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Luis Bunuel collection [1965]


RRP: £44.99
Our Price: £28.78 (subject to change)

Throw logic out the window and enjoy.
Review date: 2008-05-26 Rating: 10 out of 10

Luis Bunuel is probably the most important figure in surrealist cinema history. Yet his spectacularly creepy early shorts (Un Chien Andalou, L'age d'Or), have often masked his reputation as a truly great director. Yes his surrealist, warped imagination was obvious, but often overlooked is his sublime direction of actors and camera work. And this box-set contains irrefutable evidence of Bunuel's genius.

Top of the tree, no question is 'Belle De Jour', for me one of the finest films ever made. The wonderful Catherine Deneuve stars as Severine, a frigid house wife, who fulfills her sexual desires by working in a brothel. She soon attracts the charms of a seedy, flamboyant gangster, whose obsession with her threatens disaster. In spite of the subject, this is tasteful stuff. Everything is implied not shown, and the film simply puts on screen the everyday fantasies we all have. Oh, and Belle De Jour also sports one of the greatest endings ever seen (you'll see).

There are plenty of other gems here as well. 'The discreet Charm of the Buorgeoisie', is for many, Bunuel's masterpiece (I'll except that). A trio of couples attempt to sit down and have a meal, only to be interrupted at every turn. These interruptions can be in the form of anything; a corpse, a coup d'etat, or in one hilarious scene, a stage play (for the love of Christ, don't ask!).

Also, 'The phantom of liberty', 'Tristana' and 'That obscure object of desire', are all worth watching over and over again. Even the misses such as 'Milky Way' are worth at least one watch for the bizarre images alone.

Bunuel's crazy world will sweep you up, spin you round and leave you in a dizzy heap on the floor. And thankfully, Bunuel never explained his work, leaving the viewer free to make his/her own mind up.

There's little doubt in my mind that Luis Bunuel was a fruit. But on the evidence here, he was also one of the world's greatest ever directors.

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Reviews


A collection of the best movies made by one of the great film director's
Review date: 2007-04-27 Rating: 10 out of 10

CET OBSCUR OBJET DU DESIRE - Amusing film about a man's obsession with/lust for a woman (played by two actresses). Very similar to Tristana (also in this box set) but better as it doesn't drag so much through its running time. Not a great movie but still very good. (3 stars)

DISCREET CHARM OF THE BOURGEOISIE - His funniest film and probably his most surreal with a proper story. Upper/middle class couples keep trying to have dinner parties but keep getting interrupted (war breaks out, owner of the restaurant dies etc). Very memorable and one of my favourite films. (5 stars)

DIARY OF A CHAMBERMAID - Looks kind of dull but is surprisingly fresh feeling and entertaining. Similar country house setting as Gosford Park but filmed in crisp black and white, and with a shoe fetishist directing. Amazing he got some of this past the censors back then. I've watched this one quite a few times which is unusual for an art film (which is the polite term for films you suffer through once because it's supposed to be good for you). (5 stars)

PHANTOM OF LIBERTY - Like Monty Pythons sketch film The Meaning Of Life. It's very uneven in quality. Some of it's sublimely silly and funny (such as eating in the toilets and doing the toilet at the dinner table; filthy pornographic pictures of famous landmarks). Other bits are dull (the police classroom). (3 stars)

MILKY WAY - Unfunny and boring. A waste of time. Some interesting surrealism at the end but getting there is a chore. (1 star)

TRISTANA - A hypocrite becomes the guardian of a girl he lusts after. Starts great but goes on for far too long. Slight premise stretched beyond breaking point. (2 stars)

BELLE DE JOUR - His best film and a genuine masterpiece. A bored housewife decides to become a prostitute at a brothel. Sounds sleazy but it's not. It's tastefully done and has real aspirations to be a quality film. (5 stars)

That Obscure Object of Desire
Review date: 2007-01-25 Rating: 10 out of 10

Nicely packaged, and on good prints, this bargain box set of Bunuel boasts documentaries and the theatrical trailer for each film, which is nice. The accompanying booklet is more about Catherine Deneuve than Bunuel, which is irritating, but the documentaries are more focussed on the director, and provide interesting insights from Bunuel's cowriter, Carriere.

Having found it really difficult to find Bunuel's later films at reasonable cost on DVD (the old box set was about the same price as this but only had his last three films), I reckon this is jolly good value for money for the discerning Bunuel enthusiast.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Catherine Deneuve
Jean Sorel
Michel Piccoli

Creators:
Catherine Deneuve (Primary Contributor)
Michel Piccoli (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Optimum Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Optimum Home Entertainment
EAN: 5060034578444
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 8
Format: Anamorphic, Box set, PAL,
Release date: 2007-01-22
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 776 minutes
Language: French (Original Language)
Language: Italian (Original Language)
Language: Latin (Original Language)
Language: Spanish (Original Language)

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