Détective (1985)

 

At a Paris hotel, a hotel detective fired after a murder there, is still investigating helped by his inspector nephew and girlfriend. A boxing manager, owing money to a couple and the mafia, rides on a match next day.

Typical for its director, this overpopulated crime puzzle is made with brilliant style and has its moments of miniature intellectual insights and wit and is never boring, but on this occasion doesn't quite add up.

Halliwell*: "Eccentric Grand Hotel-style compendium with many baffling asides presumably attributable to the director. One suspects that the audience is expected to be a detective too."

Maltin**: "The scenario takes a backseat in this talky, contrived film noir homage...The look and feel are uniquely of the director, but it's ultimately annoying, more a concept than a movie." 

Sauve qui peut (la vie) (1980)

An examination of sexual relationships, in which three protagonists interact in different combinations.

From memory: Godard's 'return' to mainstream cinema, if you dare call it that, reveals a new, sovereign handling of image, sound, music and editing; the result is a complex, irritating, but likewise fascinating work of art.

Halliwell*: "Godard's return to more commercial cinema is intermittently interesting, but lacks the challenge and playfulness of his best work."

Maltin**1/2: "Self-conscious account...Godard's "comeback" film was widely overrated, and certainly can't compare with his best work of the past."

Laurence Anyways (2012)

Ten years in the relationship of a male-to-female transsexual's relationship with her lover.

Extensive and intense drama of an unusual relationships, excellently staged and played and at times quite moving.