Blind Spot, Luxembourg's Submission for the Academy Award Nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. U.S. : None Yet. Production Company: Samsa Film
Probably because of the thin line between righteousness and immorality that characters in Police Dramas are forced to walk, the subgenre is still attractive to audiences even if the premises are for the most part, constantly replicated. The lone ambivalent anti-hero is usually a devoted cop, often with a family to protect or an unlikely love interest and his convictions clash with a corrupted higher-up or organized crime from within his same institution. Been there done than time and time again. Luckily, and pleasantly surprising, Luxembourgish filmmaker Christophe Wagner’s Blind Spot is undoubtedly an incredibly inventive fresh take on the established conventions.
Flowing with a carefully arranged tension the film stands out because of its originality in a realm often plagued with predicable plots and far fetched twists. Suspended from duty after a brawl with a fellow officer, Oliver Faber (Jules Werner) secretly indulges in sexual pleasures with another man. That very same night, leaving no fingerprints at the scene, an astute killer apparently murders his brother, Tom Faber (Mickey Hardt), also a policeman. In spite of obvious concerns of his emotional involvement with the case, Oliver is asked to take part in the investigation. As if the sudden death of his sibling were not enough, his personal life is also in distress as his mother questions his tumultuous behavior and inquires on his relationship with his estranged wife Marie (Gintare Parulyte).
His boss, Inspector Hastert (André Jung), thinks he has possible leads that involve a Bosnian man, the wealthy and corrupt businessman, Mr. Beaulieue (Patrick Descamps). The exposé of his illicit activities outside Luxembourg by Tom. Blindly, Oliver and his teammates put their lives at risk but do not she any light on the truth. As he deals with his own identity crisis, Oliver begins to peel off the layers of ulterior motives behind one singular crime. Someone’s calibrated personal vendetta, a suicide, and a stunning revelation that will change his perception of his loved one, are all in store for him to discover.
Unlike the one-note performances from the Stathams, the Wahlbergs and other cookie-cutter action heroes to which American viewers are accustomed, the protagonist here is intelligently multifaceted. Oliver’s motivations are fueled by the secret lives he lives in order to fulfill his family's and his own career expectations. The hyper-masculinity that comes with these super-heroes serves mostly to give simple reasons for the recklessness of their actions. They are committed by man’s men who will stop at nothing to uphold what is right, while also pursuing the clichéd hot sexual encounter that is always placed before the final face-off. Not here. Oliver’s façade as a tough machismo-driven guy is a defense mechanism to hide his sexual orientation which is seen as a weakness and would be used against him by his fellow officers. Unafraid and bold, Wagner’s leading man is one of a kind thanks to a astonishing performance by Jules Werner. He is flesh, bone, anguish, anger and all the nuances in between that conform a closeted homosexual man seeking not only to solve his brother’s death and protect his honor but also to prove his value to himself.
Formidably written and perfectly acted, Blind Spot innovatively elevates the genre and ventures into truly daring territory with a less than unlikely lead full of complexities. Christophe Wagner’s direction is not only proficient in creating the uneasy enticing atmosphere needed, his puzzling narrative is also edgy. There is no room for the overkill of the commonplace storylines indigenous to Hollywood. Instead, toying with those very predispositions, the film turns out to be something less fabricated and more grounded in reality which is definitely an achievement in such a crowded field. Placing Luxembourg in the spotlight of the cinematic landscape, the director takes advantage of the surprise factor that a film coming from the tiny nation contains and by doing so, he delivers a real success.
Read more about all the 76 Best Foreign Language Film Submission for the 2014 Academy Awards...
Probably because of the thin line between righteousness and immorality that characters in Police Dramas are forced to walk, the subgenre is still attractive to audiences even if the premises are for the most part, constantly replicated. The lone ambivalent anti-hero is usually a devoted cop, often with a family to protect or an unlikely love interest and his convictions clash with a corrupted higher-up or organized crime from within his same institution. Been there done than time and time again. Luckily, and pleasantly surprising, Luxembourgish filmmaker Christophe Wagner’s Blind Spot is undoubtedly an incredibly inventive fresh take on the established conventions.
