Elle

Huppert is a bElle in Beauty vs. Beast as Verhoeven delves into considerably more complex instincts. Central mystery plays a surprisingly small part in this ubiquitously sexual, morally ambiguous and bizarrely arbitrary character study. Solid acting and sheer audacity bolster a meandering plot but Francofornication’s climax is a bit disappointing.

I Heart Huckabees

Either an excellent satire or a laughable exploration of alternative mode of thought. Watts and Wahlberg take comedic turns while Schwartzman plays himself and Hoffman inhabits role that’s stranger than fiction. Contrived plot and quirky humor establish tone perfectly. Surely did for exercise balls what E.T. did for Reese’s Pieces.