WELLESNET MESSAGE BOARD

Rewatched "Rules of the Game" this weekend after having last seen it almost 15 years ago....and I came away totally unimpressed. This film is consistantly ranked as one of the greatest films of all time. Can anyone shed light on that for me? What am I missing?

-Flint.

I loved Grand Illusion, and was looking forward to seeing Rules of the Game... Thanks a lot!

i walked away with the same feeling after watching, le adventura. also la notte is like chinese water torture.

and i was not blown away by grand illusion. also saw renoir's woman on the beach, and renoir's little theater. i guess renoir is not for me.

le petite theatro?

Sir Bygber-
I too liked "Grand Illusion" quite a bit. All the more reason I was so amazed at how little "Rules" moved me. I recommend seeing it, if only to hear what you have to say about it.

Blunted-
I'm so glad you mentioned "L'Aventurra". What a suck movie that is. The first part really had me going with the story of the missing woman, but then to just drop that plot thread for a less interesting, pointless ramble through Italy made me crazy. I've read in articles where it is that very abrupt departure in the narrative that is sighted as the film's brilliance. I just call it bad writing.

But I must further add: I did not HATE "Rules". I found it a competantly executed film, but nothing more and FAR from the acolades that have been heaped upon it.

Anyone else?

-Flint.

in la adventura, it's the premise that is brilliant, the execution meanders and loses some of the original idea. i found contempt much more worthy of a list than adventura, or grand illusion.

Today i saw Renoir's La Bete Humaine and was blown away. I thought it was incredible. A more penetrating story, i think, than Grand Illusion. If possible i liked it better. Renoir is definitely for me!