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Summary: What Is Cinema?
Review: Jean-Luc Godard = CinemaNot very original, I know (even the credits read "Jean-Luc Cinema Godard"), but it's true. Godard is the one man who constantly searches for cinema, expanding and questioning its limits. In a Godard film you find what's missing from many contemporary films: intelligence. I'm not saying there aren't any intelligent contemporary filmmakers (Robert Zemeckis spends hours contemplating Heraclitus, Michael Bay is notorious for his post-structuralist views, Roland Emmerich is reputed to be the true mastermind behind the Quantity Theory of Insanity) , but Godard's films also possess an inventiveness,exuberance and love for the medium that is lacking in the contemporary scene. "Band Of Outsiders" is a willfully ebullient film, using the plot of a second rate thriller as an excuse for naturalistic scenes. Odile (Anna Karina) says something like, "I hate cinema. I hate theatre. I love nature." There is no denying the naturalistic nature of the scenes, but Godard is the omniscient narrator, inserting rhetoric after key moments, as if to say the camera is powerless to capture the subtle poetry contained within the images. The film's structure is novelistic. The scenes are filmed/told objectively, then Godard comes in and comments upon them with poetic language. Somehow, this novelistic structure translates into dynamic cinema. Most modern novels tend to shy away from omniscient narration, but good, intermittent commentary never hurts, and it helps Band Of Outsiders in a way that could be discussed further by someone with plenty of free time. All the mumbo jumbo aside, the film is just a joy to watch. It's very low budget (it probably cost a fraction of N'Sync's "POP"), and I know a ton of people who'd rather watch "Pearl Harbour" instead, but if you love cinema and the possibilities the medium provides, I definitely recommend the film. If you're new to Godard, it's a good place to start (as is "Breathless"). Then move on to "Weekend," "Pierrot Le Fou" and "Masculine Feminine." If you're feeling masochistic, try the rather hard to find Dziga Vertov films, then see what you make of Godard's eighties work. After that, read James Monaco's "French New Wave" and Godard's "Godard On Godard," which you should be able to find elsewhere on this site.
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Summary: The Godardian aesthetic reaches its apex...
Review: Jean-Luc Godard has long been the darling of the French New Wave, beginning with the 'stereotypical' nouvelle vague film, "Breathless." While "Breathless" is the film that everyone regards as 'the one,' the true beauty in Godard's filmmaking is expressed with "Band of Outsiders." Once again featuring Godard's beautiful wife Anna Karina, "Band of Outsiders" is the kind of crime film that you're not entirely sure if you like or not. You know it's good, and you understand the mocking nature of it, but you're not sure if you like it. Godard puts the viewer in a state of euphoria by spinning a tale of intrigue involving two 'criminals' and their female counterpart. This part of the story is the crime drama that we know and love. But at the same time, Godard is letting his imagination run wild, filling our minds with life's little pleasantries and random absurdities. While Truffault's films as a whole are more widely recognized around the world, Godard truly is the grandfather of the French New Wave. Truffault's films are easy for average film viewers to watch, as he spoon feeds us one situation after another. Truffault is the Zemeckis of the French New Wave. Not a bad director, in fact a very competent one, just not one who is on the cutting edge, as is Godard. To begin to appreciate Godard, one must watch the master at work. And the best place to start is right here, with the relatively unknown and certainly underappreciated "Band of Outsiders."
Rating:
Summary: The Godardian aesthetic reaches its apex...
Review: Jean-Luc Godard has long been the darling of the French New Wave, beginning with the 'stereotypical' nouvelle vague film, "Breathless." While "Breathless" is the film that everyone regards as 'the one,' the true beauty in Godard's filmmaking is expressed with "Band of Outsiders." Once again featuring Godard's beautiful wife Anna Karina, "Band of Outsiders" is the kind of crime film that you're not entirely sure if you like or not. You know it's good, and you understand the mocking nature of it, but you're not sure if you like it. Godard puts the viewer in a state of euphoria by spinning a tale of intrigue involving two 'criminals' and their female counterpart. This part of the story is the crime drama that we know and love. But at the same time, Godard is letting his imagination run wild, filling our minds with life's little pleasantries and random absurdities. While Truffault's films as a whole are more widely recognized around the world, Godard truly is the grandfather of the French New Wave. Truffault's films are easy for average film viewers to watch, as he spoon feeds us one situation after another. Truffault is the Zemeckis of the French New Wave. Not a bad director, in fact a very competent one, just not one who is on the cutting edge, as is Godard. To begin to appreciate Godard, one must watch the master at work. And the best place to start is right here, with the relatively unknown and certainly underappreciated "Band of Outsiders."
