One of the worst movies I've ever seen

Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

Thomas (Mathieu Amalric) is the writer/director of a new play, an adaptation of the 1870 novel 'Venus in Furs'. Vanda (Emmanuelle Seigner) is late and arrives at the theater just as Thomas is about to leave after a session of unuseable auditions. She convinces him to stay as she gives a powerful and an intimate audition.This is a two person play and sometimes those lose a lot of their power transferring from the live performances. Amalric is playing a director impresario very much like a Roman Polanski. Polanski's real wife Emmanuelle Seigner plays the actress. If one takes this as art imitating life, there is another layer to be had. However a couple of things do hold it back for me. The subtitle does create a distance no matter how hard I try or how superior one thinks of himself. The second and more important is the character of Thomas. The stone faced Amalric really cuts me off from the character. With only two characters, both have to be pushing the limits for me to really engage. From time to time, I find myself fading out on this movie. It's possible that I just got tired.

With his last two films, ""Carnage" and now, "Venus in Fur", Roman Polanski proves that he is a master of the intimate, the theatrical and a terrific director of actors. Of course, on both occasions he's had really good source material from which to work; both plays won the Tony. "Venus in Fur", of which we are concerned here, is a two-character piece based on the play by David Ives, who co-wrote the script with Polanski. It's set in a deserted theatre where Thomas. (Polanski lookalike Matheiu Amalric), is trying to find an actress to play the heroine in his adaptation of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch's novel "Venus in Fur". He's had a fruitless day when in walks Vanda who just happens to know his play inside out and has the same name as the character she aims to play.What follows is a case of art imitating life as director and star move effortlessly into their roles with devastating and devastatingly funny results. Here we have a film about a sado-masochistic relationship as well as a film about putting on a play, though fundamentally this is a film about role-play and the art of acting and both Amalric and especially Emmanuelle Seigner as Vanda are superb and not in the least in a theatrical way; they play not to an audience but to the camera and I luxuriated in their company. Here, too, is a movie that is sharp, smart and very funny and one which will rank with the very best of this director's work.

It is truly incredible what you can create with nothing but a stage, 2 actors and a little bit of music for the big screen. There is no doubt about that, it's a masterpiece of directing, but even more so it is an absolute ode to Emmanuelle Seigner's excellent acting. I felt like she was a goddess through and through. Maybe she truly is, depending on how much of Polanski's adaptation he can relate to. The male part did have some familiar characteristics. Almost felt like the famous tenant wanted to depict himself. Back to Emma, I loved her in Bitter Moon (and others) but this is just on a different level. The whole movie is based on her acting and she makes it work, she really makes it work. A most excellent performance that all aspiring actors should watch and take note.I didn't think for a second I would be watching a great new film by Mr. Polanski but here it is. 8/10, only because of some problems with the male lead. Honestly, would have preferred to see someone else on that role. I guess it was the closest Polanski could find to his younger self, but sadly it's just not the same.

After "Carnage" another play from Roman Polanski. He seems to have found a muse in filmmaking (adapting) them. He literally found one in E. Seigner who plays the lead here. Some would call her a Femme Fatale. Even if you don't know the book this is adapted from (Venus in Fur) like myself you will get a feel for the piece.Put two great actors in a room (a big room) and let them do their thing. Now don't get me wrong, this movie can be very annoying, especially if you start thinking about patterns or character behavior that might not be your reaction to things happening. You can argue who is evil in this though. Or more accurate more evil than the other person. Or maybe you're looking for the good in the characters (of course bad traits are easier to find).Mesmerizing and an ending that is very theatrical. Not everyones cup of tea, but professionally made nonetheless