Trailing Off: "Climax" (2018)

Scene from Climax
Welcome to the sporadic column Trailing Off in which I take a look at a trailer from the past week and analyze its potential. This will be done using an obnoxious amount of analyzing and personal thoughts on the cast and crew as well as expectations. I will attempt to highlight films ranging from new blockbusters to lesser known indies and give them their due. Partially to spread awareness, I do believe that there is an art to the sell and will do my best to highlight why these trailers matter or don't with approval (trove) or disapproval (trash). So please stop by, recommend some trailers, and I will see you next time.

Trailer in Discussion


Directed By: Gaspar Noe
Written By: Gaspar Noe
Starring: Sofia Boutella, Romain Guillermic, Souheila Yacoub


- Preamble -

There are few provocateurs in world cinema quite like Gaspar Noe. He is a filmmaker who wears the badge of avant garde shock so prominently that it stands in the way of his work, often going more for a visceral reaction more than high quality art. Considering that his breakthrough film was Irreversible, a film that depicted sexual assault in graphic detail as its main plot, it only makes sense that he would continue to be a figure wanting attention. He wants to get a reaction, even if it's for how profane his work could be. Considering that his last film Love was a 3D exploration of romance featuring unsimulated sex, it only makes sense that his latest film, a musical that in any other conventional sense would be quaint. However, Climax was a film so provocative that it left a strong reaction when it premiered at Cannes this past summer.
But what is there to desire out of a Noe musical? The answer is to expect the unexpected, especially now that it's been sold as A24's first world cinema release. Given their track record for strange and audacious independent cinema, it's bound to be discussed in ways that A24 has become known for with end of year releases such as last year's Lady Bird. It's unlikely that the film will gain the traction of any awards season, but it's part of the allure that comes with partnering with a filmmaker whose sole existence is to create insane art that maybe isn't more than that. For what it's worth, Climax hasn't been proven as anything but a stunt, mostly relying on positive acclaim from Cannes, which could easily fall away once audiences begin to form opinions on it.
That is part of the excitement of the film. What exactly is a Noe musical, and why does everyone give it good buzz? All things considered, I didn't like Love, though I do think that Enter the Void is an ambitious work of art. The early news has been one particular sequence in which actress Sofia Boutella had to practice for hours in order to film scenes under water. While it could just be masochism, it could also be something more profound and interesting. What is this world that Noe has created, and what does it stand to achieve from an A24 release, which ranges anywhere from a limited theatrical release to a quick V.O.D. release at some point. If it gets a theatrical release, what will people think about Climax? That's where the film will get fascinating.


- Dissection -

Part of the fun of a Noe movie is that first hit where you discover just exactly what it all looks like. To an unknowing public, it becomes especially interesting because the images that he has selected for Climax's first trailer aren't necessarily that graphic or strange, especially in a week that has seen The Nun pull their trailer from YouTube for making a trailer that was too scary. With all of this said, the aesthetic is exactly what you'd expect from a Noe movie, which is shot with such a documentary look to it that the characters feel like they are in the grungiest setting imaginable. There's a lot that is dingy, and it has the feel of something that is bound to go surreal, especially with its bright and vibrant colors that are at times reminiscent of Suspiria.
There's not much that suggests what weird things happen once the drugs kick in, but it's already a confusing scenario. It's a musical, but what exactly is the song and dance going to look like? The few glimpses into something surreal are fascinating yet brief. Even the angles reflect Noe trying to trick the audience into viewing other things that could give hints as to what lies beyond the frame. Even the drinks full of strange-looking fruit have an appeal to them that make the world seem dangerous and deranged. But what does it all mean? There's enough mystery there to suggest that Noe's vision is saving the shock for those willing to buy tickets and enter this strange, strange world.
For those familiar with Noe's work, this is probably a big surprise solely because of the good reviews. Even then, there's not much on screen that won't suggest that this misses the elements of Noe that are isolating. In fact, there's a good chance that Cannes viewers were all on drugs when they saw the film. Maybe it's all just a strange trend and this will be the biggest mess in a Fall release. With all of this said, the idea of a Noe film managing to be more than shock is a good sign. It could be a cinematic experience that will define 2018. It's hard to say, but what is clear is that this has all of the traces of a Noe movie, for better or worse.


- One Sentence Sell -

Gaspar Noe has returned with a drugged out musical full of strange imagery and you know whether or not that appeals to you.


- Trove or Trash -
TRASH

As much as the allure of this film continues to interest me, there's not one particular moment from the trailer that gets me more excited than what has been discussed. Noe is hit and miss, and I'm not entirely sure yet if this will be a hit, just one that looks wildly interesting. 

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