"Les Cousins" is the first of two early Claude Chabrol movies ("Les Godelureaux" / "Wise Guys" is the other one) which seem to exist merely to show us that the lives of the idle rich are fun but superficial and empty (Jean Claude Brialy essentially plays the same character in both!). Chabrol makes this point early on, and then belabors it for nearly two hours. There are long, boring scenes in which nothing happens except the characters partying. The film has no plot, but Chabrol does have an ace up his sleeve - a sudden surprise ending (for those viewers who stick with it until then). A lesser Chabrol film in my opinion, although it seems to be highly regarded critically. ** out of 4.
Review of The Cousins
