LAS VEGAS LOVE STORIES: Olivier & Michel Gondry’s Rapid Romances

A recent study conducted by Microsoft found that the average human attention span is just eight seconds now, down from twelve when it was originally measured back in 2000 (ever wonder why they stick those brief teasers before movie trailers on Youtube?). Funnily enough, alternate studies have shown that this is also the exact same amount of time it takes to fall in love. These dual states of consideration have come together in the Gondry brothers’ latest cinematic experiment, Las Vegas Love Stories. Michel and Olivier Gondry, the celebrated artistic pair (Michel’s arthouse film work may be more well-known, but Olivier remains a prolific music video/commercial director) have translated this universal feeling of affection into a compilation of six segments, 8-second “feature films” that explore distinctive interpretations of surrealistic romance, all staged in various spots at the Park MGM Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Whilst not linked by any traditional framework, each chapter looks at how love can take just one look, one gesture, one moment, and become crystallised with the perfect kiss. The idea of ‘falling in love’ is explored in its many interpretations, because to quote the British philosopher Alan Watts, “It’s crazy, Falling [in love]. We don’t say “rising into love”. There is in it, the idea of the fall”. Watts’ words act as the baseline for the French filmmakers’ charming homage to this concept, with each short inventively embellishing six couples falling in love, whether it be literally or figuratively.

We’ve all seen plenty of feature-length romantic dramas and comedies before, this just condenses all the spectacle down to just one single, but important moment, the crucial eight seconds that can change your entire life. What do most people remember about Baz Luhrmann‘s radical adaptation of Romeo and Juliet? The ‘love at first sight’ scene by the aquarium, so imagine 6 sequences like that, filtered through the eccentric imagination of the Gondry boys and you have a pretty clear idea of what to expect with this avant-garde adoration anthology.

Thankfully, their work has managed to rise above feeling like glorified ads for the Park MGM (which is a problem that Martin Scorsese’s Robert De Niro-starring casino commercial “The Audition” suffered from back in 2015). All together, including the full title card introductions and closing credits, to watch the entirety of Las Vegas Love Stories takes just under 3 minutes to watch, perfect for anybody who wants a quick injection of creativity and passion in the time it takes to boil the kettle. I’ve decided that, despite their pint-sized run-times, all six films (each with titles that ingeniously reference the number eight) will be reviewed separately, as they individually have their own highlights and unique spins on the quirky premise.

1. The Big Eight

A woman spots love at first sight at a Las Vegas craps table and rolls the dice with one wish in mind. 

It’s easy to describe each of these vignettes as discarded music video ideas, because outside of the central motif of people falling in love, each combines genuinely innovative special effects with Adam Newport-Berra’s beautifully composed live-action cinematography.

As a slick gambler rolls his dice on a craps table, we watch as the pair of dice transform into the man and his female partner rolling, transitioning into them ‘falling’ into bed. It’s quite original, and immediately lets you know that you’re watching a Gondry Brothers production (Olivier gets the directing credit). A satisfactory showcase of the restrictive conceit that the pair are playing with, it contains more visual invention than most modern mainstream movies.

2. It Is Decidedly So

Faced with the joy of a newlywed couple in Las Vegas, a woman’s emotions take her on the ride of her life when she spots a man from afar. 

The only short to never explicitly show the couple get together, only merely implied as the pair lock eyes, staring from opposite ends of a large staircase, till the rapid camera movement blends the polished steps into a heaven-set rollercoaster ride, which in poetic terms, could be a way for one to describe the act of being in love.

Out of all of Ryan Hope and Ari Balouzian’s original compositions, It Is Decidedly So (derived from the 8-Ball answer) contains my favourite score of the series, a whimsical cacophony of strings and soft piano that matches this colourful fantasy perfectly.

3. Night of the Scorpio

An unstoppable force brings two people together to send sparks flying through the night in Las Vegas.

On a story level, this is easily the most confusing one; a woman (none of the actors are credited) drives up to the Park MGM, only to see the cars outside become large-scale dodgems, so as the sparks from their conductive wiring flies, so do the ones between the driver and the bespectacled man who awaits her.

It feels rushed, but you could take this idea and extrapolate it into something bigger and better – at this rate, they’re bound to make a Rocket League movie adaptation one day and this would fit right in.

4. No Ordinary August

A couple dives into their emotions in a Las Vegas resort pool. 

Pretty simple, a man and a woman fall into a pool and kiss, surrounded by a Busby Berkeley-looking circle of swimmers. The eye-catching but vacant style makes it feel like an actual commercial, for something like a new brand of chewing gum or a bacteria-killing breath refresher. Taking the falling in love theme to its most literal interpretation has unfortunately made it the project’s most forgettable entry, despite its technical efficiency.

5. Our Infinity

After falling in love in a Las Vegas resort, a woman struggles with the uncertainty of her new romance.

Perhaps the most poignant contribution, Our Love envisions the beginning of a lesbian relationship when a reluctant date contemplates meeting up with her new romantic partner. This (and the next entry) give queer romances a nice spotlight alongside the heterosexual flirtations, whilst also being the most visually striking films of the whole series.

Filled with rich and vibrant imagery, this episode honestly feel like a condensed feature, hinting at a worldwind romance that we only catch quick glimpses of, whilst expanding on the natural moment of hesitation we all feel before starting something new. As it takes place primarily within a symmetrical hotel hallway, it at times feels quite reminiscent of Spike Jonze’s music video work, but more grounded – there’s no insane dance routines here.

6. Room 802

Two best friends see each other in a new light after a night out in Las Vegas. 

Elbows bump in the reception, then lips lock in the elevator, the charming Room 802 captures a rather sweet instance between two friends, with a real strong focus on body language and silent communication. The ending elevator shot, as seen above, is spectacularly symmetrical, a subtle nod to the complementary connection between the two men – a reflective image that would make Orson Welles proud.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qdw_p35K7tY