Carlos (Criterion Collection)

A marvellous film from French director Oliver Assayas, originally a Canal + mini-series in 3 x 2 hour parts. Even at six hours, however, the film never seems too long, indeed, in some places it seems too short. In a weird way too, Carlos, an upper-middle class Venezuelan boy with pseudo-Marxist parents (a lawyer) traces in his violent history very much the same transit that other 1960s radicals did, that is, from beginning as a left radical, he transits to being an establishment businessman, who easily sheds the radical politics of his youth in order to make money: lots of money. Of course, the business he's in is terrorism, the murder of innocent civilians for his political clients, but essentially, his story follows that familiar path. In France of course, with its intellectual class still very much in thrall to various failed leftist politics, the story has a greater shock value than it does for North Americans and others, but it's still a fascinating study of a particular individual. The script clearly positions Carlos as a prototypical narcissist, and I'm not sure that's the whole truth of his personality, but it's a good explanatory device, and it fits most of the known facts. Even so, either Assayas (or the film's producers, perhaps mindful of the lawsuit from Carlos, who denounced the whole project from his French jail cell) begin each of the three episodes with a disclaimer letting us know that this is a work of fiction; don't believe it: the film is as true as it gets. In any case, Carlos' lawsuit is kind of schizophrenic. On the one hand he asked to prevent the film being distributed, but on the other, he claimed a share of any potential profits. And of course, the film wouldn't work at all without the riveting performance of Edgar Ramirez as Carlos; he doesn't exposit Carlos's personality in long chunks of exposition, he embodies the character in behaviour and attitude, and it's a thoroughly convincing performance. Listen to how many times Carlos focusses on himself and his needs, dressing up these speeches with ad hoc political motives (usually highly general, and often illogical and specious. I enjoyed the film immensely. Along with Der Baader-Meinhoff Komplex from a couple of years ago, this film gives a clear-eyed view of both the energy and the fateful limitations of the politics of violence embraced by some of the 1960s radicals.

Word of warning: this is a very French film, that is, there is some nudity, most of it male, with nothing hidden, so to speak, and as well, it's fairly violent, so it's not for viewing with kids.

Fascinating 5 hour plus, 3 part film about Carlos the Jackal (although
he never actually called himself that) the headline grabbing terrorist
of the 70s and 80s.

With little exposition, we're dropped into a whirlwind of violence,
self-aggrandizement, sexual seduction, and power games, moving at an
almost dizzying speed. The film allows us to slowly figure out Carlos,
instead of explain him in a simple facile way.

While never sympathetic, somehow the amazing Edgar Rameriez allows us
to feel for this id and ego driven creature, powered far more by the
need for attention and adulation (whether from women or the press) than
by true belief. Indeed, one of the most interesting things about the
film is how (intentionally) shallow and hollow Carlos's political
monologues ring.

The last 1/3 is the slowest and hardest to sit through. Carlos's slow
decline into ineffectiveness and unimportance is sometimes patience
trying. But Rob Nelson, in his excellent Village Voice review makes a
strong argument that this is 1) unavoidable after the high paced rush
of the first two parts and 2) part of the point of the film; without
his fixes of women and power there wasn't much to Carlos, and without
them both he and we want it to be over.

This is a film I'd like to see again. While I don't quite agree (yet)
with the many critics who have hailed this as of the best films of last
10 years, I do think it's a challenging, brilliantly acted, wonderfully
made film, that gives context both to modern terrorism and recent world
history. Add to that, an exploration of the blurring fine line between
power and uncontrolled narcissism that seems to dog leaders (especially
male) of all political stripes from Hitler to Bill Clinton to George
Bush to Carlos.

That's a lot to successfully cover, even in 5 hours.

Fascinating 5 hour plus, 3 part film about Carlos the Jackal (although
he never actually called himself that) the headline grabbing terrorist
of the 70s and 80s.

With little exposition, we're dropped into a whirlwind of violence,
self-aggrandizement, sexual seduction, and power games, moving at an
almost dizzying speed. The film allows us to slowly figure out Carlos,
instead of explain him in a simple facile way.

While never sympathetic, somehow the amazing Edgar Rameriez allows us
to feel for this id and ego driven creature, powered far more by the
need for attention and adulation (whether from women or the press) than
by true belief. Indeed, one of the most interesting things about the
film is how (intentionally) shallow and hollow Carlos's political
monologues ring.

The last 1/3 is the slowest and hardest to sit through. Carlos's slow
decline into ineffectiveness and unimportance is sometimes patience
trying. But Rob Nelson, in his excellent Village Voice review makes a
strong argument that this is 1) unavoidable after the high paced rush
of the first two parts and 2) part of the point of the film; without
his fixes of women and power there wasn't much to Carlos, and without
them both he and we want it to be over.

This is a film I'd like to see again. While I don't quite agree (yet)
with the many critics who have hailed this as of the best films of last
10 years, I do think it's a challenging, brilliantly acted, wonderfully
made film, that gives context both to modern terrorism and recent world
history. Add to that, an exploration of the blurring fine line between
power and uncontrolled narcissism that seems to dog leaders (especially
male) of all political stripes from Hitler to Bill Clinton to George
Bush to Carlos.

That's a lot to successfully cover, even in 5 hours.