Harry here to declare undying love and appreciation for Asia Argento.... She rules! SHe also got cast today in Vin Diesel's XXX as the femme lead. Now let's pray together for an R....
One big shout-out for The Hughes Brothers who made a great balls to the wall serial killer biopic fantasy with FROM HELL. Please people, go and pay your respect for the Hugesters because this movie needs some gross. If it fails, all that we will be getting is VALENTINE 2:THE RETURN OF THE PROM VICTIM and all kinds of crappy Thomas Harris-written Ridley Scott-directed cash-in flicks.
FROM HELL isn`t the actual movie I wanted to tell about. It`s the other French flick named LES MORSURES DE L`AUBE which translates into LOVE BITES. The movie was directed by Antoine de Caunes and it stars Guillaume (Danny Boyle`s THE BEACH) Canet and Asia Argento. It is a great atmospheric spook noir where Asia does her best as an uber-goth femme fatale. Think Morticia in the Paul Schrader version of ADDAMS FAMILY. Beyond description if you got addicted to Asia`s dad`s classic TRAUMA.
The story follows a Parisiene party animal who wonders thorugh the sweet night life. After pulling some tricks he gets an order to find certain guy Jordanne for one million French Francs which is like 200 000 bucks in Texas... The problem with this guy he has to find is that he`s some kind of a creepy man-biting vampire wannabe. Spooky...
This isn`t a straight horror flick. It`s substance is just an excuse for the exploration of magnificent atmosphere. Like in Dario Argento movies-the villain mythology is there just for the character`s sake. Just to keep propelling the story. If you can dig movies on this level, you will LOVE - LOVE BITES...
de Caunes` direction is smooth and gentle. His characters slide through different casual situations and we get amused by that. If a guy is crashing into a party de Caunes makes us anticipate the pay-off when he comes in.
Visually, it is a very stylish and very precise work. It even provides with a scene when drugged hero has sex with the vision of three Asias. Unbelievable.
Maybe my review got a bit off the track because of Asia. Makes you feel that I`m hyping this just for her sake. You`re wrong. I Might Be Wrong. Sorry, just remebered the title of the new Radiohead record. Nevermind. Nevermind`s Nirvana... Back to the point. You`re wrong. It is a fine movie that reached greatness through my fandom. Still, it is important enough to end up on your wish list when you go out, rent tapes, buy stuff on the Web or juts visit IMDB.
Take care,
Ethan
