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Reviews
De force (2011)
Tries hard but falls a bit flat.
Perhaps not quite as bad as the general slaughtering this film received upon its release in France still, "De Force" doesn't quite manage to build any sort of tension despite trying all it can to resemble a descent thriller, action film.
Firstly, the acting, Eric Cantona is surprisingly convincing even if the heavy dialogues verge on the laughable. The ever watchable and talented Isabelle Adjani does what she can with a story that frankly is not very plausible. Anne Consigny is a little stiff, the rest of the cast are good, with a special nod to Thierry Fremont who is quite scary.
In the last few years, with TV series like "Damages" "The Wire" "The Killing" or even french made "Braquo" -for which, interestingly Frank Henry worked as a co writer- we, the public, have become accustomed to solid stories, great acting and griping, edge of your seat plots and sub plots.
As for movies, the list would be too long to name taut, energetic action packed thrillers. "Pour elle" (anything for her) "Read my lips" "tell no one" or "point Blank" are just a few example of french films which successfully transcended the genre.
I personally haven't got a problem with over the top story lines, I am very good public in general, however "De force" feels rather weak. Action sequences are dull, slow,not particularly exciting. Maybe instead of landing on Rezo film production desk, the script should have gone to Luc Besson who would have given the film a little more panache and visual flair. The plot certainly lends itself to something more than what ultimately looks like an average, inoffensive made for TV movie.
I still watched it with interest, possibly because of 2 lead actors and also partly because I had read Frank Henry's story who is a first time writer and director on this. That in itself captured my imagination more that his film.
Pigalle, la nuit (2009)
Gripping!
Frenchman Thomas(Jalil Lespert) based in London comes to Paris to secure a deal for his company. In the Nightclub, "Folies Pigalle", on stage he recognises his sister, as he tries to speak to her, she goes missing. Here is the simple start of this excellent captivating french series. I simply didn't think it could be this good. The story makes perfect use of Pigalle, the Parisien "hot quarter". The story quickly becomes about revenge, territory, redemption. This really is edge of your seat drama. The characters evolve, grow, speak dialogues that ring true. Most camera shots are hand-held, giving a surveillance feel, the photography is bleak, sometimes out of focus. The nightclub scenes are convincing. The story has hints of "La Balance", "sex Lies and Videotapes", "Peeping Tom" and "The Godfather". The musical score is bewitching. The acting is excellent. Twists are a plenty. I loved it. A second series is planned, I cannot wait.
Gainsbourg (Vie héroïque) (2010)
A "clin d'oeil" to Godard!
A film "should always have a beginning, a middle and an end but not necessarily in this order" declared Jean Luc Godard. Yoan Sfar grabs this motto with both hands in his biopic of legendary artist Serge Gainsbourg. His film is quirky, light fun and captivating. The visuals take reference and influence from Pan's Labyrinth, Luis Bunnuel and Lewis Carol. Still, there is a very personal flair and the mark of a future visionary film maker as important as Jean Pierre Jeunet. Yoan Sfar is clearly in awe of the subject and by surfacing the rich, complex and probably excessive life of Serge Gainsbourg, he manages to make light of a troubled artist. The acting is top-notch from everyone involved, Anna Mouglalis as sultry Juliette Greco to Laetitia Casta as the one and only Brigitte Bardot and not to forget Lucy Gordon (who tragically died shortly after the film wrapped)as vulnerable Jane Birkin. Eric Elmosnino is utterly convincing as Serge, capturing ticks and manners we french are so familiar with from Serge Gainsbourg. The man's artistry is beyond doubt and there isn't a media that Serge Gainsbourg touched that didn't turn into a creative gold pot. This is paid tribute to very well here, both in terms of cinematic language and the content of the film. I was kept fascinated, absorbed and amused even if I disagreed with a few story plots, for example, I am not sure France Gall had any idea what she was singing about with "les sucettes (Lollipops) until the song had been a hit and she refused to leave her own flat for months after because she was so ashamed by the true meaning of the song, although the film suggests Serge asking her if he can write a kinky song for her. But all the same, we, as stimulated spectators, cannot help but concede to the fact that 5 other films could be made on the legend that Serge Gainsbourg was, not one would get to the core of the real man. So treat this film as a personal homage from a fan and watch it purely for entertainment value. A good idea after could be to grab a glass of red, sit down, "Youtube" Serge Gainsbourg and enjoy the ride...
Persécution (2009)
A film for actors
This a puzzling piece of film making by a respected french film/theatre director. Patrice Chereau occasionally strikes a perfect balance in between story telling and cinematic language : Queen Margot, those who love me can take the train and l'homme blesse. Yet here, there is a conflict of interest that makes uncomfortable viewing. In my opinion, this is the kind of film that only actors can appreciate. Patrice Chereau tackles what I think is his recurring theme in this : damaged rejection and it's not done very well. Despite top class acting by the 3 main leads, we are expected to care for the character played by Romain Duris who is right down detestable and isn't able to decide how he loves Charlotte Gainsbourg. (her voice and vulnerability is really something here) The 2 actors are clearly comfortable being filmed arguing and or making love in a very crude manner. The lighting of the sex scenes (and in fact the whole film) made me feel like I was peeping on them. Then, appears with very little explanation, the character played by Jean Hugue Anglade. His character is referred to as "le barjo -french slang for nutter-". He is in love with Romain Duris and will go to any length to make his feelings known.Great idea for a synopsis and what really made me want to watch this film, but not well executed. Now i am not suggesting by any means that the treatment would have been more convincing if given the Hollywood make over IE cheap effective thriller a la "fatal attraction" but I felt cheated as I was never given a chance to appreciate a great idea. Why is J Hugue Anglade in love with Romain Duris is well, anyone's guess. He is suppose represent the persecution and a threat but I really liked him in fact, he can come and wait naked for me here anytime! I think Patrice Cherau was trying to trick the viewer and at the end, the persecution comes from Romain Duris's character himself. It didn't work, even the scenes during which Romainn Duris redeems his unhappiness by caring for elderly people in a hospital are boring. the film feels disjointed and I had the impression that Patrice Chereau had a few well worded one liners about human relationships in mind and desperately tried to put them in some scenes, especially when Romain Duris and Charlotte Gainsbourg argue, which they do a lot. I could not stop thinking of the 3 actors and Patrice Chereau having a conversation on set about trust, real acting and how great is it for the 4 of them to tackle such risky film-making. Yet I felt strangely left out, uninvolved... Shame as I so wanted to see this...i was just kept out.