Go Discover the Films of Quentin Dupieux

Ever since meeting my buddy he has told me about cool pop culture stuff that I have missed. From punk rock to tv shows to movies, he has given me some great recommendations. When our friendship first started over a decade ago we found common ground in movies.

Before we met I had seen the movie "Rubber". For those that may not know, the short version of the movie is, a tire becomes sentient and starts to take matters into its own hands. "Rubber" is insane, nonsensical, hilarious and I really liked it. I mentioned that I liked this movie early on in our friendship. Well, since then, my buddy has opened my eyes to the wonderful world of Quentin Dupieux.

Dupieux is a French filmmaker, but he isn't your typical filmmaker. His movies are nuts. They go in so many different directions. I never know what I'm going to get in when I turn one of his movies on, but I have found that they always keep my attention. I saw "Rubber" because I had heard about this movie with a sentient tire and John Malkovich was in the cast. That was all I needed. And, as I said, I really liked it. But I didn't think about it much afterward. I saw it, enjoyed it and moved on. I didn't go out of my way to learn much else about the movie or the people involved. But after talking about it with my friend, and then having many more conversations, I have watched more of Dupieux's stuff. I recently wrote about the movie "Deerskin". This was another one that was intense and weird and funny and I liked it.

We were recently talking about absurd comedy and he brought up another Dupieux movie, "Wrong". I watched it just the other day and I haven't stopped thinking about it since. I have a plan now to watch every Dupieux movie I can during the summer and into the next school year. I can't shake movies like "Wrong" or "Deerskin". I have thought much more about "Rubber" than ever before. I keep seeing other movies of his on my streaming channels of choice and cannot wait to dive in.

Why do I want to watch these movies that can be challenging and different you may be asking? Because Dupieux is doing something different. He is taking chances. He makes movies that you have to pay attention to because if you don't, you'll miss key elements. I like movies that make me think. I want to see something unique. I want to see something that is a fresh and cool new idea. We are so bogged down with remakes and superhero stuff now. That's what makes a movie like "Sinners" or "Everything Everywhere All at Once" or Quentin Dupieux movies so enticing for me. These movies aren't remakes. These aren't superhero retreads. These are new and fresh ideas. The movies go off in crazy directions and that is so awesome and a breath of fresh air. I like directors and writers that are willing to take it to the edge, and sometimes jump off that edge. It rules.

I cannot recommend Dupieux's work enough. You need to be prepared for what is ahead, and understand that what you're about to watch is not "normal". But if you do, you will be rewarded with some of the most original content you will ever watch. I'm forever grateful to my buddy for opening my eyes to this world. I hope I can return the favor to him in some way. Until then, I am stoked to talk more Quentin Dupieux movies with him. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Deerskin"

Yesterday I watched a movie that a buddy of mine has been suggesting to me for awhile. The movie is called "Le Daim", or in English, "Deerskin". This is one of many movies made by French director, Quentin Dupieux. He has directed a bunch of other movies, but the only other Dupieux movie I have watched is "Rubber".

For those that don't know, Dupieux likes to make weird movies. He is an abstract film maker. "Rubber" was about a sentient tire that exacts revenge on the human race. It is absurd and funny and wild and I enjoyed my viewing experience. Once I let go and just accepted the world he had created, I bought into "Rubber". "Deerskin" is not like "Rubber". Although it has a wild premise, it is much more of a slow burn. I want to move ahead spoiler free, so I will give a broad retelling of the premise of "Deerskin".

A man goes to buy an authentic deerskin jacket from a guy he meets online. He uses every last penny he has to get this jacket. The man gives it to him and also gives him a camcorder. The man becomes obsessed with the jacket, thinking it is the best jacket in the world. He is always mentioning his "sick style" in reference to his new look. He doesn't know what to do with the camcorder, so he makes up a fake story that he is a filmmaker. He entrusts the help of a local bartender, who also happens to be a film editor and they decide they are going to make a movie together. The idea for this movie is to convince everyone else to give up their coats so this man can be the only one wearing a coat in the world. They will do this by any means necessary. Along the way the man gets himself a full deerskin outfit. That is about as vague as I can get with a description.

Now I get it, this sounds odd. This sounds like some nonsense. But, much like "Rubber", once I let myself get engaged with the world they created, I was all in. This movie goes in some interesting directions, and I couldn't take my eyes off screen. The two main actors really give it their all in this movie, and I totally buy their performances. Dupieux created another bizarre world, and I was anxious to see where he took everything. While it wasn't necessarily the ending I wanted, I understand why he closed the movie out the way he did.

I was pleased with my viewing experience of  "Deerskin". The slow burn was effective. The performances were good. The story was interesting and weird. And it was something unexpected, which I have come to expect with Dupieux's work. The movie is also 77 minutes long, which is wonderful for such an odd story. I recommend this movie if you are into avant garde, weird stories. This is different. This is wild. This is not the norm. But man was it a solid, mind bending watch. I feel like I want to go back and watch it again to see if there was some stuff that I missed. This also makes me want to watch more of Dupieux's movies, which I most certainly will do. But, for me, "Deerskin" was successful. Go check it out. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.