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Thursday, November 8, 2012

Rust and Bone

A movie like Rust and Bone is the hardest kind of film to assess. It’s a film that is so perfectly aware – aware of its intentions, aware of its manipulations, aware of its impact – that describing its faultlessness can be taxing. Push too far, and the reader becomes desensitized in hyperbole. Hold too much back, and the mystery of the film isn’t done due justice. All’s I can hope to do is trigger something within you to see this film. It likely won’t come to your local theater, nor will it be discussed much outside of critical circles and awards shows. What it will do, if seen, is provoke. It will provoke fear, laughter, devastation and humiliation, in the best, most effective ways possible.

Do let me attempt to explain why.

In the opening moments of Rust and Bone, Ali (Matthias Schoenaerts), a hard-living brute of a man, travels a great distance with his young son as a means of starting over. They end up at Ali’s sister’s home where Ali scrambles to make ends meet by working as a security guard for electronic stores, a bouncer at nightclubs – whatever. Shortly into his life as a bouncer, he meets Stéphanie (Marion Cotillard), and the two form a touch-and-go friendship based on what, I’m not entirely sure. The longing to feel actual human contact, perhaps. The desire to be understood, maybe.
Ali is a brash man. A lethal bruiser who rarely speaks kindly to those who love him, and steps out a of line all too frequently with his son who doesn’t know better. Stéphanie, on the other end, is repressed from the onset. Why? Again, I can’t be sure. But after suffering a debilitating accident at her job, she finds that the only person she can take solace in is a man she barely knows.

So what Rust and Bone slowly, tenderly, magnificently develops into is a beautiful film of love, loss and resurgence, and not necessarily in that order. This is one of the best love stories I have ever seen, but in many ways, it’s the antitheses of the love story. Ali and Stéphanie don’t meet, fall in love, fight, break up, reconnect, then live happily ever after. Their lives are too complicated and delicate for that. Truth be told, I’m not entirely sure I’ve seen a love story like the one in this film. For example, so often sex is treated as a plot device for romance films. The instant a couple has sex (which is usually very early) they immediately fall in love. It’s one of my biggest cinematic pet peeves, and something Rust and Bone doesn’t pretend to buy into. Sex in this film is an after thought, a Hey, wanna give it a go tryst on a lazy afternoon. 
It may seem like I’m expanding on an issue that isn’t seemingly important, but the way sex is handled in this film is one of the many reasons I was so taken with it. Because really, there isn’t a false note to be found here.

Matthias Schoenaerts is an actor I’ve never seen before. He was the star of the Oscar nominated Bullhead from last year, but that remains unseen by me, though not for long. No matter, what he does in Rust and Bone (I mean, what he fucking does) is an acting achievement I never could’ve anticipated. He improves and layers Ali so far beyond a one-note thug, that, eventually, he makes the act of slamming his fists into frozen water as gut wrenching as it is captivating. Because of his low profile, I’d be surprised if Schoenaerts’ name is remembered come awards time. But my God, do I hope I’m wrong.

One name you’re going to be hearing a lot in the ensuing months is Marion Cotillard, an actress of such impeccable range and skill, that I’ve honestly doubted how long she would be about to bring it as effectively as she has in the past. Noting that, let me say that Marion Cotillard is my favorite living actress, and Rust and Bone is the very finest performance I have ever seen her deliver. Her Stéphanie is cold, but never sorry for herself. Certain, but never precise. She’s the kind of woman who can walk into a crowded nightclub, fully flaunting her recent, obvious injuries with convincing confidence, only to discreetly cover her wounds minutes later. It’s a performance of commanding poise and utter fearlessness. She’s simply got it. And I won’t see better from any actor this year.
Rust and Bone is directed by Jacques Audiard, who has helmed many fine films, most notably the Oscar nominated A Prophet. Similarly to how A Prophet presented prison life in ways we’d never seen, Rust and Bone has virtually no interest in offering up a tender, succinct love story. What it aims to do (and achieves so exquisitely) is to rip your guts out and slowly put the pieces back together. Everything may not be in the proper place, and it’ll sting like hell, but damn if it isn’t worth it.

