Pretty Good

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Swimming Pool (2003): Dir: Francois Ozon / Cast: Charlotte Rampling, Ludivine Sagnier, Charles Dance, Jean-Marie Lamour, Marc Fayolle: Spellbinding erotic mystery about beauty, lust, age, dysfunction, and what emerges from the pool whether it be fall leaves or the captivating image of young skin. It stars Charlotte Rampling as a successful mystery writer who is sent to her publisher's holiday home to rest and regain her composure for writing. Peace and quiet are interrupted by the arrival of her publisher's French daughter played by Ludivine Sagnier who is loud, obnoxious and brings home an array of males for a night of sinful passion. What is most fascinating is its reality and fantasy base that is never clear but then again, that is the point. Was a murder committed or is it just the prize of a latest bestseller? Director Francois Ozon brings viewers deep into the mind and reality and is backed by tremendous performances by Rampling and Sagnier with an underwritten role by Charles Dance as the publisher who is only present when convenient for the plot. Jean-Marie Lamour appears as a male caught within Sagnier's web of passion and regrets it severely. Marc Fayolle also makes an appearance as a character named Marcel. While some elements aren't exactly clear, it does play like a mystery novel within slick compelling filmmaking and peep show. Score: 7 ½ / 10

Swimming Pool is one of those films which leaves you questioning everything you've seen. Once it concludes you immediately start running the whole thing back in your mind, trying to piece it all together. It's a film which entertains you while also compelling you to think. That's a very good combination. It is a slow film, taking its time in setting itself up and really taking its time in fully revealing itself. But while there may be moments where you wish the film would pick up the pace it certainly manages to hold your interest throughout. And in the end it is clearly worth having taken the sometimes slow journey towards its intriguing conclusion.The story follows middle-aged English novelist Sarah Morton who, with a bad case of writer's block, has holed up at her publisher's French country house. Alone there Sarah can clear her mind and find her inspiration. But she won't be alone for long, her peaceful serenity disrupted when her publisher's young, nubile and quite oversexed daughter Julie shows up to stay in the house with her. To say that Sarah and Julie don't hit it off would be putting it mildly. Furious with the intrusion Sarah calls her publisher to complain but oddly seems unable to reach him. Little oddities continue to pile up. What exactly is going on here? The film is not going to give up its secrets that easily, you have to wait to the end. But there is really good entertainment to be had as the plot weaves its way to the finish. Sarah does find her inspiration. Where she finds that inspiration and what it leads to is both surprising and smart. Writer/director François Ozon thought his story out very well and executed it in fine fashion.The film's smart, compelling and very intriguing story is played out very well by Charlotte Rampling playing Sarah and Ludivine Sagnier playing Julie. There are other characters who come in and out of the story but it is really all about Sarah and Julie. And both Rampling and Sagnier do excellent work portraying these two very different women. Sarah is cold, stern, reserved. Julie is free, open, wild, full of life. And prone to quite often putting her bodily assets on full naked display. As much as acting the part looking the part was important for the character of Julie and Sagnier is certainly up to the task there. The initial clash between the two main characters is inevitable. But as the story evolves the characters do too and Rampling and Sagnier capture the evolution wonderfully. As Sarah and Julie come to understand each other a little better you would think things in the home would become a little more peaceful. In reality it is at this point where the drama and tension get ratcheted up. The film has some thrills in store. In the end the film gives you much to appreciate. And much to think about.

Actress Ludivine Sagnier shined in the previously reviewed "Love Crime", but her breakout role came in the 2003 film "Swimming Pool". This time she is paired with the impeccable English actress Charlotte Rampling, who's long career has also spiked with this role. Sagnier's raw sexuality and self confidence sets this film on fire. Not to mention the much older Rampling who also gives a shockingly brazen performance.The story revolves around Rampling's character of Sarah Morton a best selling author of crime fiction novels. Based in London and fighting a loss of inspiration for her new novel her publisher suggests staying at his French villa to relax and recharge. She accepts and in short time finds the peaceful serenity of the Mediterranean to be as relaxing as it sounds. Being a writer Sarah prefers to be on her own and welcomes the quiet and sleepy surroundings. She is very conservative and quite British. She does call her publisher back in London and asks when he will join her but he keeps brushing her aside. She visits the local café on numerous occasions and chats up the mustached waiter Franck who comes into play later on.Sarah's peacefulness is shattered with the introduction of Julie (Sagnier), the publishers daughter who arrives to crash for a few weeks. Julie is young, impulsive and very in touch with her sexuality. They are exact opposites and are usually at odds with each other, but Sarah also finds her quite intriguing. Is she jealous? probably. Does she see a story there? Definitely. Julie brings home a different guy each night, and the sounds of them getting' busy awakens something in Sarah. She snoops around Julie's things and finds a diary, which she starts to spin into literary gold. She then asks her to dinner to get some more details. While Julie is skeptical of her kindness she eventually becomes wise to her plan.Then there's the swimming pool. When Sarah arrives the pool is covered and unloved. It is only when Julie arrives that it starts to heat up. It seems that when the pool comes to life so does Sarah. Julie spends most of her day lounging around the pool and sometimes wearing a bikini. When Julie brings Franck home one night they drink, smoke and dance. After Sarah goes to her room for the night she can't help but watch them as they go for a swim, she interrupt their interlude then goes to bed. The next morning Franck is gone and their is blood by the pool. Julie has a sort of breakdown as she thinks she killed him. She regains her composure and Sarah starts to help her get away with it."Swimming Pool" has one of those endings that results in good discussions afterward. You end up rethinking all of what you have just saw. Make sure to seek out the unrated version to get the full experience. The film contains copious amounts of sex and nudity and would be teen boys holy grail, but really its more that just a skin flick. It's French for cryin' out loud. The R-rated version is available on Netflix watch instantly.

This movie will keep you thinking after it is over. The main role is performed by Charlotte Rampling as the successful writer of mystery novels, Sarah Morton. The plot takes you from London to the south of France where the action mainly occurs. There is some wonderful viewing pleasure as the audience sees the transition to a holiday retreat in France. Sarah is on a working holiday at the residence of her publisher, performed by Charles Dance. The publisher has invited her to spend some time there where she can work on her next project. She needs a change to escape the doldrums of a writer's block. Sarah's new-found tranquillity is upset with the arrival of Julie (Ludivine Sagnier), her publisher's daughter. Sarah is uncomfortable with Julie's promiscuous lifestyle and Julie views Sarah as a prude, who is totally unable to relax and enjoy life's pleasures. As the movie progresses, we feel that Sarah has taken a different turn, not only in her writing but also in her life as she adapts to Julie's behaviour. There is a swimming pool below her balcony and it is a dominant location throughout the movie. The animosity between Sarah and Julie undergoes a thaw and we feel that Sarah is anxious to break through the bounds of her own life and become more adventuresome.Francois Ozon, the director, shows us two people whose self-indulgent lifestyle forges a relationship that can literally ignore their wrongdoing. This movie delivers a few surprises at the end but the dominant impression is of two women who are willing to sacrifice people to preserve their own comfortable existence.