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richwgriffin-227-176635

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49 reviews in total

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

What can I say? I love love love this perfect movie! Superb direction (I want to see more of her movies!), beautifully written, excellent camera work, editing, sound, extraordinary use of varied music, locations, casting - the acting is the best ensemble acting I've seen a very very long time! Emmanuelle Devos (Orith Silberg) is the best known, and she is her usual superb self, Areen Omari is a revelation as the arab mother, Khalifa Natour and Pascal Elbe play the "politicized" fathers with an aching poignancy, Mahmud Shalaby plays what could be a caricatured "villain" as a complex young man capable of growth, and the two leads: Jules Sitruk (Joseph Silberg) and especially Mehdi Dehbi (Yacine Al-Bezaaz; I want to see him in more movies!) play such complex characters with warmth, intelligence, bravery, and brilliance.

This movie gets an A+. It's the best movie I have seen in 2013 (it was released in 2011 in France; this is the first I have ever heard of it now in 2013).

the "making of" featurette is fascinating. It made me appreciate the movie even more.

I urge anyone and everyone to see this one of a kind extraordinary humane complex intelligent moving and exceptional motion picture!!!! (:

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Since others have recounted the wonderful plot (shades of Kind Hearts and Coronets, but with only one intended "victim"), and others have mentioned how brilliant Walter Matthau's comic performance is, I would like to add how amazing and brilliant Elaine May's zany performance is. She wrote, directed, and was the female star of the movie, in a time when only a few men ever wore so many hats.

This movie is SO worth watching. It took a little time for me to settle in to the odd unusual rhythms - it's almost a half an hour before Ms. May appears at the tea party and turns the film upside down.

The little girl who is "touching things" at the wedding is priceless. The loafers who are cheating Henrietta, her lawyer (Jack Weston in a comic tour-de-force), so many funny lines, situations, and laughs - the odd thing is the affection that builds between Henry and Henrietta WORKS. Not sure if the 3 hour May version would be better or even as good - perhaps we will never know, but this cut of the film is near perfect and so worth watching! I wish Elaine May had made more movies; her voice was so unique and enchanting. I am one of the few people in this world who loves "Ishtar", and of course "The Heartbreak Kid" is a total gem - I haven't seen "Mikey & Nicky" unfortunately, but would love to see it. She scored as an actress many times, esp. in Woody Allen's "Small Time Crooks" (the first funny half of the movie in particular).

If you get a chance to see this movie, give it a chance - it's worth the time and effort to find it!

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

I made the mistake of thinking the Sundance channel was showing the excruciating Oprah Winfrey "Beloved" one night and missed this movie as a result. So I had to wait until I could see it on DVD. All I can say is: I simply love Christophe Honore movies (: Is it that he has a gay sensibility? Is it that I love Alex Beaupain's songs? "Love Songs" is one of my all-time favorite films as well, and for many of the same reasons.

The actors in this movie are all simply superb. If I single out Milos Forman it's only because I was so surprised by his acting choices. But the trio of female stars are all wonderful, fresh and amazing. Louis Garrel and the polish actor who plays the younger Jaromil are terrific too. Paul Schneider is an actor I hope to see again in other things.

I found the film exciting, not boring; the camera-work, the editing, the pacing, the music, the colors, even the length of the movie (2 hrs., 19 minutes) exhilarating! This is the kind of film that you have to surrender and allow yourself to be "inside" the movie during it's running time, without reservation.

This is a movie for people who love french cinema, as I do - it's my favorite country, without exception, for movies these days.

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

I just don't get other human beings. I didn't find this film disturbing. I saw this movie about compliance; the way Americans in particular will allow degradation, corruption and meanness to prevail, so long as they get what they want from life, they will continue to COMPLY with a corrupt evil government. This is a microcosm of the degradation most Americans are guilty of on a daily basis.

The performances are superb, especially Ann Dowd as Sandra, which is one of the best LEAD performances (why was she considered a supporting actress?).

I do believe that many Americans WOULD comply with the police, without asking for credentials. After all, juries often side with the police in trials even when the evidence is clear that they are guilty. We learn from a very early age to trust authority. We have to unlearn this behavior and most people can't do it. This movie understands this.

the scam is a smaller version of the scams we go through all the time with our elected officials and our fellow human beings.

The direction is AMAZING; the editing, use of music, the feel for suburban America, and an Oscar-worthy lead performance by Ann Dowd that is haunting, original, and honest.

Truly a great masterpiece of American independent cinema.

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Brilliant Andre Techine film, erotic, romantic, with feminist themes, and absolutely outstanding acting performances by the entire cast.

Juliette Binoche had her first important role in this movie, and she shows the promise that she has kept: she plays pretty much all of the different personas she has played throughout her career in this one film! She is sexy, elfin, a "free spirit", confused, afraid...she deservedly got her first Cesar nomination (Best Actress) for this role, losing to Sandrine Bonnaire of Agnes Varda's "Vagabond".

Wadeck Stanczak won the Cesar award for "most promising male newcomer" for his role as the somewhat shy lovesick Paolot. His is the male lead role in the film. I have never seen him in anything else; this often happens with the "most promising actor" Cesar winners. His name seems polish to me? Very handsome and very likable.

