The Rules of the Game

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Gus L Renoir found it remarkably easy to come up with subplots and one scene characters, so he focused on that instead of actually creating a plot or a protagonist. There is no discernible character development or movement from the beginning to the end. It was, as Larry David may say, "a show about nothing." While that may work well for a sitcom or a play, a film without a plot or protagonist is a disappointing film indeed. Three stars for the witty dialogue and well-executed slapstick. I can justify no more than that. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 11/17/24 Full Review bob c too convoluted for me Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/23/24 Full Review George B I'm going to be in the minority here. I found Rules of the Game to be mildly amusing in places, but overall boring. And lacking in consistent tone. It's been hailed as a masterpiece. I thought it a mediocrepiece. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 11/10/23 Full Review acsdoug D I understand this film's place in cinematic history. In 1939 it must have been pretty groundbreaking, what with its advanced cinematic techniques and a plot where everybody is screwing everybody else. Eighty-four years later, however, it didn't have much impact on me. If this is how the French were then it's no wonder the Germans had so little trouble rolling through France a year later. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 09/24/23 Full Review Thomas V This is a great film. Brilliant social satire that is lively, funny and all around entertaining, but with a message about class and the interaction between haves and have nots. Noone is spared from the satire though, and thats what is so interesting. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review dave s Set in the days before the start of World War II, Jean Renoir's The Rules of the Game is a scathing satire of French aristocracy. Over the course of a weekend at an opulent country estate, the wealthy gather to indulge in infidelity, boorish behavior, hunting and, ultimately, murder, all under the watchful eyes of a plentitude of servants. On a technical level, it is masterful. The blocking of the shots is amazing, the editing is remarkable, and Renoir's subtle but effective camera movement is effective in capturing the antics of the characters. If there is a fault with The Rules of the Game (is that cinematic sacrilege?), it is the size of the cast. There are so many characters, many of whom seem to serve no purpose, that it is often difficult to determine the nature of the relationships. On the bright side, things make more sense with a second viewing, which isn't always a bad thing. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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