Cool News
Here's The U.S. Trailer To HOLY MOTORS!
Nordling here.
So what is HOLY MOTORS about?
I get asked that question every time I talk about Leos Carax's wonderful film. And the fact that people ask it tells me something interesting. For most everyone, narrative is the most important aspect of cinema. They need to know what they are committing to before they sit down to a movie. Everyone does to some extent. I do it. So I understand the need for people to know just how to make HOLY MOTORS fit in that respect. I think people are more risk-averse to movies now more than ever.
It wasn't always thus. For many, the world is just too complicated for them to sit down to something truly unique and explorational; they'd rather just see something so they can escape from the troubles of the day. And that's perfectly acceptable. But true film fans ache for something to challenge them, to show them something they've never seen before, to introduce to them ideas that they had never considered. HOLY MOTORS does all of that.
The movie is actually quite intimidating to me - I have opinions about certain sections of the film and what they mean, but I'm almost embarrassed to say because I might be wrong. It's definitely not a casual film. It demands your attention and thought. But at the same time, it is also a celebration of everything we love about cinema and its true power to take us to places we've never been before. I want to see it again very badly, and I want it to transport me as it did that first time.
So what is HOLY MOTORS about? Stripped down, it's about one man (Denis Lavant, in one of the most amazing performances of the year), many identities, and how those identities fit into the larger scheme is best discovered in the course of the movie. But it's also about just what great cinema can do. It's also a movie that you just have to let happen to you. Simply trying to crack the narrative means you're missing some great stuff.
I realize that most of this sounds like pretentious horseshit, but HOLY MOTORS really isn't. It's a beautiful piece of art that should be experienced, and for me, HOLY MOTORS proves that cinema, pure unfettered cinema, is as relevant as it has ever been. Here's the US trailer:
Readers Talkback
comments powered by Disqus-
+ Expand All
-
this is usually not my kind of film but everyone is raving about it, and i'm due for a mindfuck Thanks!
-
this article has disappeared from the main page, no one knows it's here but me oh, the power, but what do I do with it?
-
Oct. 19, 2012, 7:14 p.m. CST
wow, dunno how long it will last but this article is all mine!
by Anthony Torchia
well, mine and Nordling's, he wrote the blessed thing, I'm just coming along for the ride You have good taste dude, it closely matches mine, so your recommendation has weight, I just need to find someone to see this with
-
and you deleted my other comments! Waaa!
-
thanks for the recommendation, I will likely see it, people are raving about this biscuit
-
now my other comments are back! Help, I am losing my mind! It's gone now, whew! This is so much better ...
-
was that tron 2?
-
Oct. 19, 2012, 7:45 p.m. CST
Any Film that is Endorsed by Vogue magazine is going to be a pretentious, superficial sack of shit!
by D o o d
-
Oct. 19, 2012, 7:48 p.m. CST
Any person that pays to close attention to reviews than the actual trailer is probably a pretentious, superficial sack of shit!
by Squinty CGI Flynn
-
Yeah, this looks obnoxious and pretentious as hell. No thanks.
-
Oct. 19, 2012, 7:55 p.m. CST
I like absurd/crazy/experimental stuff just fine, but nothing in that trailer got me excited
by golden tribw
I was hoping for crazier visuals (a la Jean Pierre Jeunet, as in the Mic-Macs trailer) or just general wackiness but either more bombastic or more polished. Sweet Movie, Into The Void, A Sad Trumpet Ballad, A Woman, a Gun and a Noodle Shop ... now those are far-out movies that really set up an alluring, distinctive look -- and I'm not seeing anything like that here.
-
Oct. 19, 2012, 8:21 p.m. CST
Apparently Denis Lavant is going to be in the AVGN movie
by KEVIN_COSTNERS_RECYCLED_PISS
That would be pretty weird.