Lambert Wilson is smoldering in his intense and driven performance as Quentin. His is really a supporting role despite his receiving his first Cesar nomination for this role (losing, inexplicably, to Christophe Lambert of "Subway"). I have always loved Lambert Wilson, even if I haven't loved the films he has been in (my favorite: "Private Fears in Public Places"). This movie came out 28 years ago and he is still smoldering and sexy today! (Does Quentin commit suicide or is it an accident?) Jean-Louis Trintignant doesn't show up until late in the film but he is his usual brilliant self as an older man who brings out the jealousy in Paolot.

Andre Techine brings out so much in his actors in all of his films. He has a gay sensibility, even when all the characters are straight.

Absolutely worth seeing!

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

What a huge disappointment! I really wanted to love this movie. I had read only good things about it so imagine my surprise when I finally saw it and it was a piece of garbage! Stupid, inane, "intellectual" (in thee worst sense) - I didn't care for the visuals, the lack of any character development, the lack of any STORY.

It's always fascinating reading through the reviews on IMDb. There is a snobbishness in the positive reviews. you know, I'm just too dumb to get it. But I do understand it - it's stupid. It lacks meaning because it has no meaning.

I didn't even like the acting, not even my beloved Edith Scob, who has nothing much to do. What a disappointment! I love french cinema. It's my favorite country for movies. But like all Leos Carax movies this one is awful. He really shouldn't direct movies.l I've read how wonderful the visuals are in this film - huh? Dull camera work to say the least.

There's nothing else to say. A complete and total waste of time. Save your sanity and avoid this movie!

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Inane, stupid, idiotic, poorly written, poorly acted (yes, I believe so), a total waste of 144 minutes of ones' lifetime. Why was this movie even made? The characters don't grow, change, or have any real meaning. I hated all of the characters intensely. Anderson had talent early in his career but has completely lost his way. Boring! I can understand completely why this was a box-office dud - in movies, you need at least ONE character to care about and enjoy.

I hated this awful movie - dreck! I'm offended by the critics who gave this such a high score. As usual, the critics are wrong!

The camera work was highly praised, but I found the film was very flat for me. What is is with Philip Seymour Hoffman? He is one of a few actors who I really wish would leave the profession - they aren't interesting, have zero charisma, and the camera doesn't love them (Paul Giamatti is another actor who I feel this way about).

Joaquin Phoenix came back to acting for this exercise in ego and futility? TERRIBLE acting performance! Sorry, I just HATED this movie, and I really did think I might like it - "dianetics" and "scientology" would be interesting topics for real movies, fiction or non-fiction.

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

I love this movie! French actors are simply the best and everyone delivers top-notch performances. Superbly directed, written and acted - my very favorite is Benoit Magimel as Vincent, who thinks he's in love with Cluzet's Max. Francois Cluzet gives his best ever comedic performance. I'm not familiar with Valerie Bonnetton, but her scene when she really lets Max have it for his boorish behavior is a standout. Gilles Lellouche deserved his Cesar nomination for his selfish self-absorbed yet likable frenchman who has a case of arrested development. The actor who plays Antoine was new to me and quite good in his role. Marion Cotillard plays neurotic women very well. I was unfamiliar with some of the other actors and I enjoyed all of their performances.

I always find it interesting when they use English language music in french movies - do they not have as much attachment to french songs and performers? This movie is definitely worth spending the time to watch and enjoy! The film is long, a little over 2 1/2 hours, but I was engaged throughout - wished it wouldn't end.

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

I particularly loved two of the performances: Kelly Reilly (Nicole) and Tamara Tunie (Margaret). My favorite scene in the movie was when Whip (Denzel Washington) is asking Margaret to lie for him at the hearing. Her intelligence and her heartbreak at his request is truly great acting.

I had mixed feelings about Denzel Washington's performance. There were several scenes that just didn't work for me, but other scenes soared. Why was he paired with two much younger women in this movie? Tamara Tunie is closer to his age and is such a great actress, why not pair him with someone of her stature and age? I found myself really disliking all of the drug-taking scenes. However, Nicole's recovery was well developed.

The two scenes of turbulence on the plane were really tense and well-directed scenes. My biggest complaint about this movie is it's length: 2 hours and 18 minutes. I think 20 minutes could have been cut (all of John Goodman's role would be fine by me, and a few of the scenes at the farm went on too long).

I loved the ending. Telling the truth is so rare in movies today. Showing that cover-ups sometimes don't happen and justice can be served - it made me think about today's politics of justifications and cover-ups for heinous crimes against humanity. I was so glad he confessed and he had some consequences for his actions. I would not want to be flying on a plane with someone who was drunk and/or high on drugs! That's the real reason he goes to prison, not the plane crash, at least in my mind. He's finally free. Sweet ending. His son asks him "who are you?" and he says "that's a great question". It's the question we all have to ask ourselves.

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Completely absorbing, with a superb performance by Angela Kovaks as Inspector Irene Huss. Great location work in Gothenburg and Copenhagen. The film is a cross between Prime Suspect the Millennium trilogy by Stieg Larsson. The direction, writing, camera work, and especially the acting, are all superb.

Since there are no more Helen Mirren Prime Suspects to see this is the next best thing (and for the very best, the french film classic Le Petit Lieutenant with Nathalie Baye as the female chief inspector). I've only seen The Torso and have two more mysteries to go on this DVD collection! Grade: A! (:

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