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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.

Pola X

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Pola X reviews
65
7.5 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 20 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 9 votes
Read user comments
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Romance

Written by: Leos Carax
Jean-Paul Fargeau
Lauren Sedofsky
Herman Melville (novel Pierre, or, the Ambiguities)

Directed by: Leos Carax

Release Date:
Theatrical: September 8, 2000
DVD: April 10, 2001

Running Time: 134 minutes, Color

Origin: France / Germany / Japan / Switzerland

Language(s): French (with English subtitles)

Summary

RATING: Not rated

Starring Till Lindemann, Guillaume Depardieu, Christoph Schneider, Yekaterina Golubyova, and Catherine Deneuve

An incestual relationship develops between a young author (Depardieu) and his long-lost sister (Golubyova).

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

83

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Paula Nechak

It's compelling, poetic, rebellious, funny and one of the few movies that feels like it's been culled from another time and place yet broodingly bends modern societal taboos.

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83

Portland Oregonian Kim Morgan

A tough picture to wrap your brain around.

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80

Film.com Robert Horton

I'm not sure how elaborately I could defend Pola X, but I loved watching it.

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80

LA Weekly Manohla Dargis

The film is at once breathtaking and ridiculous, and it's the tension between these two extremes, as well as Carax's own intoxicating style, that makes it essential viewing.

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80

Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas

Plays out the notion of the forces of light being inexorably drawn to those of darkness, of the older generation betraying the younger and maybe even an indictment of European indifference to the Balkans' agony.

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80

The New York Times Stephen Holden

Pola X has enough fireworks to keep you in your seat. When it's over, you'll know you've had an experience.

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78

Austin Chronicle Marjorie Baumgarten

Searingly potent and suggestively supple, Carax's images are rich with emotion and ideas.

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76

Mr. Showbiz Michael Atkinson

A film that's bound to be loathed for its irrationalities and narrative drunkenness, just as it will be beloved for its original risks and manic visual energy.

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75

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

I would rather see one movie like this than a thousand "Bring It Ons."

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75

New York Post V.A. Musetto

Frantic and out of control - and great fun to watch.

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75

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

There's only one Carax, uncompromisingly ambiguous.

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70

Village Voice J. Hoberman

This moody, rapturous adaptation of Pierre, Herman Melville's gothic follow-up to "Moby Dick," is never less than seriously romantic.

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63

San Francisco Examiner Wesley Morris

A less confrontational, though positively gushing modernization of "Pierre, or the Ambiguities."

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63

Philadelphia Inquirer Steven Rea

Long and lugubrious.

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60

Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum

Carax has a wonderful cinematic eye and a personal feeling for editing rhythms, and his sense of overripeness and excess virtually defines him.

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50

TV Guide Ken Fox

Through Carax's eyes, even squalor looks fabulous.

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50

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

Carax's cinematic imagination makes it worth viewing by movie buffs with a sense of adventure and a tolerance for explicit sex.

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50

Variety Derek Elley

An often intriguing, sometimes hypnotic work, but one that quickly starts to unravel in the final hour as it becomes clear there’s not much beneath the emperor’s clothes.

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38

New York Daily News Jack Mathews

Frenzied, gothic nonsense.

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25

San Francisco Chronicle Peter Stack

Carax, with Pola X, has become a parody of himself with a self-indulgent, overreaching style that many viewers will find a struggle to watch -- provided they can contain their contempt for pretentiousness.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 7.5 (out of 10) based on 9 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Romey R. gave it a10:
Great, interesting, wonderful movie.

Frank B. gave it an 8:
As ugly as it is beautiful, in a league of its own but a memorable ride!

Steve B. gave it a 7:
An intelligent, erotic and compelling film. Its raw vision of love and insanity may even be disturbing, but it doesn't ask for approval nor does it preach a message. This is the stuff that brings to mind those of the challenging 60's French films. It's a trip into madness that you won't soon forget! See it with an open mind and you'll leave with an open mouth. A masterpiece.

Paul R. gave it a 4:
Pretentious, pointless, overlong nonsense. No comparison to Rohmer or Trauffault. No humour, no plot and acting was mediocre. Nothing new here.

Romey R. gave it a 10:
Great, interesting, wonderful movie.

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