Cinematic Obsession: Enter the Void

Director Gaspar Noe, the maker of that silly little film Irreversible, is back on the scene with Enter the Void. Described by Noe as a "psychedelic melodrama", it follows the spirit of Oscar (Nathaniel Brown), who has been shot and killed by the cops in a drug-bust, as he wanders around the neon-lit streets of Tokyo trapped in a dizzy limbo, brought upon by a promise to never leave his sister Linda (Paz De La Huerta, who apparently continues her display of bodily assets so proudly flaunted in The Limits of Control).

I wasn't a huge fan of the dime-store philosophy or shock tactics of Irreversible, and yet I'm wildly anxious to see the aesthetic feast Noe has prepared with this one. In addition to the aforementioned neon-drenched palette, Daft Punk's Thomas Bangalter was put in charge of sound effects (get ready for plenty of "untz untz"). And, best of all, Noe filmed the movie directly from Oscar's point-of-view, blinking and all. So we, the audience, are Oscar, seeing every moment of his crazy posthumous odyssey. Which brings to mind another odyssey... Noe has said he was inspired by everything from 2001 to Lady in the Lake to "The Tibetian Book of the Dead".

After screening an unfinished version at Cannes last May, Noe later took it to Toronto and London and, less than a month ago, Sundance, where IFC films snatched up the US distribution rights. It'll be interesting to see how they put a trailer together for it. All I know is I can't wait to experience all 160 minutes (yes!) of Enter the Void. I mean, come on, look at the opening credits!