Goodbye to Language Review
By David Kempler
Goodbye Godard
Beauty and art are definitely in the eyes of the beholder. Jean-Luc Godard's latest, "Goodbye to Language" is arguably art, but I am not in support of that particular argument. Then again, turning to me as an arbiter of art is probably not the way to go.
When I first heard this film was being made, my initial reaction was shock that Godard was alive. Okay, that's my fault, but in my defense he hasn't made a major impact on the big screen since the 1960s. "Goodbye to Language" will not change that.
Godard has put together an incomprehensible, obtuse, and downright bizarre piece that is apparently trying to pass along a message with an extremely profound message. Some people I know who have seen it claim to have gotten the point. I don't believe any of them. I believe they all read about the plot somewhere and then pretentiously pretended to get it. If I saw it without knowing who directed it, I would have guessed the creative talent behind it was a film major trying desperately to be deep. This is not to say that it is without redeeming qualities. It looks great - it is in 3D - and the sound grabs you, albeit in an annoying way. The camera-work is also unusually clever.
Let me give you a hint just how confusing it is. The leads are either two men and one woman or one man and one woman. Or maybe a dog is the lead. Scenes either exactly like others or slightly different, display repeatedly. Sound goes off at times. At other times, the volume goes from silence to screechingly loud in a split-second, tossing you against the back of your seat. Metaphors are compared to bowel movements. A man speaking German repeatedly berates and threatens the female lead. Then he walks off-camera and the sound of gunshots are heard. Why this is or who is being shot is anyone's guess.
While I failed to tell you everything that occurred because it is impossible to recall all of the oddities, I think you understand that this is one weird experience. The weirdness of it all is also the best thing about "Goodbye to Language". The underlying message has something to do with that we no longer communicate with each other. I think. Of course, you are welcome to take a shot at deciphering it on your own time with your own money, but in my humble opinion, you are better off never saying hello to "Goodbye".