-
Oct. 19, 2012, 8:40 p.m. CST
Any talkbacker who uses exclamation points at the end of every single post is going to be a pretentious, superficial sack of shit!
by This_is_the_Zodiac_speaking
-
Oct. 19, 2012, 8:42 p.m. CST
So while this trailer "looks" interesting and critics can't give me any type of definitive plot points,I'll wait for it till it comes on the IFC channel one day.
by Cedric Ford
-
and why does he look so familiar???
-
Oct. 19, 2012, 9:55 p.m. CST
im not even going to pretend I am cerebral enough to understand wtf i just saw in this trailer...so um...yeah.
by gk1
-
Oct. 20, 2012, 12:27 a.m. CST
Just from the trailer, it looks like Leos Carax has a thing for art house and broadway musicals. And is stalking Andy Serkis.
by CodeName
-
Oct. 20, 2012, 12:30 a.m. CST
It was difficult to describe the plot of BRAZIL, and that was a great movie
by Crobran
-
If you have to ask that question, you're missing the point. Kidding ;) I have no idea, but he has ugly feet. Actually, he looks a little like Joe Pantoliano.
-
I saw that in college. Felt like I had a total recall of coming out of my mother's womb. I hope to never watch a movie like that again.
-
When were you in college? I saw that movie a long time ago, much closer to its temporal context, and haven't seen it in a long time. I wonder how it would hold up if I saw it again. I thought it was great back then, though.
-
Saw this in Edinburgh a few weeks back, really enjoyed it. If you can resist the temptation to understand what's going on, and just go with it, it's quite a rewarding trip. Funny too.
-
...Brazil has a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. That's rarified air up there.
-
I'm saying that Brazil worked for me. Sorry for the sarcasm. The part where De Niro shows up, holy moly. That scene was great. Gilliam, in my mind, is the last bastion of experimental filmmakers who made it.
-
Ah - Missed the sarcasm, but sarcasm is always fun. Yeah, it was really strange to see De Niro pop up in the middle of that weirdness, and it made the movie that much more surreal. I remember thinking "Is that really De Niro? What's he doing here?" Sadly, I haven't seen any Gilliam since...probably 12 Monkeys, which was a good film, but Fisher King and Baron Munchausen stuck in my head more. I need to see Imaginarium, since it's on Netflix.
-
That's Denis Lavant playing Merde. If you've seen the anthology film Tokyo!, you'll have seen Leos Carax's short film Merde based all around that character. Lavant's the main character in this and many other Carax films but you may also know him as the homeless dude in the Glazer-directed U.N.K.L.E. music video for Rabbit in Your Headlights. Personally, that 40 minute segment of Tokyo! was my favourite (and by itself, one of my favourite films) and the piece that turned me onto Carax's work. I thought it was a brilliant skewering of xenophobia and hilarious to boot. I went back to watch some of his other films (Lovers on the Bridge and Pola X) and while they are both interesting works (the latter flawed), they're definitely more conventional than this appears. I, for one, am pumped either way though. The most interesting, daring films are often ones that are not easily summed up in a 2 and a half minute tease. It's unfortunate that people have no imagination. Anything that doesn't look like a clear, safe Hollywood narrative is often dismissed as "pretentious". I think what's pretentious are people who can't see past this narrow idea they have of what film should be.
-
Oct. 20, 2012, 1:21 a.m. CST
Brazil-In a dystopian police state a disgruntal employee deals with his interfering mother and pursues the girl of his dreams while handling a mistaken identity death.
by Cedric Ford
-
Do yourself a favor and see "Tideland". Gilliam attempted to make a film about how children will adapt to the horrors in their lives and make things good. He made a very adult film that drives that theme home perfectly, featuring an amazing performance from his lead actress. It was dismissed as a film that puts children in horrible situations and exploites them. The critics missed the point. It is one of his best films. I would put it up against "Brazil" and "The Fisher King" any day. Watch it and tell me I'm wrong.
-
Let me show you Derelicte. It is a fashion, a way of life inspired by the very homeless, the vagrants, the crack whores that make this wonderful city so unique.
