By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Gaspar Noé
Starring: Claude-Emmanuelle | Gajan-Maull | Kiddy Smile | Romain Guillermic | Sofia Boutella | Souheila Yacoub
Country: belgium, france
Year: 2019
Running time: 97
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8359848/reference
Brett says: “CLIMAX is the sensory blasts of horror from Edgar Allan Poe copulating with the maniacal and unrelenting beats of modern dance and music. Just when you think Gaspar Noé surely can’t do it again, you experience the mind trip of CLIMAX that comes at you like some sort of terrorized version of the Magical Mystery Tour..
“Toss any notion of traditional narrative out the window; although, once you’re able to embrace the absence of the norm in terms of plot, you’ll find enough pieces to start putting at least parts of this techno-laced jigsaw puzzle together. And if your viewing neighbor is able to forget that traditional notion as well, he/she too will find his/her own connecting pieces, except you might find what the two of you put together is not the same. The hyper-artistry that takes viewers to outer edges of what narrative cinema can do makes this a piece well worth discussing with anyone able to endure the persistent pulsating thumps of both the music and the artistic extremes that co-exist in this film.
“When a large cast of unique and diverse dancers are recruited for what appears to be an isolated and—at the very least—questionable dance academy, the amalgamation of this motley crew produces breathtaking art all the while illuminated by the sensational camerawork of Noé. The group combines for an act at a rehearsal with roaring applause-worthy results, but in the aftermath, what seems to be a casual sangria social soon shifts into chaos. There are words such as psychedelic, unconventional, and mind-bending that can only begin to summarize the film-going experience of CLIMAX. What unfolds for this group of dancers is all in this beyond-words experience itself.
“I’m a firm believer in the fact that great films are better when the less one knows going into them, the better. This work seems to be no exception to that general rule, as the simultaneous euphoric and dysphoric imagery and film-making transforms, deforms, and reforms over the course of this 90-minute thrill ride.
“Despite the avant-garde nature of the experience, each of the characters still resonates and stands out in his/her own unique personas hours after the conclusion. While some will find 15, possibly 20, minutes enough to fully test their patience, I found myself eager to hear more, see more, and feel more even after the ever persistent mind-screw was over.
“When looking at work like this, it is unfair to stack it up against the likes of narrative powerhouses that have stood the test of time. It is best measured in what it is actually trying to pull off and how well it manages to do just that. As such, this will long be a film that stands out as confident, bold, and relentless in what it is, even if that definition of what it is isn’t as clearly defined as narrative standard-bearers that have preceded it. Equal parts horror, musical, mystery, and experimental, CLIMAX offers just that: a mental climax in the film sensory experience. While it won’t stand out as Noé’s most graphic or most controversial film, it might just grab hold of the title as his best, or at least among his best. 5 cats
“Recommended for viewers who want to experience something beyond any semblance of traditional narrative
“Recommended for viewers who wish to escape boundaries of the usual social mores in film or otherwise
“Recommended for viewers who appreciate innovative camera techniques and extremely long takes. ”
Julie says: “1 cat for plot/story/ and most of the movie….. 5 cats for opening dance scene in particular ( choreography, dancers, camera work and lighting) and other good dancing in first part pf movie…… 3 cats for putting the closing credits at the beginning of the movie and opening credits in the middle (because it is a French movie and the makers are proud of that!)
“I won’t say much more, but if you can get through this entire movie (which I painfully did once it went downhill), and then read some analysis on reddit etc, then (and only then) watch the making of it last on the netflix dvd and you will not be able to not laugh loudly out loud !!!! I promise you!!!!
“I feel that you can watch the beginning, when it starts getting bad you could pretty much just fast forward to the end and you won’t miss much in my opinion other than how ridiculous it gets….but I guess you have to watch to fully to appreciate what I am saying! 3 cats overall
“here is one review that does not ruin anything and aligns with my opinion – https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueFilm/comments/9hen0p/gaspar_no%C3%A9s_climax_left_me_frustrated/
“Read these two after the movie but before you watch the making of on the dvd – or ask me about that someday at the noms or awards if you did not see it on dvd.
https://www.reddit.com/r/LSD/comments/ay45bc/just_saw_climax_oh_boy_rating_410/
https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/awo247/is_climax_2018_a_metaphor_for_america/”
Chris says: “I don’t think I ever posted my review, but I am in agreement with you Julie: