Elle

Grade: B+

The French film Elle opens with a break-in followed by a rape, and then things start to get weird from there. Our heroine, played by Best Actress Oscar nominee Isabelle Huppert, is Michele, a divorced 50-something who is the head of a successful video game company. She has been the “other woman” in at least one marriage. Her son’s girlfriend, who treats him pretty badly, is pregnant. Michele has taken an interest in her across the street neighbor, who seems nice enough. And yes, at the beginning of the movie, she is raped by an unwelcome visitor in her apartment.

There are so many layers here. I haven’t even gotten into the subplot involving her elderly father, who is serving life in prison. Elle has a myriad of dark funny moments. Early on, she buys an axe and some pepper spray, but the one and only time we see them used is not on the intended recipient. The identity of the rapist is revealed about 70% of the way in, in a quick unceremonious way, if that gives you an idea of how much is going on here. Director Paul Verhoeven (Basic Instinct, Showgirls, Total Recall, Hollow Man, Robocop) has finally helmed a film that I enjoyed. I always figured he had an interesting project like this in him, given the credits I mentioned above. I was captivated by Elle, and I think you should see it. I want to hear from people who have seen it. It stirred up a surprising amount of anger, toward different characters, at different times, for different reasons. It reminded me of when I was making my way through Breaking Bad, and I’d find myself rooting for different people depending on the episode. Elle is disturbing, fascinating, absorbing, and ever so delightfully messed up.
Grade: B+