A final note. I’m not a fan of Katy Perry’s music. She’s an artist that has reached success doing her own thing, and that’s fair enough. It’s just not for me. Now, there is a scene in this film in which Cotillard conducts hand movements that used to give her calm while Perry’s “Firework” builds on the soundtrack. Given the context of the scene, I wept in a way no film has caused me to in several years. I’ve seen thousands upon thousands of movies, and I plan on dedicating my life to seeing thousands more, and never in all my years did I think that was possible. A+

30 comments:

  1. I so want to see this. I love A Prophet and I'm eager to check out Jacques Audiard's work. Hopefully for a future Auteurs subject while I also want to see Marion Cotillard act in French again.

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    1. Man, if you liked A Prophet (which I did) then I anticipate you'll fucking love this. Very deliberate, very brutal. And Marion in French is exactly what you want it to be, which is perfect.

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  2. Thank you for reviewing Rust and Bone. I loved this film, but I wouldn't be able to put it in words like you have here, Alex, so as always, I'm in awe of you.

    The only thing I can add is this: I disagreed with almost every decision the two main characters made. At every turning point, I was mad at them. Yet, I can honestly say I loved this film deeply - which either means there's something very wrong with me or very right about what the director and actors created. In the end, I guess that's real life - messy, human and without tiddy resolution.

    Baby, you're a firework...

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    1. Aw thanks! Couldn't agree more with what you said: I was so infuriated by most of the characters' actions here, that I didn't know if I would actually like the film in the long haul. But, you're right, that's life - messy and often without resolve.

      Thanks, as always, for commenting :)

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  3. Great review! I saw the movie today and I liked it, I agee with you that Marion delivered her best work here.

    But I couldn't really get into the story, Ali was such an ass - he didn't really help her out of kidness - he did it, because he had nothing better to do. And then when he left her in the bar to hook up with some chick? The only redeeming quality he had for me was that he was willing to learn from his mistakes, but in real I don't think he would have many chances - if Stephanie didn't meet with him to talk about their relationship and if his son died I think he would stay the same man.

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    1. Thanks!

      I see what you're saying, and while I completely agree that Ali was a (mostly) narcissistic ass, I loved that he was a narcissistic ass. I am completely desensitized to romance movies involving a dreamy male lead. Or the heart throb with a touch of bad in him. Ali was who he was, and he didn't apologize for it, which was what the final scenes so impactful for me. Loved his arc.

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  4. Wow, clearly something to put my radar now... didn't quite know what to make of it when I saw the first preview. Given how disappointed I was by Holy Motors, I didn't think I would give another French film a chance this year. Great stuff here Alex, can't wait for it to come up here...

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    1. Thanks Jeff! I honestly wasn't very wowed by the trailer either, but damn dude. Damn. The movie really resonated with me. A legit gut punch. And a worthy one at that.

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  5. What a beautiful review! It makes me want to see it even more.

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    1. Thanks so much, Brittani! I highly recommend it (obviously haha).

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  6. Terrific review! This and Holy Motors are two films that I'm eagerly anticipating. Man, I hope this opens near me in the next few weeks.

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    1. Thanks a lot man.

      I really hope it comes near you soon too, it so incredibly deserves to be seen. Seeing Holy Motors this weekend. Can't wait!

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    2. So. Jealous. Hope you like it!

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  7. Woah A+!!!! :D

    Great to hear you were so moved, I haven't been too keen for this one but I was always planning to see it when we finally get it in Aus.

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    1. Yeah man, completely deserved the A+, no doubt. The trailer, despite its use of a fantastic M83 song, didn't really blow me away. So, basically, I wasn't too jazzed about this flick either. But damn if it didn't floor me.

