Soigne ta droite

Clusters of surrealism being tossed from one moment to the next. Cinema is a deranged marionette and Godard is gleefully tugging at its strings, making it move in twisted, demented contortions. This marionette's movements are often dark, sometimes sad, and very funny. this marionette is Godard's hidden gem "Keep Your Right Up", an obscure avant garde comedy (?) that is in equal parts a surreal comedy and philosophical journey through Godard's unconventional and sometimes warped mind. It's also a musical at times, as well as a strange melodrama...it also works as cinematic poetry...it also works as an occasionally pretentious, symbolism infested art house film...this movie is many things.

Often entertaining and sometimes simply laugh out loud hilarious, this weird experimental flick is unlike almost any other film there is. Some may call it random, some may call it genius. Plenty will likely find it boring, but i found it to be uproariously entertaining, although flawed. The best thing this weird little movie has going for it is its sense of humor. Godard is able to inject jokes in the middle of this chaotic mess that range from the dark to the absurdist to the satirical to the witty. Both physical and verbal forms of comedy are utilized, sometimes at the same time, and it is endlessly fun to view some of these wacky, wildly unpredictable bits. The rest of the film shines with its great moments, but as a whole is a bit too messy to be hailed as a masterpiece. This is one of those movies that I really need to watch multiple times in order to even get the faintest idea of whatever Godard was going for. Perhaps this whole movie was one of his practical jokes; it has no meaning, it's just a bunch of silly fun that happens to be jammed with literary references, philosophical rambling, bizarre editing, music numbers, and graceful poetry. Considering the rest of Godard's insane filmmaking career, such a combination of mood and oddities would not be surprising if it was revealed to be some kind of puzzling prank.

Whatever Godard's intentions may be, he still created a damn fine avant garde-comedy-drama-fantasy-musical-satire-meta-whatever-I don't f*cking know film that is likely to at the very least amuse those who are used to more nonlinear and experimental filmmaking. It will warp your mind, and maybe even enrage you, but it will also tickle your funny bone in the process.