Vidocq (2001)

Paris. 1830. In the heart of the town, Vidocq, a famous detective, disappeared as he fights the Alchemist, an assassin that he has been pursuing for a few months. His young biographer, ... See full summary »

Director:

Pitof

Writers:

François-Eugène Vidocq (memoirs), Pitof (screenplay),

Stars:

Gérard Depardieu, Guillaume Canet, Inés Sastre

7 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gérard Depardieu	...	Vidocq
Guillaume Canet	...	Etienne Boisset
Inés Sastre	...	Préah
André Dussollier	...	Lautrennes
Edith Scob	...	Sylvia
Moussa Maaskri	...	Nimier
Jean-Pierre Gos	...	Tauzet
Isabelle Renauld	...	Marine Lafitte
Jean-Pol Dubois	...	Belmont
André Penvern	...	Veraldi
Gilles Arbona	...	Lafitte
Jean-Marc Thibault	...	Leviner
François Chattot	...	Froissard
Elsa Kikoïne	...	La muette
Fred Ulysse	...	Le vieux souffleur

Storyline

Paris. 1830. In the heart of the town, Vidocq, a famous detective, disappeared as he fights the Alchemist, an assassin that he has been pursuing for a few months. His young biographer, Etienne Boisset, decides to have revenge on Vidocq's death and takes the investigation on...

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Plot Keywords:

alchemist | 1830s | detective | investigation | murder | 

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Taglines:

The underworld has surfaced...

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Fantasy | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, sexual content, nudity and some drug material

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

19 September 2001 (France)

Also Known As:

Dark Portals: The Chronicles of Vidocq

Filming Locations:

Bordeaux, Gironde, France

Box Office

Budget:

FRF 152,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$454,326 (Spain) (1 February 2002)

Gross:

$12,261,104 (Europe) (1 February 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

RF2K Productions, StudioCanal, TF1 Films Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

First feature film shot with the new Sony digital 1080p 24 fps cameras to reach the screen (a year before Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones).

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Connections

References Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

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Soundtracks

"Concerto for mandolin RV 426: Allegro"
Antonio Vivaldi

User Reviews

Magnifique.

Pitof's style and design comes blazing through, in a kind of high-octane version of the work he did for Jeunet & Caro - a mixture of French garishness and Tim-Burton-esque gothic fantasy and detail. Also reminded me a bit of Alex Proyas' design on Dark City.

The plot gallops along, with Depardieu appearing in flashback scenes throughout while his biographer, the police, a decadent journalist and his sidekick all try to re-trace his steps, solve the bizarre murders and capture the Alchemist (if he or she even exists)!

There's so much going on on-screen that it's a complete feast for the eyes, especially once femme fatale Preah gets mixed up in the mystery.

I also thought it was so refreshing to see the investigative duo of Vidocq and Nimier, because they are both coarse, brainy & brawny (like two bears in top hats), whereas any Hollywood film would surely add numerous physical & character defects. You'd also lose the wonderful surreal Frenchness of the setting, and almost grotesque supporting characters.

The Alchemist is a great baddie - not superhuman, but you're not quite sure (for a long time anyway) if he/she is really supernatural or not - or of his/her motivation, and by the last half hour you think it could be virtually any of the main characters under the mask, which sets you up for a really good revelation or two & a battle at the end.

An exciting movie (complex, but not difficult), and not one dull moment. I'm not sure what some of the negative reviewers were watching, because if you liked Sleepy Hollow or From Hell, you'll adore this.