Rating: 
Summary: "ALICE IN WONDERLAND MEETS KAFKA"
Review: Jean-Luc Godard is perhaps best known as the most influential of the French New Wave filmmakers. Themes of social realism were wedded to a naturalistic, seemingly spontaneous, hand-held cinematography with jump cuts and an intimate documentary style. 1964's BAND OF OUTSIDERS has been described by Godard as "Alice in Wonderland meets Franz Kafka." This sentimental, noirish story is about a gullible woman who takes up with couple of would-be bad guys in an ill-fated effort to rob her own home of her aunt's fortune. (The primary relationship in the story may have been the inspiration behind the recent, overlooked and very funny, Bandits.) Band of Outsiders is weirdly joyous and always surprising with a sense of romantic doom that recalls his most famous gangster romance, Breathless (A Bout de Souffle, 1959).
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Summary: And Action...
Review: Jean-Luc Godard, one of the French New Wave Cinema pioneers, bends and breaks the traditional rules of cinema in Band of Outsiders as he sends forth his vision. The vision is of two men and a woman planning a robbery of a large sum of money. The planning itself is a fruitless accomplishment as the three characters diverge cognitively, and instead end up entertaining their thoughts and egos. Nevertheless, they are certain about setting their plan into action. Occasionally, it seems as if Godard has lost it, but there is always a designed thought behind each action and scene. Throughout the film Godard uses quotes from books, films, and music of his choosing, which colors the personalities of the characters. These characters are what creates the cinematic experience together with Godard's rebellious directing and the groundbreaking cinematography. In the end, this film is one of many that adds to the plethora of progressive cinematic art that film enthusiasts can enjoy today.
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Summary: Line Dance
Review: Saw this the other day. Didn't know it was Godard classic. The Dance Scene, I didn't want it to end. It was so flakey, kind of a line dance to French Pop sound of 1964, hard to describe. Anna Karina is sutle knock out, frumby in most scenes, but she Ann Margaret's in dance. The rest of the movie is a playful romp, a nonsensical take off on American heist movies of the 40's. Not totally successful, but worth it for sophisticated.
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Summary: artfully entertaining
Review: Single frames flash onscreen to jubilant music in this remarkably carefree film from Jean-Luc 'cinema' Godard.
"A few clues for latecomers: Several weeks ago... A pile of money... An English class... A house by the river... A romantic young girl... "
A palatable and light examination of crime, pop culture, and psychology, Band of Outsiders is an enjoyable journey into the life of three mischievous and idealistic youths. Two questing criminals enlist the help of a naive schoolgirl to steal the fortunes of her Aunt, only to encounter the fragility of human relationships, the joyousness of youth, and the unanticipated failure of thievery.
Replete with b-movie references, Band of Outsiders combines the confrontational, innovative style characteristic of Godard with a lighter and more grandiose mood of positivity. Brash negativity rears its ugly head less often than it could in a gangster film as the audience leaves with overall positive feeling despite the inevitable perish of main players. With sparse and meaningful narration, the story is brutally honest to both the shortcomings and the endearments of characters, and is a vehicle for both the stereotypical movie character as well as the realistic human.
Plot is classic criminal film spruced up with a compilation of quotable Godard affectations, and cinematography is gracefully effective. Editing stands out here, especially in the realm of sound design where audience is invited to a contemplative minute of veritable silence.
This film is a journey of enjoyment, inviting the viewer to take part in a record-breaking run through the Louvre, and to dance the highly addictive Madison. Unashamedly perfectly directed by Godard, Band of Outsiders is an important addition to true cinematic genius, unparalleled by followers and its maker alike.
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Summary: Criterion Unleashes A Classic DVD
Review: This is a CLASSIC that should be owned by EVERY person who owns a DVD player. But that is not going to happen any time soon. Godard’s greatest movie comes back to life better than ever through the Criterion Collection, with possibly their best package.
Lots of extras are incredibly insightful, including the booklet (a feature that many studios do not think of as a ‘supplement’). Godard and everyone else that worked on this movie should be proud the way this has been preserved for future generations. This IS Nouvelle Vague, a movie that reinvented the medium, but lost in the shuffle over the years.
And with an incredibly low list price for a Criterion release, this DVD should not stay on store shelves. If you buy or rent it, you will love it. Guaranteed
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Summary: Classic Godard!
Review: This is classic Godard here. This is a very fun and entertaining film. There are a few scenes in the film that are quite famous and it's a delight to have seen it. If you love true cinema, experience Band of Outsiders.
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Summary: Godards Best Film
Review: This is my favorite of Godards movies, and one of my favorite movies of all time. My jaw dropped at the opening credits and stayed open for the rest of the movie. It's so completely enjoyable. Godard was obviously having lots of fun making this. The "Cafe Scene" is amazing, and just has to be seen. It stands on its own as a piece of amazing film making- the "minute" of silence, and the three main characters dancing the madison. Even if you've heard about this scene, it has to be seen to believe how wonderful it really is.
Quentin Tarantino named his production company after this movie, and it's easy to see the influences. If you like Tarantino, you have to see this one. If not, you should probably see it too. It's a crime movie, but it's not drapped in violence like Tarantinos films, it's filled with dialouge and dancing! Just trust me and see this one, you wont be sorry.
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