing Antonio pretending to be gay" as a legit answer. I thought this was a pretty good flick, it's above many other thrillers out there today

reply

[–] Daniel_Feldman 19 years ago

I can see why people wouldn't like it, etc, etc.

In my book, however, this is a stunning film, so well made and elegant that it's pretty ridiculous.

And like that....he's gone.

reply

[–] ScottyScotch2 19 years ago

At first, I thought "Femme Fatale" is a very good ass-kicking flick. Two years later, I watched it on TV with my mother and I realized that this movie is one of the worst movies I've ever seen in my entire life! Rebecca Romijn-Stamos couldn't act well. Antonio Banderas may be a good actor for me, but not this one because looks silly in his role. The storyline is ugly. The script is horrible. The ending is freakin' nonsense. Even the opening credits of "Est-West" is not the same as the actual one! I couldn't stand this bulls__t ever! I hate this film.

Chipul tau si dragostea din tei, mi-amintesc di occhii tai.

reply

[–] Hector_The_Toad 19 years ago

I watched it the other day. It is a very different movie, to say the least. It wasn't an action film because there wasn't enough action, i think it isn't erotic enough to be called an erotic film, there's not enough crime to be a crime film and there wasn't many thrills for it to be called a thriller. So what is it? A bit too unusual a film to be anything real good but it had potential.

reply

[–] waylonwillienchuck 19 years ago

It sure was unusual. That's why I liked it alot. I beleive anything that tries to be artistic AND different, won't appeal to most people. But it will resonate with some. This film did that for me. I appreciated it. I "got" it. If uma was going to play the role that Rebecca R-S did, I'm glad she didn't do it.

reply

[–] Larry-115 19 years ago

Ah, I see. Anyone who finds this incredibly stylish movie to be "a piece of garbage" should stick to Dreamworks cartoons, and similar trash.

reply

[–] alviesinger 19 years ago

incredible stylish? Ah, I see. Maybe you have heard about a little secret thing in filmmaking? It's called: SCRIPT!

reply

[–] Larry-115 19 years ago

incredible stylish?

"Incredible stylish?" Ironic that you would use terrible grammar to invoke ... the power of the script!

In any event, let me explain something to you. Script has about zero to do with a movie being stylish. Do you really not comprehend that?

Watch "My Dinner with Andre." One of the most complex scripts in movie history. Does that make it stylish? Come on, use your head.

reply

[–] alviesinger 19 years ago

yes my master, teach me! Was it hard for you to find a movie like "My dinner with Andre"? I hope not. Yeah, I'm impressed. But one more thing: Style isn't anything in a movie. And the plot of "Femme Fatale" is ridiculous, no matter how great the style of direction from De Palma or your "high above"-explanations are.

Come on or calm down.

reply

[–] MaxiM_ 19 years ago

And i thought kids don't watch such movies and don't pretend to be critics...

reply

[–] Larry-115 19 years ago

Was it hard for you to find a movie like "My dinner with Andre"? I hope not.

Once again, please ... this time making a little more sense? Was it hard for me to find it? No, I just went to the movie theater, and there it was.

Yeah, I'm impressed. But one more thing: Style isn't anything in a movie.

That is one of the most dribblingly cretinous things I have ever read on this board, and that's truly saying something.

And the plot of "Femme Fatale" is ridiculous, no matter how great the style of direction from De Palma

What a middlebrow mindset you have. It's a shame that you seem incapable of enjoying anything in the least bit clever.

Of course it's ridiculous. It's a movie about the way movie stories are told. Are you really so obtuse that you don't realize that Depalma is winking at us the whole time?

or your "high above"-explanations are.

I'm not "high-above" -- it just looks that way from down where you are.

One thing you were right about, though. "What a piece of garbage" does seem the perfect title for a post about your opinions.

reply

[–] alviesinger 19 years ago

This is not a movie about the way movie stories are told. It is just a bad script and DePalma should know better that he isn't a screenplay-writer. Look at his best direction-works and who wrote it: Scarface (Stone), Carlitos Way (Koepp based on a novel) and Untouchables (Mamet). I give him credit, huge credit, for his former films. But since Snake Eyes his movies are getting more and more worse.

I know I can't convience you, but that is my opinion. And now you can write again about my lack of writing skills and my grammar. My English is bad, I know. But I do my best and I hope I can express myself and my, and in your opinion surely lousy, thoughts.

reply

[–] bellnote 19 years ago

Excuse me? "Style isn't anything in a movie" ?!? Hello?

I would love to see the reaction you would get from that statement if you ever had the chance to utter it in the presence of the director of your favorite movie of all time. He or she would undoubtedly laugh in your face - not necessarily out of contempt for the inane concept, but simply because the notion is irrepressibly laughable.

To Ed Wood, style was nothing. I suppose that to most producers of porn, style is nothing. To a filmmaker, style is the glue that holds the story together; it is the essence of the visual narrative. If you don't pay any attention to style, then you seriously undermine (if not totally demolish) the emotional content of the story. I am beginning to suspect that the lack of style in most films nowadays is why they are lauded upon release, hailed at the Oscars, then completely forgotten; two years later, you can buy them for six dollars at Best Buy.

On the other hand, if what you meant was that style by itself doesn't make a movie good, then I would have to agree. But I don't think that is what the other folks were trying to say.

BTW, I have no axe to grind with regard to this particular film; I haven't seen it yet. I read this thread while trying to decide whether to rent it tonight.

Best wishes,

reply

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]