Movielogr

Band of Outsiders (1964)

Directed by Jean-Luc Godard

Crime | Drama | Comedy

Most recently watched by sleestakk

Overview

Cinephile slackers Franz and Arthur spend their days mimicking the antiheroes of Hollywood noirs and Westerns while pursuing the lovely Odile. The misfit trio upends convention at every turn, be it through choreographed dances in cafés or frolicsome romps through the Louvre. Eventually, their romantic view of outlaws pushes them to plan their own heist, but their inexperience may send them out in a blaze of glory—which could be just what they want.

Length 97 minutes

Actors

Anna Karina | Claude Brasseur | Sami Frey | Danièle Girard | Louisa Colpeyn | Chantal Darget | Georges Staquet | Ernest Menzer | Jean-Claude Rémoleux | Michel Delahaye | Louis Jojot | Claude Makovski | Michèle Seghers | Jean-Luc Godard

Viewing History (seen 1 time)

Date ViewedDeviceFormatSourceRating
08/09/2020Home TheaterBlu-rayOwned7.5 stars
 

Viewing Notes

Godard’s BAND OF OUTSIDERS blends American pulp sensibilities with the central tenets of French New Wave to create a film that is both familiar and approachable while also being experimental and boundary-breaking.

It deals with existentialism in a film noir-inspired setting. Given that film noirs are almost always existential in nature, this makes a lot of sense. But Godard goes further, often breaking the fourth wall through innovative sound editing and directorial voice overs. A perfect example is the Madison dance scene in the cafe where the music is cut completely at times in favor of an expository voiceover explaining what the characters are thinking at that moment before suddenly going back to the music. It’s an amazing scene.

There are a handful of self-referential moments in the film as well, where via dialogue, voiceover or background scenery the film itself reflects on the tenets of French New Wave. In particular there is a street scene where one can see a large sign above a shop that reads “Nouvelle Vague”, literally referring to its own existence within itself. Another is a voiceover referencing the fact that something new becomes tradition merely by its existence.

The three central characters are all great, but Anna Karina steals all the light in every scene she’s in. She’s simply mesmerizing.

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