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  8. What a gorgeous review! I am really taken with your thoughts on love, romance, and sexuality in films. And sheesh ... that's been one of my peeves for MANY years. People meet, they have sex, and that -- apparently -- equals love. Among other things, it's insulting to the audience's intelligence.

    This movie is definitely going on my list.

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    1. Cool stuff, I REALLY hope you have the opportunity to see this one. I do think you'd like it.

      I seriously hate the sex=love notion about films. It just makes no sense to me at all. Oh well!

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  9. That was a great review and I agree with most of the things you said about the characters, their development and their conflicts. The things is that I, for one, wasn't that taken aback and impressed by the emotional side of the film- I appreciated the story and the characters, but it didn't move me as much as it moved you, and I am quite curious as to why. Maybe it was because it felt a little bland, simple, too realistic- I don't know. In the end, I agree it is a great film, but not a masterpiece, not to me, at least! Wonderful post, anyway, congrats!

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    1. You know what, I definitely think that this film (particularly the love aspect) was extremely simple and extremely realistic. I wouldn't dare be presumptuous and say that it didn't move you because it was too realistic, but who knows.

      I like all kinds of movies, but the ones I tend to like most are the type that feel and look and act like real life (and involve a wee bit of pain and/or suffering). And that is precisely what Rust and Bone felt like to me.

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  10. Truthfully that scene has nothing to do with Katy Perry, and everything to do with Audiard setting an emotional anchor for it, earlier in the film. The result would have been the same with any pop song...

    And that's my main apprehension towards the film. It's as shamelessly manipulative as any typical Hollywood fare. He just uses different methods.

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    1. That's interesting, I read your review a few weeks ago and remember an overall positive tone. Either way, I completely agree that that scene had nothing to do with Katy Perry, and I completely disagree that the film is manipulative.

      Is it the use of music period that made you feel manipulated? Or the fact that it was a very cheesy contemporary pop song? I'm genuinely curious.

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    2. The thing is, I greatly enjoyed it while watching it, and I still think it's a fine technical work. I wish more films had this level of quality. But the more time that passes, and the more I think about it, the less impressed I am with the story and the handling of it.

      The problem I have is not with the use of music in general or the choice of track in particular, but how he uses it. There's no question to me whats going on when you start to hear the tune fade in, and it's the outright pulling of emotional triggers. Same goes for that ground level slow motion shot where we watch a car door open from a distance... we know how that scene is going to play out as soon as that shot and angle are established. I think I just prefer to see a more subtle approach to these things.

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    3. That happens to me a lot - I love a film in the moment and I leave the theater all charged, all "Hell yeah, that was brilliant!" Then days pass and I forget why I liked it, and then I may even grow to dislike it. Funny how that happens. But either way, I get where you're coming from.

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  11. Ha! I love that last paragraph. Wonderful stuff.

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  12. I finally watched this film in its entirety. It was absolutely mesmerizing. I loved the cinematography, the way it was written, the complex direction, and of course, the two lead acting performances. Matthias Schonaerts is a talent that is certainly on his way up and the performancd by the actress..ehr, I mean, enchantress known as Marion Cotillard is something to behold. She might've been my pick for Best Actress that year. Just a wonderful, wonderful masterpiece. It is rare for me to call a love story a masterpiece. But this one certainly is.

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    1. That's so great man, thrilled that you loved this one so much. It still haunts me in the best possible way. I absolutely adore its pain. How about that ending on the ice? My goodness.

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    2. Yeah, that ending was very heart wrenching. I just created my own segment on my blog called Tribute To The Fallen, where I discuss films that weren't nominated at the Oscars and why I think they should've. I just did one on Rust and Bone if you want to check it out.

      Here's the link: http://filmguyreviews.blogspot.com/2015/05/oscars-tribute-to-fallen-rust-and-bone.html

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