Flowing with a carefully arranged tension the film stands out because of its originality in a realm often plagued with predicable plots and far fetched twists. Suspended from duty after a brawl with a fellow officer, Oliver Faber (Jules Werner) secretly indulges in sexual pleasures with another man. That very same night, leaving no fingerprints at the scene, an astute killer apparently murders his brother, Tom Faber (Mickey Hardt), also a policeman. In spite of obvious concerns of his emotional involvement with the case, Oliver is asked to take part in the investigation. As if the sudden death of his sibling were not enough, his personal life is also in distress as his mother questions his tumultuous behavior and inquires on his relationship with his estranged wife Marie (Gintare Parulyte).
His boss, Inspector Hastert (André Jung), thinks he has possible leads that involve a Bosnian man, the wealthy and corrupt businessman, Mr. Beaulieue (Patrick Descamps). The exposé of his illicit activities outside Luxembourg by Tom. Blindly, Oliver and his teammates put their lives at risk but do not she any light on the truth. As he deals with his own identity crisis, Oliver begins to peel off the layers of ulterior motives behind one singular crime. Someone’s calibrated personal vendetta, a suicide, and a stunning revelation that will change his perception of his loved one, are all in store for him to discover.
Unlike the one-note performances from the Stathams, the Wahlbergs and other cookie-cutter action heroes to which American viewers are accustomed, the protagonist here is intelligently multifaceted. Oliver’s motivations are fueled by the secret lives he lives in order to fulfill his family's and his own career expectations. The hyper-masculinity that comes with these super-heroes serves mostly to give simple reasons for the recklessness of their actions. They are committed by man’s men who will stop at nothing to uphold what is right, while also pursuing the clichéd hot sexual encounter that is always placed before the final face-off. Not here. Oliver’s façade as a tough machismo-driven guy is a defense mechanism to hide his sexual orientation which is seen as a weakness and would be used against him by his fellow officers. Unafraid and bold, Wagner’s leading man is one of a kind thanks to a astonishing performance by Jules Werner. He is flesh, bone, anguish, anger and all the nuances in between that conform a closeted homosexual man seeking not only to solve his brother’s death and protect his honor but also to prove his value to himself.
Formidably written and perfectly acted, Blind Spot innovatively elevates the genre and ventures into truly daring territory with a less than unlikely lead full of complexities. Christophe Wagner’s direction is not only proficient in creating the uneasy enticing atmosphere needed, his puzzling narrative is also edgy. There is no room for the overkill of the commonplace storylines indigenous to Hollywood. Instead, toying with those very predispositions, the film turns out to be something less fabricated and more grounded in reality which is definitely an achievement in such a crowded field. Placing Luxembourg in the spotlight of the cinematic landscape, the director takes advantage of the surprise factor that a film coming from the tiny nation contains and by doing so, he delivers a real success.
Read more about all the 76 Best Foreign Language Film Submission for the 2014 Academy Awards...
- 11/30/2013
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
Audrey Tautou, Edouard Baer, Jean-Pierre Marielle, Patrick Ridremont and Patrick Descamps have joined the voice cast of the animated feature "Phantom Boy" for Folimage, Lunanime, France 3 Cinéma, and Rhône-Alpes Cinéma.
Oscar-nominated "A Cat In Paris" directors Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli helm the project which follows a seriously ill 11-year-old who has the ability to leave his body at will.
Thanks to him, an injured police officer and an intrepid journalist can both assume the roles of guardian angels when a disfigured gangster is threatening the city. A 2015 release is planned.
Source: Screen Daily...
Oscar-nominated "A Cat In Paris" directors Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli helm the project which follows a seriously ill 11-year-old who has the ability to leave his body at will.
