France – Let's Talk About Movies

Demain Tout Commence [2016] ★★★

December 20, 2016

demain_tout_commence Omar Sy has developed an irresistible persona as a comedian, which has served him well in such films as “Les Intouchables” and last year’s underrated “Chocolat”. In that context, his latest film, “Demain Tout Commence”, is a charming, funny and touching family melodrama with another winning performance by Sy. In short: it’s a crowd-pleaser. Sy plays an irresponsible man who spends most of his time partying and meeting women. One day, a woman carrying his baby shows up at his place then drives off almost immediately, leaving him with the infant. I know the trailer spoils most of what happens next but just in case you’ve never seen it, I won’t say a word. But I will tell you that writer Eugenio Derbez and director Hugo Gelin make this comedy-drama genuinely touching at times. They unashamedly inject their film with moments that are meant to stir up your emotions. I knew I was getting my buttons pushed, but I still went along for the ride and had a good time watching the story unfold. If you’re a sucker for french movies and Omar Sy in particular, consider “Demain Tout Commence” a must see.

Truffaut: the adventures of Antoine Doinel

January 22, 2016

Way before “ Boyhood ”, François Roland Truffaut, French film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, and film critic, as well as one of the founders of the French New Wave, directed “ Les 400 coups ” (“ The 400 blows ”), a childhood movie featuring his own alter ego: Antoine Doinel.

Years later, Doinel appears in four subsequent films (including one short: “ Antoine et Colette ”) that masterfully portray love, marriage and the difficulties of daily life. Those movies remain some of Truffaut’s finest achievements.

The 400 blows | Les 400 coups [1959]
A classic tale of childhood, family and the loss of innocence. Doinel is a young boy facing constant trouble at home and at school. As things go out of control, he decides to rebel. François Truffaut’s most personal film and one of the all-time greats.
4/4Stolen kisses | Baisers volés [1968]
Truffaut followed up “ Les 400 coups ” with this irresistible screwball comedy that takes place a few years after the events of the first movie, as we follow Doinel as an adult, trying to earn a living following his discharge from the army, and win the heart of the charming Christine. Easily one of Truffaut’s finest romantic comedies.
4/4Bed and board | Domicile conjugal [1970]
Third feature film in the Antoine Doinel series is faithful to its predecessors in every way, as we follow the married life of Antoine and Christine. Another wonderful film filled with laughs, tears and nostalgia.
3,5/4

Love on the run | L’amour en fuite [1979]
The last of the Antoine Doinel adventures portrays his separation from Christine, his love affair with Sabine and his brief encounter with his ex-girlfriend Colette. Not as good as the first three, but it’s still a delightful comedy and a fitting conclusion to Doinel’s romantic endeavors.
3/4

La Famille Bélier [2014] ★★★

May 11, 2015

700x951_movie12768postersthe_belier_family-france I’m a bit late coming to this movie, but having heard good feedback, I was looking forward to it. It’s easy to see why now. “La Famille Bélier” is a charming, funny film with winning performances; in short, a crowd-pleaser. Louane Emera (a semi-finalist in the second season of The Voice France) plays Paula, a young girl who lives with her deaf parents and brother. Paula is also a talented singer. And when her music teacher discovers her gift, he encourages her to participate in a prestigious singing contest in Paris. Director Éric Lartigau makes this comedy-drama appealing and genuinely touching at times. And the actors bring their A game to this inspiring story as well. I knew I was having my buttons pushed so many times, but I still enjoyed watching the film. “La Famille Bélier” definitely earns its laughs honestly and cleverly. I daresay fans of french films will not be disappointed.

