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DJHajie
Reviews
L'incorrigible (1975)
A fast talking star vehicle
L'Incorrigible is a rambunctious European comedy that's enjoyable as a breezy diversion. If you enjoy the two leads, then you'll find the antics entertaining enough. Everything unfolds at a breakneck pace in set piece after set piece. The plotting is a little loose and difficult to comprehend at times, but the star power and general sense of fun more than makes up for any deficiencies. This is madcap Belmondo with lots of scenery chewing, as he charms his way through this little caper. L'Incorrigible is tasty cinema confectionery fluffed up for an undemanding date night parisian experience!
Welt am Draht (1973)
Poorly Paced Sci-Fi Failing Miserably Where Other Genre Pictures Shine
I saw this film off a restored 35mm print in a theater recently (2011) based on critical praise, and they were just plain wrong about its merits. Save your dollars.
If what you're looking for is a Sci-Fi film that very loosely weaves an interesting concept around the thinnest story possible, then this film is for you. But if you're looking for a compelling story, digging deep into its interesting concept, through strong performances and beautiful compositional cinematography, worthy of the world it tries to create, then look elsewhere.
Half the audience walked out after the first half. I stayed begrudgingly through the second part too, as it was split into two parts. During the intermission, I overheard someone mention when this film screened at the Museum of Contemporary Art in California many audience members walked out there too.
To the film's credit, the second half is slightly better than the first, but that's saying very little. The entire film, filled with unfelt exposition, amounts to a 70's "talkie" that's not "strange" enough to keep your attention nor filled with vivid enough cinematographically arresting images, conveying clear concepts or ideas that challenge your intellect, such as you'd find in "2001: A Space Odyssey" or "Klute" for example.
Some films capture a strangeness of mood that resonates so perfectly their content becomes somewhat irrelevant, but this is not one of those films. With some finessing of the score, "World On A Wire" could have been somewhere among the likes of a "Suspiria", "Blind Dead Trilogy", or "The Kingdom ('94)". Poor pacing, lack of irony, and next to no levity in this plodding narrative are all good reasons to avoid this or, at the very least, to make into a rental for the sci-fi curious.