Annette (Leos Carax)

[Ezee E]

Letterboxd

[Peng]

Meaning to click on the letterboxd link, but scrolling down I accidentally clicked on your twitter instead. So... is that one star based on the first 46 minutes?

[Ezee E]

Meaning to click on the letterboxd link, but scrolling down I accidentally clicked on your twitter instead. So... is that one star based on the first 46 minutes?

Yep. I know what I'm getting, and no need to watch the rest.

[Peng]

The "May We Start?" opening will be hard to top as my scene of the year, which may raise my expectation too much on both the story and music to follow. Although it is clearly personal to Carax, the fact that the film originates with the Sparks might contribute to what I perceive as various elements, instead of working together in their disparity, just feeling too push-and-pull between different sensibilities. Wish Marion Cotillard has as full a character to play as Adam Driver too, although she elevates it a lot. Still, this is frequently stunning as a visual experience (that storm scene is glorious in its throwback rear-projection artificiality), and even if I am not as into the rest of Sparks' music as the beginning song, the way their repetitions and refrains get recoded by Carax's filmmaking through a scene or sequence can lead to a few magical moments, of artificial elements fitting together to give rise to unexpectedly potent emotions. And together, with the help of Driver and another sensational actress Devyn McDowell delivering their work, they nail the ending so devastatingly. 7/10

[Mal]

I was game for Carax to challenge me and give me a lot to look and think about (like his other works), but Annette in the end is such a disappointing fart of a film that has a lot of ideas that all pretty much fall flat. It doesn't surprise me that this never made it to a live stage. A droll yet typical take on the Hollywood power couple, a waste of the charismatic screen darling Marion Cotillard. Adam Driver committing to the bit probably prevented me from giving this a zero. ... but who cares about the titular Annette? Not me. There's nothing impressive or remarkable. And the music itself almost gave me community theater vibes where there's just not enough outsiders around to say "gee, maybe this isn't working...".

[Yxklyx]

Not without its faults but I loved this!

P.S. I'm sad that the shot depicted in the poster is not in the movie - at all - unless it's in our dreams of the movie.

[Ivan Drago]

From my Letterboxd review:

It may not be as abstract as the superior Holy Motors, but this is still a damning commentary on toxic masculinity and celebrity, functioning as a surreal, stylish venture inside the mind of a sociopathic comedian, who Adam Driver portrays with incredible power and an impeccable singing voice, while Marion Cotillard does the same by matching him at every turn. As co-writers of Annette's script and soundtrack, the talents of Sparks cannot go unnoticed either, as Russell and Ron Mael give the musical a grand, sweeping sound while aiding Carax in taking down the entertainment industry from every angle, from celebrity relationships to the artificial nature of life as a performer. There's still loads more to unpack, but this critic looks forward to exploring the stagey world of Annette, because it's a welcome return for Carax as a director, and a mind-bending musical viewers will never forget after seeing it.

[Idioteque Stalker]

About as bonkers as Holy Motors but with a strong emotional core. Loved it.