Just because a film is disturbing, shocking or even distasteful, that doesn't necessarily mean it's a poorly made one as well.
But by the same token, such traits don't make a well-made but morally repellent movie like "I Stand Alone" very watchable either.
To get an idea of what this controversial French tale of suburban rage is like, try to imagine Joel Schumacher's cartoonish "Falling Down" as re-engineered by bleak fellow American Todd Solondz (of "Happiness" infamy).
Yet somehow the movie goes even farther than that, with scenes depicting (or at least implying) murder, suicide and incest, as well as the inclusion of footage from an actual pornographic movie.
However, it's important to point out that those scenes probably weren't intended for shock value or titillation alone. Instead, it's more likely that their inclusion is an attempt to explain the mindset of its lead character (Philippe Nahon, from "Hate"), a former butcher recently released from prison.
As he explains the circumstances of his birth and pre-prison life, we discover exactly what crime he served time for: brutally assaulting a construction worker because he believed the man raped his mute and developmentally disabled daughter (Blandine Lenoir).
But the time spent behind bars hasn't made him repent for that crime. In fact, if anything, his incarceration has made him an even bigger pot of resentment that's just waiting to boil over.
Of course, it doesn't help that he's been unable to open a new shop, a frustration he immediately takes out on his pregnant girlfriend (Frankye Pain) and her mother (Martine Audrain).
After brutally beating his girlfriend, he heads back to Paris with gun in hand. Living hand to mouth in a seedy hotel, he begins mulling over a revenge scheme that will enable him to take care of anyone who's ever made him angry.
As you can probably tell, this isn't what you'd consider uplifting material. In fact, it's pretty unpleasant stuff that's only for the strong-stomached — the scuzziness of it may make you want to bathe afterward to get off the taint.
Yet, it's still nearly compelling, thanks to Gaspar Noe's stylish direction and brilliant acting by Nahon, who refuses to make the character a stereotype or cartoon.
"I Stand Alone" is not rated but would probably receive an NC-17 for considerable profanity, scenes of disturbing violence (gunplay and a vicious beating), graphic sex scenes (including pornographic footage), full male and female nudity, use of crude sexual slang terms, gore and use of racial epithets and ethnic slurs.