"Swimming Pool" review

Swimming Pool (2003)

Directed by François Ozon
Writing credits François Ozon Emmanuèle Bernheim

Charlotte Rampling.... Sarah Morton
Ludivine Sagnier.... Julie
Charles Dance.... John Bosload
Jean-Marie Lamour.... Franck

I've had my eye on this one for awhile. The video box cover is great. It has a hot blonde sunning herself by the pool while someone's shadow falls over her. She is wearing an awesome black and white striped bathing suit. It was hypnotic to look at. As I got closer to the box, I noticed it had the words UNRATED VERSION plastered in the corner. That was enough for me. Done, done and done.

An English writer heads to a big house in France to get some work done. The daughter of her publisher barges in and makes herself at home. Unfortunately for the writer, this new arrival is a raging slut who likes to party all night. Or is that a bad thing? Soon the writer will turn her situation to her advantage by making the skank her muse.

On the plus side, Julie, (Ludivine Sagnier), gets topless. A lot. She is the slut of Sarah Morton's dreams. She will inspire Sarah and nothing inspires more than a topless blonde. Ask any artist and they'll agree with me. In fact, ask anybody on the planet Earth and they'll agree. I was inspired just by looking at her wearing her bathing suit. Imagine what symphonies I could compose or plays I could write by seeing her topless. The mind boggles.

On the negative side, there is not too much mystery or thriller in this mystery thriller. The mystery only comes at the very end. It comes as a shock because you didn't even know that there was a mystery. I won't ruin the twist here but let's just say it's not the Swimming Pool that makes Sarah start writing again. It's what Sarah wants to see swimming in the pool.

SCORE: 3 out of 4 inspiring dream girls