Movies

This is one of the best films I've seen in the last years.Belmonndo and Deneuve shine in their respective roles, he as a naive plantation owner and she as an enigmatic trickster.Words won't do this masterpiece justice,suffice it to say that this is a movie that explores the darker side of love and the pain,humiliation and capacity for self-delusion that go with it, although it's dressed as a film noir. Forget that feeble remake with Jolie and Banderas, see the genuine artticle instead and treat yourselves to some moments of great cinematic beauty.

Usually, when we hear about a Truffaut movie, we think of "The 400 Blows", "The Wild Child", or something similar. "Mississippi Mermaid" is a shocker in that respect. It wasn't a bad movie, but I didn't derive that it was actually trying to say anything. In some sense, it almost seemed like the sort of movie that they just made for fun (Truffaut wouldn't have done that, would he?). It focuses on Reunion resident Louis Mahe (Jean-Paul Belmondo) marrying Julie Roussel (Catherine Deneuve), who may or may not be what she seems.Anyway, it's okay just to watch, but I wouldn't make it my first choice. It's still surprising that Francois Truffaut did this.

If I had to choose one word to describe this movie, the word would have to be "pointless". Part Hitchcock homage and part romantic melodrama, the film takes so many turns that the characters' behavior becomes totally inconsistent and you can never get a handle on them. The film's attempts to say "something meaningful" about blind passion and devotion are hampered by Denevue's cold performance. And on top of all that, it doesn't even LOOK very good. (**)