-
Thats a beautiful looking film but if it wasnt for the constant quotes from reviewers telling me its awesome I probably would come away from that trailer thinking it looks like a pretentious puddle of piss. The quote from Vogue, the general Frenchness, and some of the cast makes it actually look less like a movie and more like a 90 minute fashionista showreel. The photographer guy orgasming over photographing the green suited guy with one eye.... no. Just no. I'll probably catch it on TV one day but I dont think this films for me.
-
Actually I'm not sure I get a pretentious air from this film. Looks like somebody is just going as mad as they can with the medium of film and there may well be some memorable moments in this. Doesn't sound like there is a coherent plot per se so it would be just a case of going along for the ride. Problem will be that that arty crowd will want to make a big deal of it so you could find yourself liking it for the sheer exuberance of it but having to suffer the fact that pretentious areseholes will find some other ridiculous philiosophical reason to like it.
-
Oct. 20, 2012, 5:59 a.m. CST
I'm surprised they didn't rename it Holy Motors: Redemption.
by Knuckleduster
Or Rise of the Holy Motors. Dumb fucking Hollywood marketing morons.
-
Oct. 20, 2012, 6:23 a.m. CST
Aesome another stupid movie that will bomb just like tree of life.
by Eric
-
they should drop a bomb on it.
-
You suck.
-
Oct. 20, 2012, 8:48 a.m. CST
Looks interesting, visually arresting, and experimental
by AlienFanatic
It may be pretentious, but maybe not. The trailer is, as one would expect, disjointed, especially if the film is meant to be more experience than narrative. But hey, it might turn out to be something so well-choreographed, filmed, and acted that it becomes more of an experience than a linear story. And I typically don't watch independent or artsy films. Guess we'll see.
-
Is this trailer on drugs? Or is it me? Or is it both of us? Either way, i like, and i might just try and see this. Its an action film, right?
-
Well done, good sir.
-
Oct. 20, 2012, 10:23 a.m. CST
Just point me to someplace that describes the plot/acts
by ScorpioRising
Nothing I've read tells me anything. I don't want an ethereal description of it - give me a breakdown of what happens in the movie. With most movies, I'll know whether I am interested in seeing them. With this one, I have absolutely no idea. I really like Kylie Minogue, so I'd almost see it just for her, but I can't stand Eva Mendes, so that's a wash. Need... more... info...
-
not that that's a bad thing. A good movie is a good movie.
-
Oct. 20, 2012, 12:37 p.m. CST
While I respect aicn for attempting to trumpet this movie
by mr.underwater
As you can tell from the majority of the talkbacks, it isn't exactly in aicn's wheelhouse. Sadly, over the past few years this site has morphed from a film geek site, to a comic book/action/sci-fi/fantasy film geek site. Anything else need not apply.
-
...at the Cannes Film Festival and of 2012 so far (2 more months but I expect it to stay #1)
-
Nordling, I saw THE RAID last night, largely because of your recommendation (I think you described it as the best action film since DIE HARD or something similar?). I thought the first half was excellent, while the fighting was with guns and very tense. However the second half of the film when the good guys switched to hand to hand (and for some reason the bad guys switched to machetes) became progressively sillier. By the final confrontation it just became ludicrous and lost all semblance of reality. The guy that had a hunting knife through his hand and was then hung on a chain and used as a human punch bag for god knows how long... he is let off the chain and instantly into a ten minute fist fight where all 3 of the protagonists behave like invulnerable cartoon characters. My buddies and I were actually laughing at how stoopid the movie became towards the end. So generally speaking I thought it was kinda average!
-
I hate when you see a trailer and it projects the plot and genre of a movie exactly. I almost always then lose the momentum to actually see the movie first run. I much prefer teaser style trailers, and much prefer movies that try something new.
