Actors: Denis Lavant, Kylie Minogue, Eva Mendes, Edith Scob
Directors: Leos Carax
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Indomina
Release Date: February 26, 2013
Run Time: 115 minutes
Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars
Well, how can I describe a film like “Holy Motors”? I do not think it is possible… I was drawn to this film from the insane description that it was a mix of “monster movie, film noir, romantic drama, musical, crime thriller and anime”. I mean does that not sound awesome or what!? Well the film itself is such a mind-bending trip, thanks to Internationally acclaimed and controversially director Léos Carax (“Pola X”, “The Lovers on the Bridge”). I have to say “Holy Motors” is probably one of the most trippiest films that I have seen in a long time, but it is also one of the most unique as well. The film also delivers great performances from Eva Mendes (“Ghost Rider”) and Grammy Award-winning artist Kylie Minogue, who contributed new and original music for the film. Denis Lavant plays Monsieur Oscar and steals the show here. His performance was named in the Top 10 of the Year by Time Magazine and truly deserves it. Looking for a odd and quasi-hallucinatory film then look further than “Holy Motors”. But don’t say I didn’t warn you!
Official Premise: Over the course of a single day, Monsieur Oscar travels by limousine around Paris to a series of nine appointments, transforming into new characters at each stop. He is a captain of industry, a gypsy beggar, a digitized ninja warrior (and reptilian sex god!), a gibberish-spewing troglodyte, the melancholy father of a teenage daughter, a shadowy assassin, a dying old man, and a thwarted lover reuniting with a past flame.
Indomina Films delivers an decent Blu-ray presentation but not stunning as I would have expected. The 1080p transfer presented with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1 looks sharp and works well with the tone of the film. The audio though is a bit of a let down, compared to the UK release which came with DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and LPCM 2.0 track, we just get a Dolby Digital 5.1 track. When it comes to DVD that is fine with me but when it comes to Blu-ray if it is not an HD track, then it is disappointing to me. It still sounds ok but the fact that it is on one and not the other is a letdown again. The special features are worth checking out if you liked the film. The star of the release is “Drive In” – The Making of Holy Motors”, which runs just over 45 minutes and gives a real look into the film itself with cast/crew interviews. Next up is an interview with Kylie Minogue, who gives a really sharp interview. Lastly there is a domestic and international trailer included.