Thanks to him, an injured police officer and an intrepid journalist can both assume the roles of guardian angels when a disfigured gangster is threatening the city. A 2015 release is planned.
Source: Screen Daily...
- 5/18/2013
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Netflix has revolutionized the home movie experience for fans of film with its instant streaming technology. Netflix Nuggets is my way of spreading the word about independent, classic and foreign films made available by Netflix for instant streaming.
This Week’s New Instant Releases… Title: Black Heaven (2010)
Streaming Available: 04/12/2011
Cast: Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet, Louise Bourgoin, Melvil Poupaud, Pauline Etienne, Pierre Niney, Ali Marhyar, Patrick Descamps, Pierre Vittet, Swann Arlaud, Francesco Merenda
Director: Gilles Marchand
Synopsis: While searching for the owner of a missing mobile phone with his girlfriend, Marion (Pauline Etienne), Gaspard (Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet) falls for the mysterious Sam (Louise Bourgoin), who draws him into a dangerous virtual-reality video game, where she provokes unsuspecting victims into killing themselves. Directed by Gilles Marchand, this intense French drama alternates between real-life events and those within the simulated computer world. Title: Heartless (2009)
Streaming Available: 04/12/2011
Cast: Jim Sturgess, Clémence Poésy , Noel Clarke, Luke Treadaway, Justin Salinger,...
This Week’s New Instant Releases… Title: Black Heaven (2010)
Streaming Available: 04/12/2011
Cast: Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet, Louise Bourgoin, Melvil Poupaud, Pauline Etienne, Pierre Niney, Ali Marhyar, Patrick Descamps, Pierre Vittet, Swann Arlaud, Francesco Merenda
Director: Gilles Marchand
Synopsis: While searching for the owner of a missing mobile phone with his girlfriend, Marion (Pauline Etienne), Gaspard (Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet) falls for the mysterious Sam (Louise Bourgoin), who draws him into a dangerous virtual-reality video game, where she provokes unsuspecting victims into killing themselves. Directed by Gilles Marchand, this intense French drama alternates between real-life events and those within the simulated computer world. Title: Heartless (2009)
Streaming Available: 04/12/2011
Cast: Jim Sturgess, Clémence Poésy , Noel Clarke, Luke Treadaway, Justin Salinger,...
- 4/11/2011
- by Travis Keune
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Gilles Marchand's Black Heaven is currently playing on IFC Films video-on-demand feature via Comcast, Cox, Cablevision, Time Warner, and Bright House (Dread). The trailer below shows two lives. One is played online, while a second is played in reality. Both spheres of interaction offer murder, suicide and a life filled with new thrills, but new dangers. Have a look at the clip below and order the film for your viewing pleasure.
The film's synopsis is here:
"The story follows an innocent young kid, Gaspar (Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet), who, becoming enamored with a mysterious/gorgeous girl (Louise Bourgoin), is lured into a "Black Hole" - a dark, obscure video game world of avatars with deadly serious intentions in the real world" (IFC Films).
Director: Gilles Marchand.
Writers: Gilles Marchand and Dominik Moll.
Cast: Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet, Louise Bourgoin, Melvil Poupaud, Pauline Etienne, Pierre Niney, Ali Marhyar, Patrick Descamps, and Swann Arlaud.
The...
The film's synopsis is here:
"The story follows an innocent young kid, Gaspar (Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet), who, becoming enamored with a mysterious/gorgeous girl (Louise Bourgoin), is lured into a "Black Hole" - a dark, obscure video game world of avatars with deadly serious intentions in the real world" (IFC Films).
Director: Gilles Marchand.
Writers: Gilles Marchand and Dominik Moll.
Cast: Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet, Louise Bourgoin, Melvil Poupaud, Pauline Etienne, Pierre Niney, Ali Marhyar, Patrick Descamps, and Swann Arlaud.
The...
- 12/9/2010
- by 28DaysLaterAnalysis@gmail.com (Michael Allen)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
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