Anatomy of Hell

Rating:
Summary: Anatomie De L'enfer
Review:
The film opens in a gay club, In those places where people mingle without meeting, where the techno beat controls the bodies' impulses, they dance, sway and blend in the primeval hydra of other men's bodies. In their sudden desire for each other, they are all men together, without the need of others. She is the Girl, breathtakingly beautiful, yet ignored by them. In the toilets, she cuts her wrists with a razor. Two thin, parallel lines that meet only in the blood welling up from them. And this is how they meet.

He doesn't like women; she will pay him to look at her, as she says :
-"From the angle from which she should never be viewed"
- It will cost you," he says
- I'll pay you."

Four nights. In a house in the middle of nowhere, perched on the cliffs and whose front steps are lined by four columns. Four nights to confront each other, her against him. For the obscenity of women arises from the way in which men look at them. Four nights to confront the unspoken, to explore what can't be shown: that which is secret. As in the Hebrew of the Book of Genesis in which "secret" is the same word as "nudity", literally "that which must not be seen".

Anatomie De L'enfer is an intrigueing look at male/female relationships, and poses many interesting and thought provoking questions. Catherine Breillat has made this film to be highly graphic in vision and in intellect. Breillat seems to be suggesting that all males are mysogynists, and that male/female relationships would perservere a whole lot better if this fact was just faced.
Being so Confronting and impactful, and with negative hype shying away movie goers, this film didnt get the acclaim it deserved. I recommend this film.

Rating:
Summary: Y-U-C-K!!! Disgusting and pointless
Review: This has to be one of the most torturous, masochistic experiences I have ever endured. The plot is thread-bare (desperate woman pays gay man to keep her company), the acting is horrific (Rocco had better co-stars in his porn movies), and some scenes that "push the envelope" are grosser and more disturbing than the visuals in "Jackass". Bring a barf bag before sticking this DVD into the player. It's baffling how garbage like this can be called cinema. There is a fine line between being creative and seeking solely to shock. This garbage is the latter. My advice? Avoid at all costs.

Rating:
Summary: interesting concepts, not so interesting delivery
Review: this is not a shock film. very pretentious maybe but there is a talented and intellegent mind behind the curtain here (a somewhat provocative interview with the director accompanies the movie on the dvd). for the most part only two players are involved in translating writer/director catherine breillat's philosophically challenging, if seemingly misanthropic, visions concerning male and female sexuality and the rather abstract concept of transcendence. it all looks quite beautiful due to the excellent cinematography but comes off rather shallow because of acting limitations (specifically italian pornographer rocco siffredi) and a somewhat bland delivery of the above mentioned ideas. though many will dismiss the movie as 'stupid' or crass i believe breillat's theme is important and interesting. if you have eighty minutes of time to spare and are not expecting great commercial entertainment you might want to check it out.

Rating:
Summary: Makes 9 1/2 Weeks Look Like Bambi
Review: While I was watching the flick, "Anatomy of Hell",
words kept popping into my brain. Here they are:

Deep
Erotic
Compelling
Profound
Adult
Intellectual
Intriguing
Exquisite

...and that was just the first 20 minutes!!!

Directed by Frenchwoman Catherine Breillat, this film
is definitely "one of a kind". It makes "9 1/2 Weeks"
look like "Bambi".

Anatomy of Hell is candid, cruel, cold, warm and
stunning. There is nothing predictable about it.
From one scene (let alone sentence) to another you
haven't a clue as to what is going to transpire next.


The script is sobering and blunt. Here's a sample"

"That's what men can't stand.
It's why they've tried to lock women up, in all eras,
all places, under every latitude.
To protect us from ourselves, they say.
To break the spell of women.
In fact...they're afraid women don't belong to them.
They don't believe in basic freedom.
They threaten us with belts, padlocks, their concept
of chastity, their foolish morals, since they always
need reassurances.
Yet they know one can't ask for proof.
Or else love has no meaning."

Anatomy of Hell has no boundaries. It is shocking,
riveting and stunning. It's the story of a man
discovering what women are made of. It is not for the
faint or weak. It is a no-holds-barred drama that is
borderline "X", but is tasteful and romantic to the
point where it should likely be a double "R" or an
NC-17. I recommend it to all loving couples...single
or married.

I was impressed. Ms. Breillat has caught the male
species with his pants down in this one. She hits it
(them) right on the head.

If you like movies that unfold relationships from
ground zero to the sky is the limit, this one is for
you. It's a solid 10 in this genre...nothing short of
brilliance. Who said women can't direct? This one is
one of the finest foreign films I have ever seen.
Don't miss it (if you can find it).