For starters, try getting your hands on any of his previous films in the UK.
If youve tried already, youll know what I mean.
If you havent, dont bother.
His new film,Enter The Void, is just as challenging, though not as challenging to see.
(More on that later.)
BecauseEnter The Voidis part incredible piece of filmmaking, part gruelling test of stamina.
Not such a surprise, coming from the man who madeIrreversible.
And no ones expecting Noe to make a heart-warming family drama.
Although follows may not be the right word.
For the first half hour,Voidis shot entirely as subjective point-of-view from Oscar as he trawls the streets.
Or one that follows a path laid down by others.
Noe isnt one to follow convention, however.
And after that bravura opening, Noe still refuses to give us a linear story.
Its dizzying, but also uncomfortably jarring.
And while that can make for a tough watch, it makes for an occasionally thrilling one too.
Theres a Kubrickian confidence to Noes filmmaking style, and more than a passing resemblance toA Clockwork Orange.
Its a vibrant, electric dream for the first hour, a neon-tinged nightmare for the second.
Theres a void that doesnt get filled (deliberate, perhaps?
As such, the last thirty minutes are hard work.
Theyre likeRequiem For A Dreams downward spiral made even more harrowing.
But that, you suspect, is partly his intention.
Enter The Voidis a film youll love or hate, or loveandhate.
Its incredible, exhausting, frustrating, unforgettable, bewildering and indulgent in equal measure.
One thing it is guaranteed to do is provoke a reaction.
And thats got to be a good thing, hasnt it?
Rating:
3 out of 5