Rating: 3/4

Deux Jours, Une Nuit [2014] ★★★

March 4, 2015

I never thought a straightforward story could be so gripping, until I saw “Deux Jours, Une Nuit”. It gets inside your head and heart, rubbing your emotions raw. Marion Cotillard, who was Oscar nominated for her outstanding performance, plays a worker at a small factory who, upon being released from the hospital (where she has been treated for depression), discovers that she has lost her job. Her boss is determined to cut costs, but he offers her one last chance: if she can convince her fellow workers to give up their bonuses, he’ll rehire her. Problem is, she only has the weekend to visit all 16 workers and change their minds before Monday morning. In doing so, the movie raises many questions and holds us in its grip for 100 minutes. Cotillard handles this volatile material with unblinking ferocity and feeling. She did the same with her 2007 Oscar winning performance in “La Vie en Rose”. Here, her performance is more than acting, it’s a gathering storm, her eyes a roadmap to what’s tearing her apart. Her pride won’t allow her to cry or beg. “Deux Jours, Une Nuit” is unforgettable. It means to shake you, and does.

Rating: 3/4

Diabolique [1955] ★★★★

October 19, 2014

936full-diabolique-poster

Henri-Georges Clouzot’s most notorious film is still terrifying almost 60 years later. An unmerciful school master (Paul Meurisse, terrific) is murdered by his long suffering wife (Vera Clouzot) and mistress (Simone Signoret). But then strange things start to happen. Haunting, exciting thriller will you keep you guessing at every turn, right through the unforgettable finale. Hailed as one of the most suspenseful films ever made; it’s certainly one of the all time greats. A must watch.

Rating: 4/4

Casse-Tête Chinois [2013] ★★★

March 27, 2014

I’ve been a sucker for french comedies for a while now; perhaps it’s because I haven’t practiced my french in a long time, or maybe it’s because they make so many good movies. Either way, I enjoyed Cedric Klapisch’s (“L’auberge Espagnole”) new movie a lot. It’s a commercial, crowd-pleasing piece of work with engaging performances by Romain Duris (so good in “Heartbreaker”)- as a divorced dad who moves to New York so he could be with his children- Audrey Tautou, Kelly Reilly and Cecile de France. The screenplay was written by Klapisch himself and represents a seamless merging of French and American cultures. Here’s a filmmaker who has enjoyed a successful career making hit movies, but who hasn’t lost his touch. There is a feeling of confidence about his new film, from its assured visual presentation to the appealing star performances. Everyone seems to be having a great time, and ultimately, so do we. But because it’s a french film, I suspect most people won’t go to see “Casse-tête chinois” and that’s a shame. It puts most of Hollywood recent comedies to shame and proves that there’s still vibrant life in the genre, at least in France.

Rating: 3/4

Amour [2012] ★★★½

January 20, 2013

What can you say about a film that is so vividly real, and so intense, that it holds you spellbound for two hours, without letup? “Amour” would be superior filmmaking under any circumstances. With rare subtlety and transforming art, the remarkable writer-director Michael Haneke takes us into the emotional heart of an old french couple. Both are in their 80’s. Georges (Jean-Louis Trintignant) and Anne (The magnificent Emmanuelle Riva) are retired music teachers living comfortably in Paris. Then one day Anne suffers two strokes. This is just the first chapter of an unfolding story that involves circumstance, choice and love. Go ahead, call it melodramatic. No matter. The movie will wipe you out. Haneke’s previous films were all memorable. And this is one of his best films yet, a high-wire act of visual daring and tour de force performances. All praise to Emmanuelle Riva, whose performance as Anne, bedridden, defines the word “extraordinary.” And Jean-Louis Trintignant is superb as her husband. Their acting couldn’t be more naturalistic, adding to a feeling that we are simply watching life unfold. And like real life, what happens is impossible to predict. “Amour” is a devastating drama, superbly presented and not to be missed. I’ll say no more. The movie is best opened fresh. But there’s no way that you’ll get it out of your dreams.

