Wall

There is so much going on here at once, yet Renoir displays the mastery and precision of a great conductor in balancing it all to perfection. A film of great empathy, yet it never loses its bite or its joyous pulse. As rich and compelling a work as you'll find in cinema.

Aaron Garrett

11May12

In Mozart's time a farce ended with the couples reunited after a wild night. In Renoir's time a Mozart inspired farce ends with pointless death, pointless coupling, lies, and the surviving protagonists caring as little as they do over the death of a rabbit drummed up by the servants for a ritual hunt. Visually astonishing, one of the greatest uses of depth of field shots for complex storytelling as opposed to showiness. Oh and it's funny as hell!

The Dude

4May12

The most adequate challenger of Citizen Kane's title of "greatest movie of all time."

WhatsUpWill

1Mar12

There are a few indisputable masterpieces in cinema. This is one of them. Deliciously disgusting and hilarious.

Judicial Joe

24Feb12

Renoir has a fine sense of drama and irony, but I don't yet see in him the greatness others find in his work - he doesn't take many chances with his narratives, and doesn't hone his psychological techniques to where archetypal plots develop deep emotional resonance.

Max Renn

8Feb12

Very entertaining. Laughed loudly on numerous occasions.

Christofer Pierson

7Feb12

"Corneille, put an end to this farce!" "Which one, your lordship?"

Aaron Garrett and 2 others like this

Matt Turner, Max Renn

Salaway Gennaro

3Feb12

I think ol' fatso should have gotten someone foxier than Nora Gregor since all the guys were fighting over her.

Aquieu

25Jan12

"Your day is done with a game bag full and an empty gun".

AKFilmFan

25Jan12

While not my favorite if I had to choose between this and Citizen Kane, Renoir's controversial (at the time) film is groundbreaking and a scathing look at the bourgeoisie of his own people.

Joseph Hefner

24Jan12

While it seems like superficial "white people problems" on its surface, it is in fact a pensive allegory for and criticism of Western Europe in the late 1930s.

HwCath

24Jan12

A very mannered satire. Maybe a little too mannered for my taste but it's well concieved and its depiction of the ruling class is a real dick slap on the mouth of how people were acting in the amongst of world war 2.

Tony Oswald

20Jan12

Bowled me over this morning as it bowled me over the first time I watched it four years ago. Everything I love about film wrapped up in a powerhouse of a movie.

LifeofFiction

18Jan12

A brilliant character study, brought to life by an airtight script.

Howard Orr

6Jan12

A triumph of ensemble acting and the effortless-seeming joie de vivre that comes from a great director. Everyone dancing on the volcano.

Josh Hansen

25Nov11

What I learned from The Rules of the Game: There really are no rules to the game. "The awful thing about life is this: Everyone has their reasons."

Ace Craven

21Nov11

A true game changer.

Matthew_Lucas

13Nov11

There are few films that can touch both the peerless reputation and the masterful construction of Jean Renoir's THE RULES OF THE GAME. Rightfully regarded as one of the greatest films of all time, this satirical look at the indiscretions of the French bourgeoisie, whose "rules" merely produce an image of modesty to cover impropriety, is filled with endless pleasures and disarmingly human drama.

Doctor Sodoma

26Sep11

Las Reglas del Juego es graciosa, sutil, ingeniosa y absolutamente mordaz. Todo un deleite.

Abby.

25Sep11

My first Renoir, and I absolutely loved it.

chanandre and N. C. like this

chanandre

4Mar12

you better! it's considered alongside Citizen Kane, the all-time best film E-V-E-R. Not my favourite Renoir though...you should have started with Nana or some earlier film like La Fille d'Eau...
Abby.

4Mar12

I'll definitely check those two out. Thanks for the recommendation.

AntioneOscar69

9Jul11

A scathing look at a petty, corrupt, immature, and hollow society, from the butlers and cooks to the "sophisticated" wealthy. These people treat human life like they are, hunting game, and the results are deadly. Renoir's masterpiece is also hilarious with colorful characters and excellent camera work. As with Renoir's Grand Illusion, Rules of The Game is a cinematic experience that is satisfying on many levels.

Walberto likes this

catch_33

26Jun11

Check out our podcast review of Rules of the Game here: http://lastpictureshowpodcast.blogspot.com/2011/06/episode-11-sleeping-beauty-bon-iver.html

Dave

20May11

I originally put off watching this one, not realizing what a classic I was missing. The movie is hilarious, utterly charming, and the best Renoir I have seen.

N. C. likes this

tertzak

4May11

"Two eggs, ham and some white wine; I'm ravenous."

msmichel

8Apr11

Essential cinema indeed. Renoir's dark take on bourgeoise society is a scathing, brilliant commentary that still holds true. The similarities between the polite society and the servants is sublime. Full of remarkable moments and harsh truths.

wmk likes this

McNulty

28Mar11

You want the fuckin rules well here they are: Rule Number 1. Watch this movie more than once. Rule Number 2. Apply the rules of the game to your own life. Everybody plays games. You women play games with our minds but we love it. Everybody lies. Even YOU who said this wasn't a masterpiece. I wish I didn't have to play these stupid games with society but if you are too REAL for this world, they will MURDER YOU!!!

Loraine and 3 others like this

N. C., Joe Wakeman, ConallVision

ConallVision

29Mar11

I'm a step closer to beginning to understand what all the fuss is with Renoir. Thanks for that comment.

Sean Keeley

26Mar11

I take back my earlier post, though I was correct in saying I would need a second viewing. The Rules of the Game is a masterpiece - funny, biting, poignant, and sad. The film has elements of farce, melodrama, tragedy, and satire and succeeds on all levels. The craftsmanship is incredible. I can't wait to delve into the special features on the DVD.