I certainly was familiar with Jean-Luc Godard was, but upon seeing his recent death, knew I was deficient in experience. So when I saw Martin Scorsese loved Contempt, that was my ticket.
Based on the Italian novel by the same name, Godard chose the buttocks bombshell Bridgette Bardot as the female lead. Here she plays a typist who marries a playwright, portrayed perfectly by actor Michel Piccoli. Their marital conflict which parallels Piccoli’s new occupational venture of re-writing of The Odyssey is supercharged when Piccoli allows and encourages Bridgette to ride with his new volatile producer boss, Jack Palance.
The film is very unique even by today’s standards. First, much of the dialogue is barely audible due to the pained music of George Delerue. This technique adds to the allure of the pathos and discontent of all the characters. Palance’s character is comically histrionic, yet we still feel for his impetuous nature. Fritz Lang as an older wiser director is an ingenious wink wink to film auteurs, as is all the movie title name drops sprinkled in the script.
Raoul Coutard’s cinematography is gorgeous. The Island of Capri and the seaside triangular building of a zillion stairs is simply breathtaking. Godard’s color choices are vibrant; red blankets, blue couches, altered statues with blue and read eyes all work in concert to create a memorable cinematic experience. Godard was a master of his craft.
Scorsese’s Godard Pick: Contempt
