Elle

 3.5/4

Starring: Isabelle Huppert, Jonas Bloquet, Charles Berling, Anne Cosigny, Christian Berkel, Laurent Lafitte, Judith Magre

Rated R for Violence involving Sexual Assault, Disturbing Sexual Content, Some Grisly Images, Brief Graphic Nudity, and Language

Perhaps it took the teaming of director Paul Verhoeven and actress Isabelle Huppert to make this movie.  Neither one would be called coy and they don't shy away from the sexual and the violent.  Making this movie took a lot of nerve on their part, and what's great is that they pulled it off.  "Elle" is consistently compelling and crackles with tension.

Michele (Huppert) has just been raped in her home by an intruder.  She deals with it matter of factly, much as she does with everything else in her life.  She talks to her idiot son, Vincent (Bloquet), goes to work at a video game development company, and continues with her life.  But then she's attacked again.  Who is responsible for the attacks?  Is it her ex-lover Richard (Berling), who may still lust after her?  Is it a disgruntled employee?  Patrick (Lafitte), the friendly hunk across the street?  The attacks, both sexual and otherwise, don't stop, and Michele takes it upon herself to solve the mystery.

If you have read the synopsis and have come to the conclusion that this movie isn't for you, you're right.  This is difficult, challenging cinema that deals explicitly with disturbing and taboo subjects including sexual assault.  And that's not the darkest element of the film.  But Verhoeven shows no fear and correctly intuits that the only way to approach this material is to approach it head on.  With a story like this, there is no room to hide or lack confidence.

Isabelle Huppert is widely known as one of France's leading ladies, and it should be no secret why to anyone who watches this film.  This is powerful, arresting work.  Michele is present in every scene and what is so fascinating about her performance is that we can never really know what she is thinking.  Even at the end, her motives for her actions remain a mystery.  It's a tricky role to play and Huppert makes it look so easy.

With movies like "Basic Instinct" and "RoboCop" on his resume, one might find it hard to believe that Paul Verhoeven would be the perfect choice for this material.  But then you have to remember that, in addition to being resolutely unafraid of controversy or sexuality, Verhoeven excels at making films about strong women.  Who can forget about Catherine Trammell, the role that made Sharon Stone a star?  Or better yet, Rachel Stein in "Black Book?"  "Elle" continues in that tradition, bringing a strong and fascinating woman to the screen and keeping her center stage.  The film is as much a character study as a thriller, and the lack of exploitation elements seems to have rejuvenated his directorial abilities much like they did in his 2006 Dutch thriller.

If there is a flaw with this film, it's that I couldn't for a second tell you what the point of it all was.  Maybe that is the point.  Maybe with a central character that is impossible to read, the movie should follow in the same fashion.  This isn't necessarily a criticism, just an observation.  Perhaps the way to figure it out is to watch it with a friend and talk about it over a glass of wine.

"Elle" is a movie that will shock and repel most audiences.  But for adventurous filmgoers, it's hard not to come away impressed by the pure filmmaking on display.

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