I really like Gaspar's early work, namely _Irreversible_, and _I Stand Alone_. His movies typically deal with the extreme, be it sex or violence. This movie has none of that. I think this will be a very polarizing film for his fans. While it lacks all the disturbing subject matter he is best known for, it still has the unmistakable Noe touches, like the lighting and camera work.
For anyone who doesn't already know, the movie is filmed in split screen, meaning 99% of it is showing two points of view. While this wasn't as annoying as I thought it would be, I don't feel it was needed. It's merely a detail about an otherwise forgettable film.
Now, I don't want to be too harsh with this, because I liked moments, and I can see why some people would really like _Vortex_.
Trouble is I already dislike art films, and this is almost two-and-a-half hours of old people walking around, then sitting, then walking, then sitting.
The dialog is minimal, the story is almost nonexistent, there are loose ends. If the movie doesn't want to tell a story, why should I care to watch it?
Again, not wanting to rip this apart, just because I didn't like it. If you are a fan of slow, art-house films, you are going to love this.
Would this have been handled like most indie dramas, I think my grade would be a 7 or 8. See, the plot actually hits home for me: my parents are around the age of Lui, and Elle, with similar health issues, and at the end of the movie... well, let's just say I never thought a Gaspar Noe film would have me crying.