Playtime (Jacques Tati, 1967)
I really liked this one. No close-ups, no insert shots, no plot, little dialogue.....just a meandering look at modern life in a soul-less, bland city that, as the travel posters in the film show us, could be anywhere. A bold, original take on a city that is usually adored by filmmakers. Instead, Tati creates his own image of Paris, an image of stiffling conformity and bedazzling modernity. And what a set! This film was beautifully constructed and shot, although I found that the Criterion edition looked a little washed-out and not as colourful as I would've imagined. Maybe it's supposed to be that way.
I absolutely loved the scene where Monsieur Hulot goes to his friend's apartment wherein one wall is nothing but glass, as are all of the neighbours' apartments. The audience is left outside, we only see what Hulot, his friend, and all of the neighbours are doing and the only thing we hear are the street sounds. And we watch all of the inhabitants watch their TV's, facing each other but unknown to each other. Like an audience watching a film.
Another great bit was the merry-go-round ending.
Was it just me, or was anyone else waiting for Jerry Lewis to pop up in the extended (perhaps over-long) nightclub sequence?