Qn: What are your favorite Isabelle Huppert films?

[trevor826]

So I assume you won't be purchasing "Ma Mere" Sara, from your reaction I'd love to see you write a review.

Cheers Trev.

[Sara]

No review from me, trevor. The sooner I forget Ma Mere the better.

In fact I have The Time of the Wolf now from Netflix, and I am considering just sending it back and waiting a bit before I watch it.

As much as I love Isabelle Huppert, I think I need to get her out of my head for a while.

Sara

[trevor826]

Well if nothing else, her performance must have been convincing.

I'm sure (certainly judging from arsaib4's recent reviews) that she'll soon be back in your good books.

Cheers Trev.

[Sara]

Well, yes, trevor. She certainly was convincing. I guess that means she is truly a great actress - and I believe she is. She was very convincing.

I just can't get her character out of my head...

And I am not a prude.

Incidentally, I did mail The Hour of the Wolf back to Netflix today. I needed some space.

Sara

[mcdan]

Re: Ma Mere

I always seem to love IH films but this one seems to have recieved bad reviews and I am not sure I want to waste my time.

I rented "Bas Moi" (spelling?) - that was a year ago and I still feel sick. (And note I loved American Psycho- so not in the prude mode .) This has nothing to do with IH - I am just asking if it is perhaps in the same genre as "B.M."

Each time I slip on any of my Italian 4 inch heels I do think of "Bas Moi" and feel a touch queasy.

Is it La Mere in that genre? I'd love a hint before I spend the $. (BTW, Sara I am sure you are not a prude - but I really don't think you would like Bas Moi - I sense you are already looking to rent it as I write. Two words- Do not!)

[Sara]

Hmmm. I'll have to look this one up.

Sara

[A]

For me Baise-moi was a very disturbing film, when I first saw it at its release in Londonat the theater . I didn't know what exactly to make of it, but since then it has become one of my favorites.Last time I saw it, it still seemed very good to me and worthy of critical reflection. Don't really know why most people hate it so much. Some films just show how ugly our world can be, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

I'd actually like to see La mere now that it's gotten so many bad propaganda ">

[trevor826]

Baise Moi has had such a bad reaction because the sex scenes are full on and filmed in the style of a porno film plus of course the gun shot (which has been cut from the UK dvd release) didn't exactly help its cause. It's just seen as exploitive re: the sex and violence.

No matter how bad Ma Mere is I can't imagine it hits the same level, I can't see Isabel Huppert doing scenes that would be more appropriate in a hardcore porn film.

Cheers Trev.

[A]

Since the last timeI posted on this thread, I've seen many more films with Miss Huppert, and all the recommendations made on the previous pages were totally worth it! What a great actress! Since she celebrated her 55th birthday this month, why not renew our appreciation of her work?

I've looked up her filmography at Imdb and here's what I've seen (listed chronologically following Imdb's dates of release):

La dentellière The Lacemaker (1977 / Claude Goretta) - Excellent film, great performance
Loulou (1980 / Maurice Pialat) - A masterpiece. Great performance by Huppert.
Sauve qui peut (la vie) Slow Motion (1980 / Jean-Luc Godard) - One of my favorite Godard films. Good performance
Heaven's Gate (1980 / Michael Cimino) - A classic. Convincing English language performance
The Bedroom Window (1986 / Curtis Hanson) - I don't remember much from this film anymore... too long ago
La séparation The Separation (1994 / Christian Vincent) - Like Sara said, an underrated film with excellent performances
Rien ne va plus The Swindle (1997 / Claude Chabrol) - Delightful performance, in a delightful film
Saint-Cyr The King's Daughters (2000 / Patricia Mazuy) - Very interesting film with a convincing Huppert in a supporting role
La pianiste The Paino Player (2001 / Michael Haneke) - Great film with an outstanding performance
8 femmes 8 Women (2002 / Francois Ozon) - A lot of fun, with Huppert playing a great parody of her image as a "serious" actress
Deux Two (2002 / Werner Schroeter) - Way over the top (film and performance), I couldn't make much of this. Need to see it again
Le temps du loup The Time of the Wolf (2003 / Michael Haneke) - Good film with an intense performance, which I should also revisit

Seems like I've still seen only a small part of her work in movies, so I will probably appreciate the beautiful and mysterious Isabelle even more in the future.

[arsaib4]

Looking forward to watching her in Claire Denis' upcoming White Material.