-
Oct. 20, 2012, 2:33 p.m. CST
cobra--kai clearly isn't a fan of Asian action cinema.
by Knuckleduster
Or good movies in general.
-
Honestly never thought I'd see the day. Was definitely my least favourite segment of Tokyo! but will give this a chance. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo! http://www.slantmagazine.com/film/review/tokyo/4041 http://www.indiewire.com/article/leos_carax_on_tokyo_cinema_is_my_country_but_it_is_not_my_business
-
Oct. 20, 2012, 4:19 p.m. CST
Since Nordling alluded to "known quantities," does Nicolas Cage doing a 'Left Behind' reboot movie count?
by Bill C.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/vic-armstrong-direct-left-behind-reboot-381323
-
Oct. 20, 2012, 4:35 p.m. CST
This movie's viral marketing and buzz are so perfect, this is going to tank AND suck
by Franck
The only thing the trailer gives away about this movie is that it seems like an obnoxious ,pretentious attempt at forcing viewers into thinking they must go and see it. Looks to me like a rip-off, and future oblivion material. By the way, the Cloud Atlas trailer gives the exact opposite feeling and will probably be very good.
-
It is 9 powerful scenes from 9 completely different movies all tied together by a limo and the driver and passenger. And this trailer is perfect for the movie!
-
Just found Nordlings THE RAID review: *THE RAID: REDEMPTION is one of the finest action movies I've ever seen. Call it hyperbole, call it over-exaggeration, I don't give a shit. I've seen it, and I stand by it. DIE HARD. HARD BOILED. THE RAID: REDEMPTION. Do. Not. Miss. This.* Yep. I saw it last night - and this movie is good. Yes. But far too silly, meaningless and cartoonish to be close to the likes of DIE HARD. Not even remotely close. The hero guy up there with John McLane?! The villain, with Hans Gruber?!!! Fucking come on, get serious. This is a disposable action flick - coming from someone who does enjoy asian cinema - in my opinion it is one rung below ONG BAK, because at least that movie stayed consistent throughout its running time and didnt turn superhero at the halfway stage.
-
It seems Nordling suffers from the affectation that many reviewers do.. give him a subtitle and he'll give you a glowing review. It's the only answer - how else could a professional, objective reviewer genuinely claim that THE RAID and DIE HARD are at the same level of brilliance?
-
Oct. 20, 2012, 7:13 p.m. CST
When Vogue reviews your movie, you know it's gotta be pretentious.
by Royston Lodge
So say we all.
-
Sorry but if a title doesn't tell us SOMETHING about a film.. well a title is part of how a film sells itself. So many Holy Motors does have some meaning within context, but you have to have something interesting to make you want to look into the film. Would YOU look into a film called "KID TOUCHER: THE MOVIE"? probably not... in fact most people would actively avoid finding out anything about that film, devoid of any actual context of the film. So.. sorry, but saying "oh you can't judge it based on its title.. or its trailer.." you are saying go in BLIND.. knowing NOTHING about a film. Sorry, but as much as I LOVE Shawshank, or Scarface, or Empire of even more exploitation fare like B-grade slashers.. I do have to be in the mood and receptive to them when I sit down to watch them. otherwise it will be a bad experience. I don't know, maybe I am just in the minority in that respect. ??
-
...the most incorrectly-used word on this site. LEARN WHAT IT ACTUALLY MEANS, RETARDS. And Leos Carax is legit. If you can't see it, you're just not cine-savvy.
-
...loved it. But the book goes deeper.
-
Oct. 20, 2012, 11:15 p.m. CST
Joss Whedon, please consider making a live-action Berserk film!
by JudasPriestly
-
Oct. 21, 2012, 12:05 a.m. CST
Absolutely Disgusting - Unwatchable on Every Level. In other words, very French.
by Nintendarth
Repulsive example of foreign film garbage-vomit portrayed as art by American critics. The moment the guy with the camera said HE'S SO WEIRD! I was ready to shut it off. Garbage. Avoid at ALL costs.