Rating: 3.5/4

La Délicatesse [2012] ★★½

June 16, 2012

Not every movie has to be an event, or a blockbuster. Sometimes, all I ask of a film is that it offers an entertaining diversion for a certain period of time. That’s exactly what I got from “La Delicatesse”. During this current movie season, when it’s all about superheroes and visual experience, small movies tend to go unnoticed. But if you appreciate films that favor character development over plot, you’re probably the target audience for this likable, two character piece from directors David and Stéphane Foenkinos and two talented actors, Audrey Tautou and François Damiens. Tautou plays Nathalie, a successful business executive whose husband suddenly dies in a tragic accident. In order to deal with her grief, she spends most of her time working at the office. Not looking for a new lover, she soon finds herself in an unexpected relationship with one of her office subordinates, Markus. Why unexpected? Because compared to her late husband, Markus is quite weird and mediocre looking. In terms of plot, that’s everything you need to know for now. My only problem with this otherwise entertaining movie is that the characters fall into recognizable pigeonholes, as does the trajectory of the story. But in the hands of these skilled, highly watchable actors, it’s still quite enjoyable. If you don’t respond to these actors, or empathize with their situation, you’ll have little patience with the film. If, on the other hand, you develop a rooting interest for them, you’ll enjoy this unusual piece, a clever mix of comedy and drama. It may not be the best film of the year, but I found it diverting and enjoyable. That’s always a good thing.

Rating:2.5/4

Comme Un Chef [2012] ★★½

April 21, 2012

I’ve been in the grip of a bad cold for almost 4 days; I somehow managed to work a little bit on my blog, but I hadn’t seen a movie since Tuesday (which in my book is about a century). By Friday afternoon I was frustrated, so I did what I’ve always done when I’m feeling sick: I went to the movies. I wasn’t in the mood for something loud (those who expected a “Battleship” review, I apologize). I’d missed screenings of “Comme un Chef” and it looked funny, so that’s what I chose to see. It’s a commercial, crowd-pleasing movie with engaging performances by Jean Renot and Michael Youn. But because it’s a french film, I suspect most audiences won’t bother to see it and that’s a shame. It puts most of Hollywood’s recent comedies to shame, even though it’s not a masterpiece (far from it actually). Youn plays Jacky, a self-trained cook with haute-cuisine ambitions. He gets fired from a series of cooking jobs for taking exception to his customers’ taste. Meanwhile, we meet Alexandre Lagarde (Renot), the famous chef of the three-star Cargo Lagarde, who is facing a crisis of a different sort: The interfering son of his retired business partner wants him to cut costs and update the menu; he even threatens to fire him if the restaurant loses a star. The story may not be edgy, or hugely profound, but I found the movie funny and quite likable. The two stars make a memorable duo, and turn this otherwise predictable comedy into something refreshing and worth watching. At the end of the day, I’m glad I checked it out, and the experience accomplished what moviegoing almost always does for me on these occasions: it made me feel slightly better.

Rating: 2.5/4

Intouchables [2011] ★★★½

January 12, 2012

How often does a seemingly simple film capture the imagination of the world? “Intouchables” does, with originality and charm. It’s so vividly real and touching, that it holds you spellbound for two hours, with no letup. The movie was a smash hit in France, with a staggering 5 million cinema-goers flocking to catch the film in its first two weeks. But why? Yes it is essentially a buddy movie, but with a twist. On the surface, it may sound like a horrendous cliché with the potential to be dull and repetitive. But truth be told, writer directors Oliver Nakache and Eric Toledano have created a film that is not only heartbreaking, but funny and socially accurate as well. The story follows the unlikely bond between Philippe (François Cluzet), a widowed aristocrat paralyzed from the neck down after a paragliding accident, and Driss (Omar Sy), a young black man of Senegalese origin, who is employed by Philippe as his personal carer. Driss shows Philippe how to enjoy life again, in a clever and often hilarious ways. What I loved about “Intouchables” is that it successfully steers away from being cheesy. Early on, we learn that Philippe chose to employ Driss as he knew that a man from the estates would never pity him. In a way, it’s the lack of pity that makes this movie so damn good. And by the end, I was deeply moved, not out of pity, but because I loved this unusual relationship.

I came to this movie as a blank state, with no expectations, and came out with a huge smile on my face. “Intouchables” is a feel good movie that actually makes you feel good. It’s also a movie that earns its laughs honestly and touchingly. Do not miss it.

Rating: 3.5/4