Elle

Verhoeven, through his deceptively casual direction, affirms that one can be aroused and even empowered by violence and surveillance as fantasies and still be traumatized by them as real events.

Isabelle Huppert delivers a standout performance...

Verhoeven is undeniably a provocateur. But Elle is no hollow missile: to dismiss it as such actively shuts down the subversive potential for radical transgression that keeps Miche`le alive, surviving, and connecting with those she loves.

... an extraordinary, mercurial portrayal of a woman who does not give a damn what you think of her, but who would prefer that you not fuss.

...a jaw-dropping showcase for Oscar nominee Isabelle Huppert...

...a gripping psychological thriller, something of a Hitchcockian whodunit but with a feminist protagonist.