Saturday, December 13, 2014

Movie review - "Docteur Popaul" (1972) **1/2 (warning: spoilers)

French black comedy that was popular in its day. Jean Paul Belmondo is a doctor who marries "ugly" Mia Farrow (glasses, buck teeth) then falls for her sister, Laura Antonelli, and proceeds to set about killing her suitors. Since Mia Farrow's part is played by, well, Mia Farrow and isn't very big for most of the movie's running time, you know she's going to do something by the end - so the twist is telegraphed.

It's a misogynistic film, which the filmmakers I think try to cover up by the fact that Belmondo gets his come-upppance and the end - but still, it's misogynistic. (Lots of jokes about ugly women etc). Also there's kind of a reality problem with Belmondo so obsessed with Antonelli's suitors that he takes them out.

The piece relies a lot on the charm of Belmondo, which is considerable, though he occasionally mugs.

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