Updated RankingDirty Money (1972)
★ ★ ˝ Satire of American Crime films has a minimalist, deadpan style that reminds me more of Aki Kaurismäki. A simple but hasty robbery plan spirals out of control. The loot changes hands with each unexpected coincidence. Dialogue in the back half is minimal and the violence is often brutal.
Gina (1975)
★ ˝ Arcand made a doc about the exploitation of textile workers, only to see it banned by the government that bankrolled the project. Arcand then folded his key points into this fictional exploitation film made in the wake of Straw Dogs. So, there’s a lot of social drama until the final third introduces rape and revenge. Unique to the genre, Gina calls in outside muscle to carry out most of her street justice, but the look on her face while she watches the revenge is a memorable image.
The Decline of the American Empire (1986)
★ ★ ★ – OkayI couldn't find a single review comparing this film to Éric Rohmer, so I wonder in my ignorance how this couldn't be mistaken for one of his. (Perhaps it's the age of the characters here.) The film is a lot of talk and the talk is exclusively about sex.The first half cuts between the men preparing a meal and the women at a gym/spa. After an hour of talking in confidence about sex, the two genders come together and after a little wine the conversation continues to flow freely. It's a lot of talking, but what I liked best is the contrast created by characters continuing to speak out loud, only with everyone assembled there are emotional consequences. I would probably like this more if it was the type of film I was seeking out and not just my next blind watch.