You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet

A testament to [Resnais'] positive outlook on not only the possibility of cinema, but the possibilities of life.

There is something both mischievous and moving about a world-famous director who, closing on his 10th decade, designs a movie that celebrates his actors: their varying ages, their versatility, their heart.

What elevates the film is a pervasive, palpable sense of loss — between lover and beloved, young and old, stage and screen.

The result is complex yet lighthearted, as diverting as it is meditative. Resnais uses contrapuntal editing — one of his trademarks — as well as artificial settings, special effects, split screens, cinematic references and anachronistic devices to keep viewers tipsily off-balance.

For those with adventurous tastes and a little extra patience, the 90-year-old's possible swan song (though he evidently is far from fatigued) is rewarding.

Though Resnais’ gamble seems to have failed, it’s encouraging to see a director on the brink of 90 still willing to experiment in a way most helmers half his age wouldn’t dare.

Despite its moments of charm and caprice, the film is prolix, inert, indulgent and often just plain dull.