Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
Clumsy Monsieur Hulot finds himself perplexed by the intimidating complexity of a gadget-filled Paris. He attempts to meet with a business contact but soon becomes lost. His roundabout journey parallels that of an American tourist, and as they weave through the inventive urban environment, they intermittently meet, developing an interest in one another. They eventually get together at a chaotic restaurant, along with several other quirky characters.
Tati's PlayTime is one of cinema's supreme formal achievements — shot in 70mm on the monumental 'Tativille' set, every frame is a densely choreographed visual joke operating simultaneously on multiple planes of depth. The cinematography is genuinely extraordinary and earns a 4 without reservation. Novelty is equally exceptional: no film before or since has attempted comedy at this architectural and spatial scale, treating the entire widescreen frame as a democratic comic canvas with no hierarchy of foreground over background. The plot, however, is nearly nonexistent — a deliberate choice, but one that still means narrative engagement is minimal (2). Acting is ensemble and pantomimic, competent and charming but not a standout dimension (3). The ending, while whimsical and visually lovely with the roundabout-as-carousel sequence, doesn't fully cohere as a satisfying conclusion (3).