-
Oct. 21, 2012, 12:05 a.m. CST
I've only seen the trailer, btw - painfully. It felt like 6 months of my life.
by Nintendarth
-
Oct. 21, 2012, 12:06 a.m. CST
Yeah, I saw the Vogue recommendation as a farquin BIOHAZARD warning to me.
by Nintendarth
INSTANTLY makes me refuse to see it. Vogue likes it. Ugh.
-
does anyone know the artist/song name?
-
it would be so much better without the critics blurbs cluttering up the screen. I hate that. Don't tell me how good it is, show me. Let it speak for itself and let me have my own opinion. Does look awesome though. Awesome song there too.
-
Oct. 21, 2012, 11:09 a.m. CST
This movie would use been better if Ben Affleck directed it. Oh God! Argo! Jizz jizz jizz!
by Fries Against
-
pre·ten·tious [pri-ten-shuhs] From French "prétentieux", from Latin "pretenses" of "praetendō". pretentious (comparative more pretentious, superlative most pretentious) Marked by an unwarranted claim to importance or distinction. "Their song titles are pretentious in the context of "their basic lyrics. Ostentatious; intended to impress others. Her dress was obviously more pretentious than comfortable. 1.full of pretense or pretension. 2.characterized by assumption of dignity or importance. 3.making an exaggerated outward show; ostentatious. And by the way, I am French. We created that adjective. (And I unfortunately have to admit that most French people do fit its definition to the T.)
-
Oct. 21, 2012, 2:54 p.m. CST
NOTHING could get me into a theater for this. I mean, literally, -nothing-.
by Nintendarth
You could offer me any sum of money. You could offer me wine, women and song. I hold my spirit in too high a regard to see this. Seriously, this movie represents literally EVERYTHING wrong with modern cinema. An over-reliance on gimmick. Make-up instead of acting. Weird-for-the-sake-of-weird. Pretentious editing (he's here - he's gone!) Inanimate objects given vague consciousness technique over substance (ANIMATION, LOOK!) I mean, literally, this makes me feel like this is a parody for SNL's Digital Shorts. I cannot express strongly enough how much utter contempt I feel for this film, nor how much utter contempt I feel for anyone who says to see it. I am not lying when I say I would drop friends from my life who recommended this. It would indicate such a colossal lack of judgment on their part, such a lapse in their understanding of who I am as a person, that I would literally condemn them out of my life for supporting that movie with the guy wearing the pin-cushion mask. I'm sorry, but the pin-cushion mask isn't ACCEPTABLE in a LEGITIMATE FILM. Nor is the -He's so WEEEEEIRD- performance of the photographer at the beginning, nor the pointless make-up effects to turn that one character into an old man, nor the talking cars, nor ANYTHING onscreen that isn't just what it is. I mean, this is the kind of film I want to see the prints burnt without anyone even seeing it, because it's just that PLAINLY horrible. I haven't felt this much hostility toward a film since I saw the trailer for MOULIN ROUGE.
-
Oct. 21, 2012, 2:57 p.m. CST
Let's make a list of truy awful films bad enough to warrant dropping a friend who likes them.
by Nintendarth
I'll start. If someone you know likes - even LIKES - any of these films, it's safe to never talk to that person again and to shun them in every social situation. DONNIE DARKO SOUTHLAND TALES PI PRIME HOLY MOTORS MEMENTO MOULIN ROUGE STRICTLY BALLROOM STARDUST WILLOW Seriously - if you like - even like - any of these movies, I don't want to know you.
-
Oct. 21, 2012, 3:26 p.m. CST
They need to know what they are committing to before they sit down to a movie.
by Immortal_Fish
Stripped down, it's about one man, many identities, and how those identities fit into the larger scheme is best discovered in the course of the movie
-
...I still have no clue what in the fuckity fuck I just saw. Russel Brand's version of Arthur, the later years?
