Chabrol's A Girl Cut in Two

Last week, we ran across a P.T. Anderson interview (R rated, here) wherein he credits Zelig as an inspirational co-conspirator to what would become Boogie Nights. Did you see that coming? Neither did we.

This morning Curt Holman alerts Woody Watchers to Claude Chabrol's new film, A Girl Cut in Two. It's French, so a nod to Allen is expected, the comedian would say. Holman writes

It's hard to pigeonhole A Girl Cut in Two. Chabrol made his reputation as "the French Alfred Hitchcock" for suspense thrillers such as The Butcher, and the 78-year-old filmmaker keeps some plot points mysterious before taking a melodramatic turn in the last act. For most of its running time, however, it plays like a low-key comedy, with whimsical music trailing Paul like cheap cologne. When one character mentions a Woody Allen anecdote, the film's intentions snap into focus. Like Allen's recent films, A Girl Cut in Two involves intellectuals who find their good intentions at war with their desires. A Girl Cut in Two features a coda involving a bit of stage magic that seems like an outtake from an Allen film. Chabrol's movie feels more relaxed than Allen's serious work, even though his themes prove surprisingly modest.

Follow the link above for the full review, which includes more talk of Allen.