Old-School Flix: Alphaville

Before there were Blades to Run, there was a place called Alphaville.  The Film comes to us from famed Director Jean-Luc Goddard and features a well-known (just not here) Character known as Lemmy Caution.  I guess Mick Concern and Lars Vigilance were taken.  This Movie is quite iconic and notable, as mentioned, for being an obvious influence on Blade Runner.  Is that my reasoning for doing this now?  Am I too subtle?  In this one, Lemmy Caution goes to the titular City to capture or take out a Scientist endangering the humans outside of the City.  Basically, Robots be tripping and only an illogical, gruff man can escape this place full of forced-logic and freedom from thought.  Will he be the man for the job?  My copy is part of the Criterion Collection, so I doubt that my opinion will sway too many.  All the same, here we go...

Lemmy comes to Alphaville undercover and sure ingratiates himself well.

He's immediately given attention by a Sex Android, but he keeps her at bay (for his own sanity) and just kills the guy sent in to mess with him afterwards.

This sure helps him stay undercover as a Reporter!

He's sent to take in Professor Van Braun (aka Nosferatu?!?) and is aided by his Daughter.  Convenient and awkward.

Another undercover Agent gives him some exposition...but dies thanks to a Sex Android's ministrations.

The power of boners must be strong if you can get any knowing that Lemmy is watching you!

Lemmy is given a tour of the facilities and also constantly questioned.  For a place ruled by a logic, that seems a bit inconsistent!

He learns about the city's efforts to corrupt the outside land...by basically doing what the FBI was actually doing at the time.

In his big showdown with the Master Computer running Alphaville, he...'kills' it with a poem.

After that, he goes on a light killing spree (including this casual death below) and gets the target.

He manages to escape the City with the woman- to punch, shoot and abuse his way to another victory.  The End.

A dark, dense Classic.  One does not lightly watch a Goddard Film.  He's about as far from, say, Zack Snyder as humanly-possible when it comes to his Films!  Alphaville is obviously no exception to this.  The premise could make for a straight-forward Pulp Adventure Film.  Goddard doesn't quite go that way.  This one is chock full of scientific lectures, dark Characters and, again, 'death' by poem.  Lemmy is not a nice, fun Character to say the least.  His brusque behavior is certainly rational in a city full of Sex Androids and Robot-controlled Hit Squads.  His actions at the beginning are given some context that helps as well, even if he still seems like a jerk.  My pretense for reviewing it were the obvious Blade Runner comparisons, but it is interesting to see the differences too.  Goddard's Alphaville as a City is pretty understated, which makes a lot of sense given the 'guy' who designed it.  So, Film Nerds, who wins in a fight between Deckard and Caution?  Youth goes to the former, while pure asshole experience goes to the latter.  Alphaville stands up as a Classic- no question.  Will it be for everyone?  No.  Is French Cinema in general (let alone Goddard)?  No.  As a side-note, I can't believe that I watched a Goddard Film before giving Bob one!  In any event, check out both Films and compare for yourself.  As for me, I'll be trying to make this into a Meme...

Next time, more *actual* Horror for October.  What insanity will I dig up?  Stay tuned...