-
Oct. 21, 2012, 3:38 p.m. CST
immortal_fish - your description of the film lost me at -one man, many identities-... AAAAAAAND I'm out.
by Nintendarth
Movies have enough trouble convincing me ONE identity for the actor is at all real in the context of the movie. I'm not going to even bother with some film trying to convince me about multiple identities. I don't watch BIG MOMMA'S HOUSE for a reason.
-
PASS.
-
See this. It played at a local festival, and sold out both times.
-
Just look at the career of Peter Sellers. Of course, this doesn't like anywhere near as good as a Peter Sellers flick. When I crave a French film, I'll stick with Mr. Hulot's Holiday.
-
It is literally, IMO, flawless. Tati is a genius. This isn't gum on Tati's shoe. Just -every- single earmark of garbage. Like CLOUD ATLAS, I hope this disappears quickly. MAN, CLOUD ATLAS is going to the final nail in the Washawski's career.
-
Oct. 22, 2012, 4:40 a.m. CST
I have become very risk-averse with films... its the ticket price
by Knuckleface
I used to see a film or two per week. I'd go see a lot of indie films. I stopped. The problem is that ticket prices have doubled or tripled over the last decade (at least they have where I live) and I'm not prepared to drop 16 quid on a low-budget indie film that might be awful. I've long argued that indie and modest budget films should be priced lower than the big glossy spectacles... I also think that ticket prices should fluctuate based on empty seats. Like an airplane or a train, every empty seat in a cinema is lost revenue.
-
Oct. 22, 2012, 6:22 a.m. CST
Perfect example of a shitty "great film": TREE OF LIFE
by Michael Morning
Sounds like this is similar.
-
Thoughts on this film aside, I completely agree with you regarding ticket prices. I recently dropped $40 for the kids and I to see Frankenweenie in 3D. It occurred to me that I could simply wait a few months and see it at home for $5 minus some of the visual flare.
-
Shazam didn't recognize it. Is that an original song from the soundtrack? Really looking forward to this film.
-
…You've been down too long in the midnight sea Oh what's becoming of me Ride the tiger You can see his stripes but you know he's clean Oh don't you see what I mean Gotta get away Holy Diver Shiny diamonds Like the eyes of a cat in the black and blue Something is coming for you Race for the morning You can hide in the sun 'till you see the light Oh we will pray it's all right Gotta get away-get away Between the velvet lies There's a truth that's hard as steel The vision never dies Life's a never ending wheel Holy Diver You're the star of the masquerade No need to look so afraid Jump on the tiger You can feel his heart but you know he's mean Some light can never be seen Repeat verse 1
Top Talkbacks
- Spoilery early review of MAN OF STEEL!! -- 358 total posts 326 posts
- Holy Crossover!! Magneto’s Boy Quicksilver To Speed About In Whedon’s AVENGERS 2 And Singer’s X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST?? -- 318 total posts 106 posts
- A review of Refn and Gosling's ONLY GOD FORGIVES, direct from Cannes!! -- 108 total posts 89 posts
- Green-Band and Red-Band trailers for the new Jason Sudeikis & Jennifer Aniston VACATION ripoff, WE'RE THE MILLERS are here!! -- 145 total posts 53 posts
- The Friday Docback Revisits DOCTOR WHO Season 7!! A Fuller Review Of 'The Name of the Doctor,' And More!! -- 47 total posts 47 posts
- Tom Cruise Won’t Go Solo For MAN FROM UNCLE!! -- 47 total posts 47 posts
- Jon Stewart casts Gael Garcia Bernal for his directorial debut, ROSEWATER!! -- 43 total posts 41 posts
- Harry dives into STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS' spoilers to reveal the truth behind the blockbuster we're seeing! -- 1445 total posts 38 posts
- Ron Howard's latest trailer sure is a RUSH!!! -- 64 total posts 35 posts
- John Ary's Video Review Of THE HANGOVER PART III!! -- 32 total posts 32 posts