227 of 1001 Movies: Contempt (1963)

I have to say I was puzzling over how to feel with this movie after it went off. There were moments I thought I didn't like it, and then others where I could see how brilliant it was. For me the biggest setback is the slowness. I just can't help it, movies that border on plot-less leave me a little lackluster. Jean Luc-Godard was one of the most innovative and creative directors of the 60's though. The fact that this is a movie that is a movie within a movie is quite interesting. We're watching a movie about a guy who is writing a movie, whose life plays out as a movie.

Summary: Paul is hired to make a movie that is about Ulysses, but the director, Jeremy wants him to make it more commercial. Jeremy seems to have a thing for Paul's wife, and he invites her to ride with him to his house that he has invited them both to. She insist on riding with Paul, but he wants her to ride with Jeremy. She takes this as an indication she is being used to get a better payment when it comes time to pay Paul, and this puts a huge riff in their relationship.

153 of 1001 Movies: Breathless (1960)

French New Wave! Breathless was Jean Luc-Godard first full length film, and one of the first to embark in the new wave genre in France. There are some good bits, and some boring bits though, and for those who have never heard of jump cuts, particularly in a day where we mostly use digital, the jilted frames will confuse you. What is likable though is all the fashion and some of the eye catching scenes. The characters are very so-so though.

Summary: Michel is a small time criminal who tries to live his life according to the persona of Humphrey Bogart. After getting into a police chase, he ends up shooting a policemen and becoming the subject of a man hunt. He returns to Paris to hide with his American girlfriend, Patricia, who sales the New York Herald Tribune on the streets. He tries to seduce her, and even convince her to runaway to Paris with him, but Patricia's aloof nature resists, and also keeps him in Paris under the weight of his want for her.