Anatomy of a Fall

Directed by Justine Triet, Anatomy of a Fall details the investigation and court case that ensue after a woman (Sandra Hüller’s Sandra Voyter) is accused of pushing her husband to his death. Filmmaker Triet, armed with her and Arthur Harari’s screenplay, delivers an exceedingly (and often excessively) deliberate drama that nevertheless manages to sustain one’s interest throughout, with the mostly watchable atmosphere perpetuated by Hüller’s compelling performance and a surprisingly entertaining Law and Order-like midsection – although it remains clear, certainly, that the picture’s overall impact is dulled considerably by its wildly (and needlessly) overlong running time of 151 minutes (!). The hit-and-miss vibe is alleviated by a small smattering of unexpectedly gripping interludes, with this especially true of an electrifying flashback detailing an escalating argument between Sandra and her soon-to-be-dead husband, while it’s equally apparent that the picture comes to a dead stop during a bizarre and completely unpleasant sequence involving a poisoned dog. (Far more problematic, the scene transforms a previously likeable character in the movie’s ostensible villain, which hardly seems like Triet’s intention.) The end result is a decent-enough endeavor that’s hardly able to justify its head-scratchingly epic running time, as the picture, aside from Hüller’s admittedly outstanding work, generally comes off as a garden-variety legal procedural.

**1/2 out of ****