Betty Blue
Betty Blue
| 09 April 1986 (USA)
Betty Blue Trailers

A lackadaisical handyman and aspiring novelist tries to support his younger girlfriend as she slowly succumbs to madness.

Reviews
DipitySkillful an ambitious but ultimately ineffective debut endeavor.
Neive Bellamy Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.
Mandeep Tyson The acting in this movie is really good.
Celia A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.
ldquinn A moderately enjoyable film. If you are a lover of French cinema, this will be more enjoyable. Two loners, drift together, aided by her wonderful spirit, her joy and her sensuality.He, a writer/painter/plumber/jack-of-all-trades, seems to be existing day-to-day, before she enters his life; then, slowly, the partnership, the commitment evolves into something more.As the film proceeds, they move to Paris, staying with a friend and she painstakingly types his lone handwritten manuscript and sends it off to publishers in the hope that it will get published. This becomes a driving force in her life.Throughout the film, they constantly move forward, searching, striving for something better. He is somewhat content throughout, willing to follow her lead. She, however becomes more and more obsessed, with thoughts of failure, the world against her, the futility of her life.A sad ending to their travails; but, he ends up the better for it.Well acted throughout, although a few of the supporting characters tend to overact at times.A good film for a rainy night at home.
runamokprods It's funny, on an 'objective' level this is a weaker film than Beineix's 'Diva'. Indulgent (3 hours long!), with a sometimes uneasy mix of comedy and dark drama, some over the top acting and a few scenes that make no sense at all (the robbery?!?). Plus a climax that's a painfully obvious steal from another film. You could also make a good argument that the film's view of women is retrograde; they're crazy muses that help us to find the really important thing, ourselves. Then we can get along without them. Certainly critics are much more mixed on this then on the seminal 'Diva'. Yet for all that, I actually enjoyed this more than 'Diva'. There were more moments when I got caught up in the story, in the way the images and music and emotion interacted, and I appreciated that it lacked 'Diva's self-satisfied, self-referential 'cool'. Not a great film, but an honest attempt to explore both the madness of love, and madness in love. (And, yes, all the hot sex and nudity is fun too.). My rating is probably too high, but damn it, images and moments just keep sticking with me.
insomniac_rod Oh Betty Blue! Probably the first soft core sex movie I ever watched. To be honest, I was a young kid that only wanted to explore sexuality through movies. You know, hormones are at it's peak when you are starting to explore sex.Years later, watching the director's cut I was amazed on how solid and sexual the script is.The sex scenes shouldn't be important and are only perceptible because of the passion and caring about each other between the couple.I don't think I have seen a movie with a plot like this. And the sexuality was a strong factor to keep the atmosphere in the movie.This is a great dramatic feature supported by sexuality and passion.
jcjs33-1 i saw the 185 minute version and maybe that's why i don't give it a higher review...i don't agree with Roger Ebert's take on this but i do think it's way over rated...the acting is good enough and the settings, hues, rooms, buildings, camera work etc. are spectacular and beautiful to look at...the couple's relationship gets to be a drag to watch...one, no nuttier than they other...if he cared about her he would've come up with a shrink or something...i felt, after awhile, the thing was too contrived...i heard one reviewer say Betty Blue is great and Million Dollar Baby was lousy and i wished i hadn't read that dude because he told the ending...at least this is a spoiler...i think Betty Blue is OK but Million Dollar Baby light years more enjoyable and moves along telling lots more in the time alloted...this is a pretty film, a slow film, well acted and put together...the story is contrived too much...a different, but same, Cuckoos Nest...it's a comedy at times cutting itself up i think...some of the characters , at times , 'over acted'...i enjoyed it though.