It is common for those working in one artistic fieldto try their hands at another, whether music, literature, film, or performance art. While success is not always guaranteed, this often acts as a showcase for the diversity of talent of many. Sometimes, these other projects go overlooked, as not everyone will follow a celebrity they are vaguely aware of enough to know that they have tried their hands at a new creative endeavor.
One example of this comes fromMr. Oizo, a.k.a.Quentin Dupiuex, who saw success as an electronic musician before transitioning to cinema. From the electronic hit “Flat Beat” to directing a movie about a killer tire, this is how Mr. Oizo reached international acclaim as a filmmaker.
Who is Mr. Oizo?
Mr. Oizo is the stage name of French filmmaker, electronic musician, and DJ, Quentin Dupieux. It is under this name that he reached success as a musician with his song “Flat Beat,” which was featured in a Levi’s commercial, became a chart-topping hit in Europe, and got ample play in America during the boom of electronic music in the ’90s and early 2000s that saw musicians like Aphex Twin, Basement Jaxx, The Avalanches, Fatboy Slim, and Daft Punk all gaining mainstream recognition.
Mr. Oizo, often mistaken as the namesake for the puppet known as Flat Eric, has never received as much recognition as with the hit song “Flat Beat,” but he has continued to make music alongside his work as a filmmaker, both as soundtracks and original albums. This included working with Eric Warheim to create the video “Ham,” starring John C. Reilly, and working with other notable musicians, including producing the minor hit “Hand In The Fire,” featuring future-pop icon Charli XCX.
While Quentin Dupieux’s early career isdefined by his musicand is still part of his identity as a creator, one can argue that his shift to cinema has seen him gain more prominence and acclaim. Still, many don’t realize that the man behind the lovable ‘electronic puppet’ is the same behind a unique filmography of bizarre and critically loved comedies.
How Quentin Dupieux Got Into Filmmaking and His Early Cult Films
While Dupieux would first find notoriety as a musician, his love of cinema started at a young age. He made his first films as early as his teenage years, recording and editing short films together. He would also make the music for these short films, the start of his music career. His first released film,Nonfilm(2001), came out two years after the successful hit “Flat Beat.” However, the experimental, under-an-hour movie was met with a several-year absence before his French comedySteakin 2007, followed byRubberin 2010. Since then, Dupieux has continued to make music, but his shift to film has seen him frantically working, completing production on four films in 2022 and 2023.
Quentin Dupieux saw great success with his first English-language movie,Rubber. The movie’s absurd premise of a killer tire drew a large audience wanting to see how such a silly concept would be executed. The audience response was mixed, but it was still enough to drum up interest in Dupieux’s work andearn him a cult following.
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Rubber’s success was followed by two more English-language films,WrongandWrong Cops. The latter featured a comedic ensemble cast that included Eric Warheim, Steve Little, and Arden Myrin. While these movies continued to have their fans, his three English movies landed mixed reviews from critics, scoring less than 70% each on Rotten Tomatoes. To further put this in comparison, while lower-rated, the movies have the most audience ratings logged on both Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB compared to the director’s later films.
This showed that while Dupieux’s works were appreciated by a dedicated audience that enjoyed his comedic approach, he struggled to have them appreciated from a more critical artistic standpoint.
How Quentin Dupieux Became an Internationally Acclaimed Director
After completingWrong Cops, Dupieux returned to France and beganmaking movies in his native language. This saw a shift in the accessibility of a larger audience, as the familiar joke of “American audiences won’t read subtitles” rings true enough to realize that French-language comedies would naturally be limited in distribution. However, with each subsequent release, Dupiuex would find his movies becoming more well-received and appreciated by a more international audience.
WhileRubberdid succeed on the festival circuit, it was not until his filmDeerskin(2019) that the director’s first theatrical release in Britain marked him pushing beyond his niche American audience and his minor notoriety in France. With greater reach came greater appreciation, while also marking a tonal shift in how Dupieux made his movies, which he discussed in an interview with Slant Magazine.
When I was shooting in the U.S., I was inspired by American culture…but it was not mine. I was a stranger watching a different country. I’m super happy with the four movies I shot in the U.S. But those four movies are a bit like concept movies that don’t mean much. Today, the things I’m doing in France are more connected to real elements. Quentin Dupieux (viaSlant Magazine)
Deerskinacts as the quintessential film for seeing the difference between English comedies and working in his native language, as the absurdity of his scenarios begins to feel more refined and focused. The movie’s premise follows a man, Georges, played by Jean Dujardin, who is dealing with his midlife crisis by buying a Deerskin jacket. His admiration for the jacket grows to the point where it starts to talk to him, demanding him to both film it and begin acrusade to murderanyone else who wears a jacket, as their existence belittles the profound beauty of the Deerskin.
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This over-the-top scenario manages to work better than Dupieux’s previous absurdist comedies, given the more reserved approach to comedy, which can largely be pinned down to his better understanding of the culture he looked to satirize from his native France. This entry would be his highest Rotten Tomatoes score at its release, now at 88%. His productions afterward,Mandibles,Incredible But True,Smoking Causes Coughing, andDaaaaaalí!all gained higher critical scores.
Dupieux’s continued growth as a filmmaker is exciting to witness. Each of his films adds to his oeuvre while refining his comedic formula. With each film gaining more praise,Daaaaaalí!at 100% Fresh with a few reviews, the electronic musician has successfully transitioned to internationally acclaimed director.
Where to Watch the Movies of Quentin Dupieux
While not all of Quentin Dupieux’s films are readily available on streaming, there are still many you can check out to get an idea of how his comedic stylings work for you. Here is a list of his films and where you can watch them if available:
