Irreversible

“Time destroys everything,” goes the pretentiously stated theme of Noé’s empty, violent provocation; too bad it’s also the theme of every other narrative feature, with the possible exception of Back to the Future. Told backward with a nine-minute rape scene as its ultimate reward, Irreversible seems to be striving for the following profundity, and little else: If you look like Monica Bellucci, don’t walk in spooky tunnels after midnight in a see-through dress. Oh, really?