A Burning Hot Summer

Philippe Garrel's A Burning Hot Summer (France, 2011) - It may be Philippe Garrel's first film in color in more than a decade, but otherwise there's little sense of the vet Gallic helmer trying something different in "That Summer." With son Louis again cast -- or rather, typecast -- as a mopey hipster who vaguely philosophizes about love, life and heartbreak with badly coiffed friends and a stunning woman (a cringe-worthy Monica Bellucci), this partially wistful but mostly messy effort will appeal to Garrel completists, if such people still exist. After its Venice and Toronto preems, pic will hit Gallic arthouse screens Sept. 28. 2011VENic. RATING: 6