that veers from outre comedy to erotic game-playing." Janet Maslin wrote in The New York Times: "Whatever else Mr. Polanski may be – nasty, mocking, darkly subversive in his view of the world – he definitely isn't dull. Bitter Moon is the kind of world-class, defiantly bad film that has a life of its own." A positive review came from Roger Ebert, who said "Polanski directs it without compromise or apology, and it's a funny thing how critics may condescend to it, but while they're watching it you could hear a pin drop." Time Out commented that "Polanski treats this slightly protracted tale of erotic obsession partly as deeply ironic black comedy", "rich and darkly disturbing" and "also wickedly entertaining." Reviewing the film in 2009, Scott Tobias wrote: "Bitter Moon is my favorite of the later-period Polanski films...nasty, potent, and psychologically knotty in a way that recalls the devil-may-care, enfant terrible Polanski of old." According to journalist Matthew Tempest, he and film director Christopher Nolan shared "a soft spot" for Bitter Moon as students. Based on 35 reviews collected by Rotten Tomatoes, 63% of critics gave the film a positive review. Score The film's score by Vangelis was never officially released for sale, although bootlegs of the music taken directly from the film itself have since been produced. Year-end lists 7th – David Elliott, The San Diego Union-Tribune Top 10 (listed alphabetically, not ranked) – Matt Zoller Seitz, Dallas Observer Honorable mention – Howie Movshovitz, The Denver Post See also Sadism and masochism in fiction References External links Bitter Moon movie stills 1992 films 1992 comedy-drama films 1992 romantic drama films 1990s erotic thriller films French comedy-drama films French independent films French romantic drama films French thriller films British comedy-drama films British independent films British romantic drama films British erotic thriller films American black comedy films American comedy-drama films American independent films American romantic drama films American romantic thriller films 1990s French-language films BDSM in films Erotic romance films American erotic thriller films Films scored by Vangelis Films about paraplegics or quadriplegics Films about writers Films based on French novels Films directed by Roman Polanski Films produced by Roman Polanski Films shot in France Films shot in Paris 1990s romantic thriller films Columbia Pictures films Films with screenplays by Gérard Brach Films with screenplays by Roman Polanski Films produced by Alain Sarde Films set in the Mediterranean Sea Films set