Elle

Name: Elle
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Comedy
Released: November 11, 2016
Duration: 130 min
Rating: 89
Cast: Anne Consigny, Charles Berling, Isabelle Huppert, Laurent Lafitte

2016

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 36 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 255 Ratings

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7.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 255 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: November 11, 2016 | R

Starring: Anne Consigny, Charles Berling, Isabelle Huppert, Laurent Lafitte

Summary: Michèle seems indestructible. Head of a successful video game company, she brings the same ruthless attitude to her love life as to business. Being attacked in her home by an unknown assailant changes Michèle's life forever. When she resolutely tracks the man down, they are both drawn into a curious and thrilling game-a game that may, atMichèle seems indestructible. Head of a successful video game company, she brings the same ruthless attitude to her love life as to business. Being attacked in her home by an unknown assailant changes Michèle's life forever. When she resolutely tracks the man down, they are both drawn into a curious and thrilling game-a game that may, at any moment, spiral out of control.… Expand

Director: Paul Verhoeven

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 130 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Stephanie Zacharek

Nov 10, 2016

Even by the out-there standards of "Basic Instinct" and "Showgirls," Paul Verhoeven’s latest, Elle, is a thing to behold. Part thriller, part obsidian-black comedy, part cerebral firebomb, it’s confrontational, terrible and glorious. You almost can’t believe such a picture exists. Read full review

100

Justin Chang

Nov 15, 2016

Elle is a gripping whodunit, a tour de force of psychological suspense and a wickedly droll comedy of manners. Read full review

100

Philip Kemp

Mar 6, 2017

A complex film that sidesteps every cliché. Paul Verhoeven and Isabelle Huppert are at the top of their game. Read full review

Lisa Nesselson

May 21, 2016

This audacious, irony-laced, convention-jumbling tale is just plain fun to watch. Read full review

Peter Travers

Nov 10, 2016

Huppert, an fearless actress (see The Piano Teacher), gives a performance that's a riveting mix of carnal and chilly – you can't take your eyes off her. Read full review

Time Out London Catherine Bray

May 23, 2016

The fictional character Huppert creates is simply so lived-in and plausible that to insist Michele react differently to her own lived experience would be as obstinate as insisting that a person in real life cannot possibly feel the way that they say they feel. Whatever your take, it's a film that will inspire debate for decades to come. Read full review

John Bleasdale

May 21, 2016

There is much to like about Elle, first and foremost a witty and bold performance from Huppert and the generally seasoned ensemble. Read full review

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User Reviews

Prosmooth

Nov 13, 2016

Oh boy. Here we go. This one is going to be controversial as hell. This never could have been made in America. For one thing--the heroine isn't likable. For another--her unlikeability isn't shown as a weakness of character. The less you know going into this one, the better. One of the bestOh boy. Here we go. This one is going to be controversial as hell. This never could have been made in America. For one thing--the heroine isn't likable. For another--her unlikeability isn't shown as a weakness of character. The less you know going into this one, the better. One of the best performances of the year by Isabelle Huppert. Great thriller.… Expand

5 of 7 users found this helpful52

luisxportela

Jan 9, 2017

O filme mais cru e intenso do ano. Huppert provando o porquê de ser a melhor atriz de cinema atualmente com sua capacidade de imergir completamente no personagem. A direção de Paul Verhoeven é impecável!

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

zembowerboy

Nov 12, 2016

Thanks to a typically brilliant performance by Isabelle Huppert (and really, when is she not great), and Paul Verhoeven working at peak power. ELLE takes what could have been a typical rape-revenge thriller and transforms into something else entirely. Subverting expectations at every moment,Thanks to a typically brilliant performance by Isabelle Huppert (and really, when is she not great), and Paul Verhoeven working at peak power. ELLE takes what could have been a typical rape-revenge thriller and transforms into something else entirely. Subverting expectations at every moment, taking the story to twisted and twisty, not to mention disturbing, areas I was not expecting. This is a compulsively compelling character study that leaves much to discuss and gets better the more one thinks about it. Layered and unforgettable.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

BHBarry

Dec 28, 2016

“Elle” is a French film based on the novel “Oh…” written by Philippe Dijan (“Betty Blue”) with a screenplay by David Birke. Directed by Paul Verhoeven the movie stars Isabelle Huppert, Charles Berling and Laurent Lafitte in this tale of a woman who is raped and how she copes with the“Elle” is a French film based on the novel “Oh…” written by Philippe Dijan (“Betty Blue”) with a screenplay by David Birke. Directed by Paul Verhoeven the movie stars Isabelle Huppert, Charles Berling and Laurent Lafitte in this tale of a woman who is raped and how she copes with the incident. The rape scenes are brutal in their violence and makes the viewing of the film an uneasy experience. What is more uneasy is the mind of the viewer as he or she recalls and tries to understand the theatrical presentation they have just seen for the story is complicated and made even more so by the subtitles. I am sure a French viewer would find the film easier to understand than his or her English-speaking counterpart. All that being said, this film is filled with suspense and mystery and, more than anything else, is a tribute and testament to the talents of Ms. Huppert. Her unbelievable ability to communicate and exude various degrees of emotions and sex appeal without ever uttering a word speaks volumes to her amazing acting ability. I give a 7.5 with a warning for the squeamish viewer to beware.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Douglas56

Feb 25, 2017

A well-made film with Huppert at her best. Unfortunately the script is a contrivance that gets silly. Thrillers can be funny but they can't be silly. Verhoeven's idea is to construct an allegory that parallels the life of Elle with the stories created in her video game business. It's a cuteA well-made film with Huppert at her best. Unfortunately the script is a contrivance that gets silly. Thrillers can be funny but they can't be silly. Verhoeven's idea is to construct an allegory that parallels the life of Elle with the stories created in her video game business. It's a cute idea but he forgets to take the audience with him.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

RyanNanni

Dec 23, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Look, I'm not even going to engage the question of whether this movie is essentially misogynist or not. I'm going to take the film at face value. Because I actually enjoyed the first third of the movie immensely. Isabelle Huppert's performance is fantastic and compelling, the concept of a woman dealing with a violent rape by sitting back and methodically preparing to take her revenge, and the way she treads through the male world she lives in are all compelling ideas!

But the story is a train wreck! And not in an enjoyable way!

The first engine of the movie is Elle's mission to track down her rapist. Very compelling.

Then we get this backstory that her father was a mass murderer. Also interesting enough to keep me watching. But not tied in to the rest of the movie in anyway whatsoever. It almost seems random.

And then some very boring subplots about her whiney son and his obnoxious girlfriend, and some casual relationships with the other people in her life. No tension driving those subplots.

And then! *spoiler alert*

She discovers her rapist, it's the neighbor she has a crush on! Wow, interesting! The person she's been trying to track down this whole time! But then, she seemingly doesn't care at all! She lets him go, gets into a random car rack which he saves her from for some bizarre reason, she continues to hang out with him, he rapes her again but it's bizarre because the movie plays this like it's a bad thing but she also wants it maybe? Not clear. And then he tries to rape her again in the end which is totally undramatic at this point because she's totally given up on trying to stop him from raping her.

The last third of the movie lacks tension or any compelling conflict at all. This could've been a good movie. :(… Expand

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

underin

Dec 10, 2016

No way is it a great movie. There's no effort spent on character development; too many useless subplots (why is the thing about the father or for that matter the son there anyways!!!); and too much hype. If you want movies of the genre please go see Gone Girl; dont waste your time on this crap.

4 of 9 users found this helpful45

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11	#11 Best Movie of 2016
98	#98 Most Shared Movie of 2016