Swimming Pool (2003)

The tagline says, "On the surface, all is calm." What they don't tell you is that there's nothing below the surface. This is a one-dimensional gotcha! flick at heart, but with the one dimension we're given here, we could have done a lot worse. Certainly it helps that both Charlotte Rampling and Ludivine Sagnier give first-rate performances in characters that play to their strengths. And Francois Ozon continues his transition from boring shock-show director into a man whose visual talents are apparently limitless; his work here is his best yet, with several artfully composed shots that can stand with anyone's finest work. It's indeed then a shame that all this goodness had to be harnessed to a cheap 'n' cheesy script that takes too long to get where it's going and isn't really worth the journey anyway. Still, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't entertained -- it's a movie where parts work better than the whole. There's several archly funny moments and lots of beautiful compositions and many many shots of Sagnier in some form of undress. Overall, it's a good time. Just don't expect anything deep or meaningful.

Grade: B-