Man Bites Dog (1992)

[thatguy]

I thought I reviewed this, but I couldn't find it in the forum posts. I think I watched it last year.

CF, after all your recent postings, I think you should add it to your queue. Here's a synopsis from the Criterion site:

Documentary filmmakers André and Rémy have found an ideal subject in Ben. He is witty, sophisticated, intelligent, well liked—and a serial killer.

I'll leave it at that...

--tg

[cranefly]

Yeah, I watched this earlier in the year. It was a funny black comedy, at least for the first two-thirds -- which is why I didn't put it among my most depressing. But the final third seemed to cast off the black comedy. The serial killer lost his charisma and turned into a drunken mean bastard.

It got a bit unpleasant to watch -- not quite a total downer, but close.

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

Kinda like Peter O'Toole in The Ruling Class? It goes from comedy of manners and absurd humour (British film, gotta use the extra vowel) and finishes completely in the grim blackness of insanity?

[thatguy]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5323334.stm

Man Bites Dog director dies at 38

The director of controversial cult film Man Bites Dog has died aged 38, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
A family statement said Belgian Remy Belvaux died in Orry-la-Ville, north of Paris, but no cause of death was given.

Belvaux also starred in Man Bites Dog, a blackly comic mock-documentary about a mass murderer that won several awards but aroused considerable controversy.

He never made another feature film, but turned to directing commercials which won several industry awards.

"He leaves us one masterpiece and tons of regrets," the family statement was quoted as saying.

Man Bites Dog won two awards at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival.

Benoit Poelvoorde, who co-wrote and co-produced the film and played the serial killer in his first feature film role, has become a major cinema star in France.

--tg