If this film meets such a great success, it's just because people recognize themselves in those characters. Well, they are not politically correct (alcoolism) but in these days when life is so difficult for the middle and low class French people, this movie is refreshing and helps you forget everything else. It's also a great lesson of tolerance. Nobody should never have pre-built ideas about a country or an area and his people. Dany Boon describes the world he knows. It's the same world that a lot of French people know, maybe not in Paris, but in the villages, in the country. For once, we have a movie with real people, real life stories of simple people. And maybe people wants to see this from time to time, instead of crimes and violence. Personnaly, I think this movie approaches the Marcel Pagnol movies. Two days ago, 12,592,762 seats where sold. 12,592,762 people cannot be wrong.
Reviews
7 Reviews
Les habits noirs
(1967– )
Un pure television masterpiece
8 September 2005
I just bought this series on DVD. It was one of my best memories of the late sixties television series. Even after all these years, this film is still great. From a Paul Feval's novel who wrote "Le bossu" that is best known than "Les habits noirs". The basic story is identical, a man falsly accused comes back to get his revenge 16 years later. Not of the actors were very known but they were all very good. I am surprised that Jean Pierre Bernard who was handsome and sensitive haven't had a greater carrier on movies or TV.
I regret that TV currently never release all these nice series we had at the time: Arpad le Tzigane, Maurin des Maures, Les Mohicans de Paris...
I regret that TV currently never release all these nice series we had at the time: Arpad le Tzigane, Maurin des Maures, Les Mohicans de Paris...
The Hunter Will Get You
(1976)
the beginning is more unbelievable than the end
3 August 2005
To answer to the previous comment: finding a person knowing where he lives is quiet easy. A name on the mail box, any letter or paper in his home will give his identity. Belmondo is in the villain's house alone. OK, they could show us, but we can imagine.
What I think is worse in the story is that the "Epervier" would NEVER have let live the young man who helps him in the jewelry robbery. He kills everyone, except this young man, leaving him only injured. It's nonsense, this particular villain could not do that. He was not in such a hurry, he takes time to kill the two cops and doesn't take the time to shoot the kid! And also it's using a very bad facility in the scenario than to just make this young man, the only one the "Epervier" let live knew exactly who he was and where he lived...
I think the scenario would have been better if either the story was only between the Alpagueur and the Epervier OR between the Alpagueur and the Prison story. Two stories in the same movie makes one of them writtent quickly. I would have loved to see the Epervier character a little more explained, this was an interesting character that was underused in the movie and lost for another scenario.
What I think is worse in the story is that the "Epervier" would NEVER have let live the young man who helps him in the jewelry robbery. He kills everyone, except this young man, leaving him only injured. It's nonsense, this particular villain could not do that. He was not in such a hurry, he takes time to kill the two cops and doesn't take the time to shoot the kid! And also it's using a very bad facility in the scenario than to just make this young man, the only one the "Epervier" let live knew exactly who he was and where he lived...
I think the scenario would have been better if either the story was only between the Alpagueur and the Epervier OR between the Alpagueur and the Prison story. Two stories in the same movie makes one of them writtent quickly. I would have loved to see the Epervier character a little more explained, this was an interesting character that was underused in the movie and lost for another scenario.
Great Bruno Cremer
19 January 2005
Jose Giovanni said that only Bruno Cremer could play the role of his father. And Giovanni made the right choice. Bruno Cremer is very moving as Jo, the father of Manu. This father is not well loved (because misunderstood) by his son, but anyway, he made the maximum, even talk to the victim's family to obtain that his son doesn't die by the guillotine. The movie is well constructed, with good actors such as Rufus, in a part very different from what we are used too. Hitorically, this movie is interesting too because of the painting of the 50's and some details about the prisons and the "Death quarter". I watched this movie several times. If you buy the DVD (in French), don't forget to watch the commented film. Jose Giovanni comments the movie all along and explains many things, adding details about this period of his life.
Without a Trace
(2002–2009)
France discovered this great series this summer...
2 September 2004
One of our national channel showed us this series this summer for the first time (French title: F.B.I: Portés disparus). Yesterday was the last episode, but they assure us we'll have more very soon! The French audience was highly seduced by this show. This TV channel that is not one of the most viewed in France got the highest audience percentage every Wednesday, even during the Olympic Games. Around 38% people were watching this show. I guess the stories, very well written and filmed and also the humanity of the heroes are the reasons of this great success. No unnecessary violence or sex... This show is going to become a "cult show" in the way Columbo did.
Les Misérables
(1982)
Lino Ventura was the best Jean Valjean ever
27 July 2003
Robert Hossein offered the public a great version of Victor Hugo's novel. I read the book many times and I only regret that the movie (and even the TV version more complete) has to cut some of the action, or the film would have to be at least 6 hours long.
The actors are all well chosen. from the always perfect Michel Bouquet to Jean Carmet and Candice Patou, very moving, and Christine Jean, very beautiful. But most of all there is Lino Ventura. He is Jean Valjean, he doesn't only play the part. I guess in his real life, he was a kind of Valjean himself, having a difficult life in his youth. This movie has been made 20 years ago and it's now a classic. No one could tell it's already such an old movie, the message is still the same since Victor Hugo's time. The story is out of time and this movie version is too.
The actors are all well chosen. from the always perfect Michel Bouquet to Jean Carmet and Candice Patou, very moving, and Christine Jean, very beautiful. But most of all there is Lino Ventura. He is Jean Valjean, he doesn't only play the part. I guess in his real life, he was a kind of Valjean himself, having a difficult life in his youth. This movie has been made 20 years ago and it's now a classic. No one could tell it's already such an old movie, the message is still the same since Victor Hugo's time. The story is out of time and this movie version is too.
Jo
(1971)
de Funès not as choleric as usual...
27 July 2003
In this movie, we can see a de Funès a little more human than in some other parts (I have about 45 of his movies that I watch again and again). He is frightened, he worried about his wife's reputation, he shows his love for her in a (short) moving scene.
I read the other comments about this movie. there is something I am sure of: If you can't hear the real voice of de Funès, you miss half of the fun, if you don't understand French, you miss even more. It's not obvious for all actors, but for Louis de Funès, who was also a very good mime, his way of speaking (especially when he is dominated by someone in a situation he doesn't know what to do) is unique, un-dubbable.
In France, we can see Benny Hill dubbed, I had the occasion to see some episodes with his own voice and the real texts, in French, we lost a lot. It's the same with many comedians, and for de Funès most of all.
I read the other comments about this movie. there is something I am sure of: If you can't hear the real voice of de Funès, you miss half of the fun, if you don't understand French, you miss even more. It's not obvious for all actors, but for Louis de Funès, who was also a very good mime, his way of speaking (especially when he is dominated by someone in a situation he doesn't know what to do) is unique, un-dubbable.
In France, we can see Benny Hill dubbed, I had the occasion to see some episodes with his own voice and the real texts, in French, we lost a lot. It's the same with many comedians, and for de Funès most of all.
Tell Your Friends