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38
12 Rounds Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.
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5x2
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MPAA RATING: R for strong graphic sexuality, language and some drug content
Starring Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Stéphane Freiss, Géraldine Pailhas, Françoise Fabian, Michael Lonsdale, Antoine Chappey, Marc Ruchmann, and Jason Tavassoli
5x2 is a haunting and realistic evocation of the evanescence of love, and how adult relationships evolve over time. Returning to a more intimate scale following his international smash "Swimming Pool," Ozon's chamber drama is an anatomy of a failed marriage told in reverse chronology. (ThinkFilm)
| GENRE(S): | Drama | Foreign | Romance |
| WRITTEN BY: |
François Ozon (scenario)
Emmanuèle Bernheim (scenario collaborator) |
| DIRECTED BY: | François Ozon |
| RELEASE DATE: |
DVD: October 25, 2005 Video: October 25, 2005 Theatrical: June 10, 2005 |
| RUNNING TIME: | 90 minutes, Color |
| ORIGIN: | France |
| LANGUAGE(S): | French / English / Italian (with English subtitles) |
Also known as "Cinq fois deux" or "Five Times Two"; Panisetti Award (Best Actress - Valeria Bruni Tedeschi), 2004 Venice Film Festival
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...
The average user rating for this movie is 6.2 (out of 10) based on 10 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Chad S. gave it a6:
Giles (Stephane Freiss) and Marion(Valeria Bruni Tedeschi) sign their divorce papers, then they adjourn to a hotel room for some afternoon delight. What is this? "Au revoir" sex? No. "5x2" is telling their story in reverse, and if this narrative device dredges up bad memories of Monica Belluci's anguished screams on a desolate subway platform; relax, Francois Ozon's follow-up to "The Swimming Pool" is closer to "Betrayal" (written by Harold Pinter) than Gaspar Noe's "Irreversible". This disillusioned Parisian couple can't move on because quantum physics is making them relive their personal hell... and heaven. "5X2" is a real downer, however, self-consciously so; every momentous occasion in their married life (the wedding night, the birth of their child) is marred by Gilles' perplexing behavior. In the gaps, their ongoing life that goes unexamined by the camera eye within the fade-outs between every sour vignette aren't nearly as enigmatic as they should be, since the devil in their holy matrimony tells us all we need to know about their marital trajectory before each narrative wormhole snakes into the doomed couple's past. "5X2" is well-acted, nicely photographed, but kind of pointless.
Aaron A. gave it an8:
Ambitious, superbly acted, imperfect. Recommended.
George G. gave it a9:
This compelling dissection of a marriage gone bad offers superb acting and sublime directing. Viewers who don´t like it obviously are dead in the brain and between their legs.
alberto r. gave it an8:
Has a soap opera infidelity argument cutter and twisted upside down. It is a blow of fresh air in the middle of thousands of action American films. In the beginning (end) of the film a character opens the window to see the Mediterranean Sea and you can feel the wind. There are no bullets, no car persecutions, no drugs, and no heroes. You have only to find the characters reason for their unnatural behavior. Good to share, and discuss ( or argue) with a friend.
Adrian E. gave it a0:
Don't waste your time watching this! If this is the best French film of the year (yes it's claimed!), then I won't be watching any other French ones either!! Very disappointing.
T Ngo gave it a5:
In 2004, two French directors produced two reverse-chronological love stories. Gondry's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was rich in character development: as the story unravels, it becomes apparent that what had attracted the two doomed lovers at first blush, would eventually repel them. Ozon's 5x2, the other 2004 reverse love story (now finally released here in the states), unfortunately, lacks the strong character development that made Eternal Sunshine so worthwhile. With such a temporal narrative device, it would have been of utmost interest and welcome to the viewer had the Ozon imparted me, and others as well, with any kind of insight into their tempestous affair, considering the fact that we are provided with the outcome in the beginning. What attracted them in the first place? And what drew them apart? We don't know, and frankly, we don't care all that much (even though Valeria Bruni Tedeschi's performance does elicit pathos from this viewer, from time to time). We have the solution to the puzzle, but we can't help but wonder about HOW the pieces to the puzzle fit. Nevertheless, it is, for the most part, an entertaining film. But for anyone looking for a love story that will emotionally resonate long after the screening, this is not the one.
Tim D. gave it a9:
Very well made, with the fascinating power of a slow-motion car crash, telling a difficult story that does not flinch from showing complex, difficult aspects of its characters. Effective, naturalistic acting across the board, most notably that of Bruni-Tedeschi.
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