ALPHAVILLE is one weird existential sci-fi film noir like a communist Russian film noir version of 1984. Things are in doublespeak where a nod means no and a shake of the head means yes. Hotels have level three seductresses and love is a forbidden concept (where meaningless sex is OK). A computer called Alpha 60 rules the lives in Alphaville. Secret Agent Lemmy Caution (Eddie Constantine) is sent to Alphaville under the fake identity of a news reporter. His mission is to find a missing scientist exiled to Alphaville and bring him back, and Lemmy has the assistance of the scientist's daughter (Anna Karina). ALPHAVILLE is supposed to take place on another planet with a setting where the future is now, but I think director Jean-Luc Goddard should have set it in a fictional country on Earth because it Alphaville is a thinly veiled version of the world of 1984 or a communist country.

The movie is interesting in black and white with surrealist poetry as part of the movie’s dialogue. Lemmy refers to the place as Zeroville, there are swimming pool executions, words are censored on a daily basis, and the bible isn't what you think it is. ALPHAVILLE is definitely one of those films you need to watch more than once to dissect it. It is the most accessible of Jean-Luc Goddard's movies, but your typical film noir or action sci-fi movie fan will not be attracted to the existential version of 1984 told the lens of the future is today.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
Audio commentary by Film Historian Tim Lucas (who once published the Video Watchdog magazine) where he gives plenty of info on the movie

Colin McCabe introduction
New Anna Karina interview
Original theatrical trailer
Previews for Le Doulos, Touchez Paz Au Grisbi, Razzia Sur La Chnouf, Bob LeFlambeur

FINAL ANALYSIS: ALPHAVILLE is a French sci-fi movie that I wanted to watch for years and I get this existential sci-fi noir that will be a head scratcher for some who expect either a noir or a sci-fi movie.

This review is (c) 8-12-2019 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission. Send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com and check for further content at http://enterlinemedia.tumblr.com