Customer Reviews

Contempt (Le Mépris) [Blu-ray]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is,without a doubt, one of the best films ever made by Godard and his cinematographer, Raoul Coutard.
The Criterion Collection transfer is impeccable - sharp focus, well-balanced primary colors, great sound.
The Blue-ray disc (not from Criterion but Lionsgate's Studio Canal label) is a major disappointment on just about every level - especially with the color levels. There appears to be a yellowish cast to everything. No hard reds, blues, yellows or greens.
Skin tones are dull and gray. It seems to have been made from completely different elements, with no reference to the original intent, or even the Coutard approved transfer.
At least it was not panned and scanned, about the only thing in it's favor.
If you have the Criterion version already - keep it.
The "up grade" to Blu-Ray is NOT an improvement.

"Contempt"(1963) is directed by Jean-Luc Godard. The film is interesting in that it encircles a given second in time when Camille Javal (Brigette Bardot) looses her love for Paul Javal (Michel Piccoli), unlike most films that would follow a linear progression from love to contempt. When Paul realizes his error it is too late and from then on he is constantly seen out of sync with Camille.

As with many of Godard's films this one is also about a film within a film, or a film about film. Fritz Lang (Metropolis, M) acts the part of a director late in his life who is forced to compromise himself to commercial film in order to make a living. Jeremy Prokosch (Jack Palance) is the American producer who is only concerned with making money and showing off his female actors assets just as Godard was asked by his producers with respect to Bardot. The movie Fritz Lang is making is an adaptation of Homer's Odyssey that Paul is hired to rework so as to make it more commercially viable. The classical characters of Penelope, Odysseus and Poseidon parallel Camille, Paul, and Jeremy. Paul seems to understand and relate his predicament with Camille to Penelope interpreting that Camille has lost her love for him because she believes that he has tried to leave her, just as Odysseus left Penelope for many years to journey the world because he was possibly trying to avoid her. Whether this is true or not, Paul only half heartedly tries to regain her love for him which only serves to further widen the rift between them. Camille never really comes out and says why she has lost her love for him and we are left trying to put the pieces together wondering if this is merely a lover's game or not. There is a curious balance between Paul's interest in her, and his indifference to her, that inevitably seems to push her away from him. Maybe she is just too young for him, or he is not stimulated intellectually by her, we don't know, but she is instinctively repelled by this indifference which crystalized at that moment, that second, when Paul seemed to push Camille to ride alone with Jeremy on the short drive to his house.

This is the French release of the film which is multilingual with English subtitles, as opposed to the American or Italian releases which were dubbed. This is also the full 103 minute version, whereas the Italian version was cut down to 82 minutes. The restored print looks very good overall with only a few blemishes. The blu-ray disc is in 1080p with CinemaScope 2.35:1. The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 may sound a bit brash to some ears but this is evidently how the film has always sounded, and I merely had the volume adjusted down a bit from where I normally watch a film. There are many special features, such as an introduction by Colin MacCabe, and a couple of documentaries about the film: "Once Upon a Time There Was...Contempt", and "Contempt...Tenderly". There is also a conversation with Fritz Lang, and in "The Dinosaur and the Baby" a discussion between Fritz Lang, and Jean-Luc Godard, as well as a booklet with an essay by Ginette Vincendeau.

A few shots don't seem to fit picture quality of a Blu-ray disc:
TC 00:27:22-40;
00:29:38-43;
00:33:01-34:32;
00:36:29-37:05;
01:25:47-30:08
- total = 5'21"

Runtime: 1:42'56"; 24 fps
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1, (orig.)
Audio: GB, F, D, E
ST: GB, F, D, E, NL, DK, N, SU, S, JPN
Region Code: A, B
Chpt.: 12
Dual Layer, 47 GB (Film: 29 GB)
Bonus:
- Introduction by Colin MacCabe [author of
"J.-L. Godard - Portrait of the Artist at Seventy"; faber&faber] 5'31"
- "Contempt"; 52'28"
- "Le Mepris... tenderly"; 31'31"
- J.-L. Godard talks to Fritz Lang, 1:00'57"
- Encounter with Fritz Lang" by P. Fleischmann, 14'27"
- Trailer
- BD Live
- 20-pages colour booklet
- Digipak
Studio: Canal

