Monsieur Oscar (Denis Lavant, right) shares a cigarette with the kidnapped model Kay M. (Eva Mendes) in a scene from "Holy Motors." Courtesy Indomina Releasing

DVD review: ‘Holy Motors’ cranks up the weird to 11

By Sean P. Means

| The Salt Lake Tribune

First Published Feb 25 2013 11:32 am • Last Updated Feb 25 2013 11:32 am

Grade • A-

DVD • Director Leos Carax leaves everything up for interpretation in the supremely weird French drama "Holy Motors," but here’s a brief of idea of what’s happening: Denis Lavant gives a series of blazing performances as Monsieur Oscar, who gets in a limo for a series of appointments — each one requiring a costume and makeup change, transforming him from a bag lady to a crazed sewer dweller to a dying old man and many others.

There are moments of sublime beauty (such as a motion-capture pas de deux) and rough violence (such as when one of Lavant’s characters kidnaps a supermodel played by Eva Mendes). There are even musical interludes, including a duet with Kylie Minogue and a fierce accordion jam.

Carax’s inventive and moving vignettes will have you scratching your head for days.

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