Rating: 
Summary: Wacky and Kooky
Review: Okay, this is the Euro "whodunnit" of the Decade. Alright, we have eight women (they even throw one in who suffers from cardiac arrhythmia just for hilarity) who end up in the same house for various reasons only to discover that a mystery is unfolding... (I don't want to ruin the ending so I'll stop here.)
Rating:
Summary: The "Women" Steal The Show!
Review: I think I got more of a kick out of this movie than most people probably will. Those of us who are familiar with these international leading ladies will enjoy seeing all of these women in one movie. We have the ageless beauty Catherine Deneuve (Belle de Jour) Fanny Ardant (Truffaut's former wife and star of such films as "Confidentially Yours"), Isabelle Huppert ("Merci Pour le Chocolat" & "The Story of Women"), Emmanuelle Beart (Mrs. Roman Polanski "Bitter Moon") and newcomer (well to me anyway) Ludivinie Sagnier ("Swimming Pool" director Ozon lastest film). There are a few different ways to digest this movie. Some people may think it's a fun silly piece of film-making that is enjoyable to watch and maybe even a bit campy. Others still may find it to be capmy yes, but a bit of too much "fluff". Something too unimportant to be taken "seriously". And finally others will just look upon at as pure trash. As I started watching this movie and saw Catherine Deneuve dancing to a 50's rock beat I started thinking dear G-D what have I done! There just seemed to be something unnatural about it. I can't explain it but, it didn't seem right. After a while as the movie went on I really came to enjoy it. And had a pleasant time watching it. Sure some film-buffs might say Ozon has made better films such as "Under the Sand" or "Swimming Pool" but "8 Women" can be looked upon as a lark. A silly fun excuse for all of these talented ladies to join together. A lot of people are calling this movie Agatha Christie:The Musical! And I guess you could think of this as "Murder On The Orient Express" the French version with song and dance. And to my surprise I actually liked hearing some of the songs. The movie starts off with the death of Marcel (Dominique Lamure. the only male in the cast). He was the husband of Gaby (Deneuve) and father to Suzon (Viriginie Ledoyen) and Catherine (Sagnier). But who could of killed him? There are plenty of suspects since 5 other people were known to have been in the house at the time of the murder. And everyone had a motive. There's Gaby's mother Mamy (Danielle Darrieux) her sister Augustine (Huppert, in a completely different kind of role we've come to expect her in). There's the sexy young maid Louise (Emmanuelle Beart). Marcel sister Pierrette (Ardant) and another housekeeper Chanel (Firmine Richard). "8 Women" does play around with the usual conventions of a mystery film. But don't think the bursting into songs takes away from the plot. The songs never seem "out of place". As you might expect they merely express the character's feelings at certain moments but, only when appropriate. The movie has a wonderful look. That was the first thing that caught my eye. It's filmmed in such bright colors. I also liked the cinematography and the costume designs and the sets and the production designs. There is a lot of eye candy here for those who appreciate it. "8 Women" is fun and silly and campy but, if your willing to go along with you'll have a good time. It may not be remember in years to come as one of Ozon best but, who cares! For now we'll take it. *** 1\2 out of ***** Bottom-line: Entertaining French musical (I never though I'd think that). Done with a lot of style. Good songs, fun performances by this all-star cast. Not a masterpice, but it doesn't need to be. It's having too much of a good time to care.
Rating: 
Summary: Bought It For The Cast......Stayed For The Fun....
Review: This review refers to the widescreen DVD(Universal/Focus Features) edition of "8 Women"( "8 femmes" )...... I don't usually buy a DVD unless I have already seen the film and know that I will get my money's worth. But when I saw the cast of this one, it practically jumped into my cart all by itself. The cast includes some of the most wonderful international actresses around.From the legends to the young stars I figured I couldn't go wrong with these names... Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Huppert, Emanuelle Beart, Fanny Ardent, Virginie Ledoyen, Danielle Darrieux,Ludivine Sagnier and Firmine Richard. I figured right.Insert tounge in cheek and get ready for 8 times the fun in this mystery/comedy. When a wealthy family plans to spend Christmas together in their secluded home, the unexpected happens. Marcel, the only man among all the women, is found murdered in his own bed. The women who all immediatley begin to suspect each other are snowed in and have found the phone wires cut.The eight women, including Marcel's wife, daughters, mother in law, his sister,sister-in-law, the maid and the cook all have motives, they all have secrets, and they are all about half a bubble off the plumb. Whodunit? It's a geat treat finding out. After my first view,I was orignally planning to go 4 stars on this film as my standard for mystery/comedy is "The Pink Panther", but this film was so highly entertaining and fun I know I will get years of enjoyment for myself and anyone else who views it.And as I write this I know I can't wait to watch it again. The actresses are brillant,work exceptionaly well together, and the story totaly engaging. Each actress even gets her own clever and fun musical numbers to perform as well. It was written and directed by Francois Ozon and adapted from the Play by Robert Thomas. Now about the DVD...It is a great view in anamorphic widescreen(1.85:1), a clear picture and sounds great in 5.1 surround. I had a few technical problems with it though, it could be just my copy, but there were several times where it just paused itself. Sometimes it would just restart and sometimes it wouldn't. I found that by reloading it a couple of times, the glitches seemed to work themselves out, but it was annoying to have to do it in the first place. There are no special features other than a couple of theatrical trailers. The film will automatically come on in French with English subtitles, but also has subtitles in Spanish as well. Another reviewer mentioned that to play it only in French without the subtitles, just click on "8 femmes" instead of "8 Women", but I could not locate this option anywhere on my copy. The actresses won 2 prestigious awards for their wonderful achievement as an ensemble. A Silver Berlin Bear from the Berlin Film Festival and Best Ensemble form the European Film Awards as well. Director Francois Ozon was also recognized with a Reader Jury of the "Berliner Morgenpost" at the Berlin Film Festival. It was also nominated for several other awards. The film is very French! It is rated R for some adult thematic situations(lesbianism, adultry) but I found nothing offensive or graphic about it. Merci Beaucoup.....Laurie
Rating:
Summary: Fantastique
Review: This French campy farce should have had a wider distribution and had better publicity for its release in the US. The movie is a geniuine hoot from beginning to end. And the ending is a real treat to amateur detectives.
