SanEat
A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."
Ava-Grace Willis
Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.
Kaydan Christian
A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.
Cissy Évelyne
It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.
SnoopyStyle
Former couple Isabelle (Isabelle Huppert) and Gérard (Gérard Depardieu) reunites for a mysterious mission. They are semi-famous actors. They're married to others with kids dealing with personal issues. They were estranged from their son Michael who committed suicide. Then they got letters after his death promising to see them in Death Valley on a specific day after a schedule of places and times.These are legendary French actors and it's fascinating to see them together as somewhat themselves out in the real world. It starts out as a compelling mystery as to what's going on. As the characters reveal the secret, the actors are free to become a real couple. That's what most compelling about this movie. These two actors project a real history. The ending is somewhat muddled. I'm not sure what's happening but maybe that's the movie.
Horst in Translation (filmreviews@web.de)
Do not be confused by the title of writer and director Guillaume Nicloux' "Valley of Love". This is a French movie, so you may need subtitles unless you speak the language. It runs for slightly over 90 minutes and stars Isabelle Huppert and Gérard Depardieu in pretty much every scene from start to finish. These two have been among France's finest for a really long time and in this film here they show us that this is exactly where they still belong in 2016, both in their 60s now playing a divorced couple. They meet again as their deceased son wants them to briefly after committing suicide. Or did he really?This is one of the core questions of the film, but it's all really just about the character study of the two protagonists. It's 95% drama for sure with this sad background of their meeting, but Dépardieu's talent makes up for occasional comic relief. You can think about him what you want looking at all the escapades and comments that were reported in the media, but the only thing that counts is what an outstanding actor he still is. He also has good chemistry with Huppert here and it was somewhat funny to watch them together in terms of proportions.The most crucial recurring theme in the film was definitely death, not only because the entire thing takes place near/in Death Valley, but also with the story of their son, the cancer reference, the death of a marriage, very telling dream sequences and a lot more. To be honest, I was truly surprised that Dépardieu's character made it out of this film alive. I expected him to die any minute towards the end, but I guess his heart was still most intact in contrast to his bladder. "Valley of Love" is a pretty slow movie and not a lot is happening really which many voters may find unappealing, but I did not. What I did not like, however, was the reference to this strange rash, which became really important as it was also used dominantly in the final shot. This did not do too much for me sadly, which hurt the overall perception a bit. I cannot say this film had any really great moments, but it was pretty convincing thank to the one good and one great lead performance. I recommend it. If you like the actors, you will certainly not be let down.
Reinier De Vlaam
This is a strange movieA divorced couple gets letters from their son who committed suicide. When the son was 7 the mother left the family, never to see the son again and the father then put him in a boarding school, to see him rarely.They both get instructions to go to death valley and do some sight seeing together, then the son will appear to them once more he writes. This is however only a side element of the movie, the real thing is the interaction between the couple: The very huge Gerard Depardieu and the fragile Isabelle Huppert who came together on the screen 35 years ago, when they were still attractive, in the movie Loulou.The movie has some very memorable quotes that may or may not refer to the lives of the actorsGD: I have become fat IH: Well as long as you feel good GD: (irritated) do you think I feel good about itandGD: do you still love me IH: When you do not still love someone you were married to you never loved him anywayThe dull Americans with their fake smiles probably gives an idea how they think about Americans. The dead dog head in the toilet makes you wonder what the reference is.Al these moments make the movie very worthwhile, the reappearance of the son is only an excuse for the film. I found I wasn't so much wondering about if the son would really appear or not. I was much more fascinated by the odd moments, dialogs and the confrontation of the couple and how they have difficulty to talk about their personal problems.It is not a shockingly good movie but very fascinating
richard-1787
This is a very simple - in some ways - and sad movie. A long-divorced couple learn of the suicide of their son, with whom they have been out of contact for years. He sends them each a letter, asking them to spend a week together at different sites in Death Valley (yes, in the U.S.), with the promise that he will appear to one of them.They meet. They encounter a few dull Americans. They spend a lot of time out in the desert. Lots of old dirty laundry gets aired. The end makes no sense.When I was walking out of the theater in the small Breton town where I saw this movie - fewer that 10 people had showed up to see it -the usher told me that it was based on the story of the death of Gérard Depardieu's son, Guillaume, and that Guillaume had been his son by Isabelle Hupert. Not true. Guillaume was Depardieu's son by his first wife, Elisabeth, and he did not commit suicide. Nor, as far as I know, was he gay. So much for instant legend.What was good, indeed very good about this movie was the acting by the two principals. They are both first-rate actors, and they do wonders with what is often not first-rate dialogue.For what it's worth, it's also interesting to see them as they are now, with NO makeup or attempt to hide what time has done to two formerly very handsome/beautiful individuals. Depardieu has become downright enormous, and not in a good way. He looks downright pitiful in shorts.There is also some beautiful landscape shots of Death Valley.Not a movie I would see twice, at least in the theater. But not a movie to overlook, either.