One of France's best known "New Wave" auteur was Jean-Luc Godard. In this film, with a larger budget than usual he tries out bigger scenes and some new equipment from Hollywood. This includes Cinemascope and Technicolor. He balances all this new stuff with an old director in a key role, essentially playing himself. German genius Fritz Lang is shooting a movie that recreates Homer's "The Odyssey." His screenwriter Paul (Michel Piccoli) has two problems. He and the American producer Jeremy Prokosch (Jack Palance) do not see eye to eye on what should be in the film. The other problem is with his beautiful wife Camille (Brigitte Bardot) who is "falling out of love" with her husband. Bardot, who was such a sensation in "And God Created Woman", is admittedly stunning and can truly act, but Goddard seems preoccupied with showing her lying nude on her stomach for no other reason than he can. Nothing wrong with that of course, but there is more to a clothing free Bardot than her butt.

The various vistas of Capri are beautifully shot and the color in this Blu ray disc is excellent. Unfortunately for this viewer the film is an utter bore. Palance overacts as he is often does. Lang is a great director, but not so much an actor. I give him props however for speaking German, English, French and Italian in the film. Godard wants to be self reflecting or perhaps self meditating but to me he must have been self medicating. I realize I am in the minority with this evaluation but I had a hard time staying awake. The package comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 audio and several black and white documentaries and interviews.

Nothing to add regarding this wonderful film. My comment is regarding Lionsgate Studio Canal Collection mastering:

There is a problem at 1:24:59 - the crucial scene where Camille and Jeremy Prokosh where he kisses her in the window. The film freezes and does not resume until well past 1:26.

My player is an OPPO BDP83 - I sent the disk to OPPO. OPPO then requested that I send my player. They kept disk and player for a week.

The disk will not play on OPPO or certain Sony, Samsung Toshiba or others.

I will take this up with the distributor and update here.

Jean Luc Godard together with Francois Truffaut, leadered the radical wing of the emerging French New Wave. But with the years elapsed Godard proved to be by far, the most unabashed filmmaker of all of them.

This film is a referential evidence. Godard -slyly- got to gather Fritz Lang, Jack Palance, Michel Piccoli and the supreme French Goddess by then - Brigitte Bardot - around a clever unsaid issue into Homer's Odyssey : to find out the reason why Ulysses was absent for so long of his beloved Penelope based on the hypothesis she was unfaithful.

Godard takes advantage about this criterion and explores the intimate ups and downs of this no common couple and how the arrival of an American producer will alter the insane affective equilibrium that still remained between both of them.

Of course, the presence of Frtiz Lang is another highlight along the movie, to analyze briefly some observations and ethical considerations.

The fascinating beauty of Bardot shines with sidereal splendor as well as Capri Island in this singular movie that will capture your whole attention from start to finish.

Unmissable!

Watching this movie years ago I can understand, why I didn't get it Bearing in mind I am a silly 19 year old, with her head in the clouds. But 13 years later know I understand this beautiful movie. Its a clourful movie set in Italy a couple whose love is fadeing. But one of the couple dosn't want the relenship to end. Camile eyes wonder to the sexy handsome Jeremy Prokosch played by my beloved, Jack Palance. Camile is left with Jermey Prokosch even though the movie dosen't show but it is hinted that Camile and Jermey had sex. Wich explains why Camile is pouting and when her husband comes to her resuce, Camile is wanting to so to herslef and to Jemrmey that she dosen't have feelings for Jermey but still loves her husband, Paul. They return to thier flat. They start fighting Paul wants to kill her thats why he bring his gun. Camile finds out and takes the bullets. Both Paul and Camille are reuntied with Jermey and Camille kiss and Paul sees this. Camille runs of with Jermey run to resume their love to horrible...

The blu-ray of this movie looks terrific, as does Bridget Bardot.

As to the substance of the film: What? There is about 45 minutes of a couple moping around in a near empty apartment arguing about nothing in particular. This film is the biggest bunch of nothing I've ever seen. Will someone please educate me as to why anyone thinks this nonsense has any merit or worth?

One of the greatest movies ever made. Can't watch this enough.

- Jake Yenor