Rating: 
Summary: A gem of a movie
Review: "8 Women" is a sly, tongue-in-cheek homage to old movie murder mysteries and classic Hollywood musicals. It's a unique mystery/musical combo. There are many delicious aspects to this movie not the least of which is the sparkling screenplay, which is alternately satirical and poignant, and eight skillful performances by the appealing lead actresses. Among the standouts: Fanny Ardant as Pierrette, the sultry former exotic dancer who is the deceased's estranged sister. (Ardant bears an uncanny resemblance to a sexy Rita Hayworth in her prime.) And Isabelle Huppert as the brittle spinsterish sister of Gaby, the deceased man's wife, played by Catherine Deneuve. Huppert seems to enjoy chewing the scenary as much as we enjoy seeing her chew it. Other delights are the brightly colored, coordinated sets and costumes and the inventive musical score which ranges from goofy to gloomy. The direction by Francois Ozon is lively and just plain fun. "8 Women" is a gem of a movie. Treat yourself and see it.
Rating:
Summary: Whatever you do, don't take this film seriously!
Review: The creme de la creme of France's glamorous dramatic actresses have been brought together in this murder mystery in which all manner of sordid family secrets are revealed. Who'd have thought such a premise could be so funny? With 8 Women, director François Ozon crafts a brilliant satire of the old drawing-room murder mysteries, and fills it with a giddy, campy glee. All the characters are stock stereotypes, the plot twists grow more and more convoluted until they start contradicting each other, and the actresses perform the tongue-in-cheek dialogue with almost melodramatic seriousness. And each of them gets a song. It's very clear here everyone's having fun, especially Isabelle Huppert, Fanny Ardant, and Virginie Ledoyen, who get to make fun of the deadly serious roles they're known for (such as in The Piano Teacher, Elizabeth, and A Single Girl, respectively). Ludivine Sagnier, who is both frightening and scorchingly sexy in Ozon's more recent film Swimming Pool, is the exact opposite here: the young, bouncy, innocent daughter who seems to wear her mind on her sleeve. Sets and costumes are bright and lush, like they were back in the day when color in film was a novelty. The songs are a delight: diverse, character-appropriate, and irretrievably French. And while all eight actresses really sing their songs, Ozon adds to the campy fun by having each actress lip-synch to her own voice while engaging in the kind of cheesy choreography one expects from cinematic song-breaks (Sagnier's "Papa T'Es Plus Dans l'Coup" is probably the best example of this). My only real complaint is with the DVD itself. There are no special features (the French DVD has interviews, behind-the-scenes stuff, and more), the English subtitles are irremovable, and French subtitles aren't even offered. The chapter breaks are awkward; a couple even cut into the beginning of songs. I got the feeling that the folks at Universal just didn't care enough about the film to give it the DVD treatment it deserves. I highly recommend this film, but remember: despite the previews and the all-star cast, don't expect for a minute that this is a serious movie. Think of it more like "What if the French had made Clue".
Rating: 
Summary: Awful, horrendous-don't waste your time
Review: This movie is just awful. I was looking forward to seeing it-great actresses, a wonderful sounding plot, plus I love French films and mysteries. Huge disappointment. The musical numbers were horrendous and I was so embarrassed for the actresses I had to fast forward through them. I am not a fan of musicals to begin with and this was not billed as a musical at the rental store, so it was quite a surprise to see them suddenly break into song. The mystery was ok and may have worked if it had just been a murder mystery movie without the singing. But that singing made the movie almost unbearable to watch. Did I miss the point of the film? Perhaps. All I know is that this is probably the worst movie I have seen.
Rating:
Summary: Deliciously entertaining with enigmatic thrill
Review: With charismatic set and vivid cinematogaphy and occasionally poetic script, "8 Femmes" is deliciously entertaining with enigmatic thrill.
Rating:
Summary: Deliciously entertaining with enigmatic thrill
Review: With charismatic set and vivid cinematogaphy and occasionally poetic script, this movie is deliciously entertaining with enigmatic thrill.
Rating:
Summary: Superb!
Review: 8 Femmes (8 Women) is a delightful movie that is both funny and surprisingly moving. I can't say enough good things about Fanny Ardant! She is undoubtedly one of the best actresses not just in France, but in the world. Ardant was sizzling! There had never been a more sexy 50-something woman! Catherine Deneuve was also priceless and beautiful as ever. One of my favourite scenes was with Ardant and Deneuve. It was quite a coup for director Ozon to get both legendary actresses to be in the same movie AND to share such a delicious catfight scene that evolved into a passionate kiss! It's worth to pay money just to watch that one scene! It was a beautiful sequence that worked almost like a ballet. All 8 actresses gave excellent performances. It was a true ensemble where the entire cast compliment one another. No one missed a beat. Each character is different and each actress had her own style, but they all fit together seamlessly in this glorious, fun, feel-good movie!
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